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

During the off season I tend to my lawn and garden equipment.  I have a 1987 JD SX75 rear engine riding mower.   I just changed the oil, spark plug, air filter, gas filter, etc; checked belts, sharpened the blade and did general lubrication.  So after giving it all of this tender loving care...it won't start.   It will run for a few seconds if I give it a shot of ether so I have spark.  I noticed that the fuel filter is dry.  Yes there is gas in the tank and the fuel line valve is open.  Just can't get feul to start flowing.  There is no primer with this engine...just a choke.  It's a 9hp Kawasaki.  Does the fuel line have to be manually primed.  I thought of pouring a little gas right in the spark plug but the plug socket is horizontal and very difficult to access.  In fact everything about this engine is difficult to access. 

And if it has a metal gas tank - maybe rust is a problem.  Keeps getting loose and clogging things.