I think this might be it, when i had a look at the carb just now I noticed there was a connecting rod going from the intake plate and what I want to say is the auto choke was disconnected I added photos below.
The linkage in red is the one that was disconnected the last time I tried starting...
Hey everyone!
Last year I bought an Old Johnson seahorse as a new project engine for my boat. It had been left in a shed for a long time, and had and would turn over but not start. After a winter of fixing the wiring, it now turns over with the electric motor, but sputters a bit and backfires...