Tech notes
I thought it was due to stale gasoline in the tank. I pulled it apart, cleaned out the fuel line and tank, filled it with fresh gas. It was still not running. Then I thought it was the fact that that my lawnmower had one of those new carborators with everything factory sealed...doomed to clog. Pull the sparkplug...nope, It's getting plenty of gas. Maybe I have just lost my mechanical touch. After all...remember the van incident? OK, maybe the timing is off from hitting a rock or something. I pull the engine hood off. There!...make a note in the repair manual...check to see if a mouse has built a nest in the carborator linkage forcing it to flood. Why didn't I think of that? Take nest out...re-assemble...pull the cord...runs like a top!!!
I was just about to let out a Tim the Tool Man howl..."Oh, I remember uttering a prayer after the second step".
"Man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps."