john deere 40 carburator problems? hard starting low idle

[nickkalisz]

hi i"m having problems with my john deere 40 and think it may be the carb. before i had this major problem the tractor would bog down if 4th gear all of a sudden and then continue as if nothing happened. now the tractor is hard to start and when i try to put down the throttle is just does nothing and sitts at low idle and eventually goes into high idle.
 

[old]

Things to check before pulling out the real tools is these things. #1 check spark and make sure it is a blue/white and will jump a 1/4 inch gap. #2 check that the throttle linkage is working as it should be and not binding up some place. #3 check to be sure your air cleaner is not clogged up and or full of dirt/water. #4 open up the crab drain plug and make sure you have a good steady flow of gas out of it for a couple minutes. Catch the gas so as to look for dirt or water in it. #5 does choking it hurt or help?? If it hurts likely to be running to rich so set load needle down a 1/2 tun or so. If it help open the load needle up some