If it starts and runs for a few minutes and then dies (the choke may help, too) it's 95% a dirty carb. Remove the carb, disassemble and clean out the gunk in the bowl and all the passages.
I just did this with two of my tractors yesterday. sitting for a year with ethanol in them does not have a good outcome.
Little globs of gelatinous goo (phase separated ethanol) in the bowl and plugging up the passages.
If you have a rebuild kit, go ahead and use it. If not, as a temporary repair, you can go back with the existing gaskets, etc., but risk a sticky float valve, and a subsequent repair. In a pinch, just clean and re assemble.
Remember to turn the jet screws in until they seat, counting the turns, and then remove them. Upon re-assembly, screw them all the way in, and the unscrew the same number of turns as before. (NOTE--they may be wrong to begin with, so if in doubt, refer to the service manual).
It'll run like a champ afterwards.
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