Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I have a 1996 Ariens single stage snowthrower with a Tecumseh HSK 600 engine.  It has not been used much the last few years since I bought a Toro.  Well, I intended it to be a backup and needed it last year and it started fine but died under a load.  I decided to tinker with it this year…either get it running or get rid of it.  I got the top cowl off.  (I can see why they want so much to service this baby...you almost have to dimantle evrything just to acces sthe engine!) I am no mechanic but with some help on another forum I identified the carb, the bowl, the float, the needle and the seat.  I removed everything.  I sprayed carb cleaner through out. I ran a wire through the holes on the bowl screw etc.  It started and ran well under load but leaked gas.  I bought a new gasket / seat / needle kit and installed it.  Now it won’t start at all.  Actually, if I add some gas directly to the little opening below the choke lever, it starts up and runs a few seconds.  I do know gas is flowing from the tank down because when I pop the line of gas comes out and when I remove the bowl it wet.  Any ideas what could still be wrong?  Someone said a bad gas cap but I would not know what to check on the cap or how to fix it…? Ideas?