I had a lawnmower years ago that a neighbor friend gave to me ( I was REALLY poor back then) and it was always hard to start. I had some EVERCLEAR left over
from a party a year before in my shed. I'd pour a bit down the carb and it would fire right up. Finally, it didn't want to start one day so,I got PO'd and dumped about 1/2 a fifth of the stuff in the tank and some in the carb. I thought the blade was going to fly off!! It literally was THROWING the grass about 2 feet out the side discharge! IT NEVER RAN AGAIN ....
just my