Push mower wont start! Help please!!!!

[kmckinn2]

Hey everybody,
I'm getting desperate so I thought I would turn to the online experts! I have a John Deere JX75 push mower that hasn't been run in about 2 years so there was no surprise when I tried to start it up last week and it didn't do anything. So first I made sure it had fresh gas, changed the oil, air filter, and spark plug. It still didn't run so I took off the carb bowl and cleaned it and a couple other pieces with carb cleaner.... still nothing.
I also have checked to make sure the spark plug is getting electricity by putting a screw driver in the rubber spark plug cap, placing it next to the metal body of the mower, cranking it and looking for a blue spark (which it had). '
The only response I've gotten out of the mower is when i put a little squirt of gas into the spark plug socket, replacing it, and cranking it. It will run for about 2 seconds and big puff of white smoke comes out that doesn't smell too good.
Can anyone out there help me? I'm trying to avoid taking it to a repair shop but I will if I have to.

Thanks a lot,
Kyle

Oh yea, there may be some beer in it for payment =)

[eatonpcat]

Interested in the beer... But have no answer for you, I'm having the exact issues with my mower that has been sitting unused for a couple of years.