On May 15, 7:31 am, wrote:
This will probably cost you a big whooping 50 cents but try it.

Replace the rubber fuel line.

It may have a crack in it that opens and draws air after the engine
starts.

My mower did the same thing and that was the problem.

Hope this helps.

I'll give it a try, thanks. I have a spare fuel line handy.
However, the float reservoir is full of gas (gas is fed from the top
and drawn into the carb from the bottom). Would a cracked line have
any effect on this?
Also, I'm kinda baffled as to why the spark is wet after the engine
dies. It's as if it was getting too much gas in there.