Troy-Bilt Courage 19 Engine Carburetor apparently clogged

[Lee Hamilton]

Have a troy-bilt rider that has been stored and unused last season (2012), i.e. stored fall 2011, with stabilizer treated gas. Now won't go. new gas, Fuel flow from tank to carb OK (through fuel filter), fires if carb sprayed with carb cleaner. Solenoid works (don't know if it was stuck at first before I pushed on it a couple of times). Can't get bowl off to clean up inside carb. Have not yet tried to apply much force to bowl.

Note there is no evidence of a fuel pump as shown in the manual as the gas line goes from fuel tank to filter to carburetor.

Any suggestions on how to remove bowl and clean or other troubleshoot & fix ups so that my son doesn't have to use the push mower again?

Kohler Courage 19 Engine SV590S (electric start) Spec no SV590-0017 (MTD mower) SN 3605950363 (found manuals online including service manual 20 690 01 Rev. G)
Troy-Bilt Model 6605 SN 1C026H20244 Manufactured 3/2006 13AX60TG766 (found manuals online)

Also when moving carburetor assembly noticed an extra spring on the ground - about 1 5/8 inches long with squared hook at one end and rounded "eye" at other, narrower coil at hook end to wider coil at "eye" end. Looks brand new and mower is 2006 so suspect spring is from something else, like a new bike that was being worked on a few days earlier. Also not in found in any of the parts diagrams related to the fuel & throttle assemblies. Hopefully it is not from the mower.

I have the following online manuals obtained over the last few days. Note that file names listed below have been prefixed with descriptive names
Courage_Vertical_Manual_11-15_HP.62142506.TP-2548-A.1007.pdf
KohlerDiagnosticsm_20_690_01.pdf
KohlerEngineOwnersManual20_590_06.pdf
KohlerSM_2069001_SV470_thru_SV620_REV3_12.pdf
LawnMowerEngineManual kh-20-590-01-a.pdf
LawnMowerGuideFastStart 778-11141a.pdf
LawnMowerOwnersManual 770-10490i.pdf

 

[Lee Hamilton]

Got the bowl off, ruined the gasket. Local repair shop pointed out that a disk (about 3/8 inch) was missing. He had kit with gasket, disk and other pieces.
Cleaned carb with carb cleaner, which blew through all the various ports etc. Reassembled, still dies when (jump) starting, but runs for a few seconds with some carb cleaner down the throat. Can hear solenoid click, bowl has some gas in it when removed.

Now what? Can't afford repair shop diagnostics - unemployed

(will probably have to replace battery again if this thing starts)