I have a Bob Villa self propelled lawn mower that starts up after priming, but only runs for 5-15 seconds and quits.
I have already checked and cleaned the gas flow bolt on the bottom of the bowl and cleaned the plug. But it starts okay, just dies.
Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

It sounds a little short lived to be this, but I would clean the gas cap as well, and make sure that the vent is not plugged nevertheless. Have you hit anything with it that could have possibly damaged the flywheel key in the crankshaft?

 

What engine is on it?
_______________

 

Okay cheese, its a 6.75 HP with a MRS system (most reliable start). Bob Villa Signature Series from Craftsman.
The fuel cap has something called "constant flow" system with a little plastic cylinder on the bottom of the cap. It says "refill when empty" on it with a couple symbols next to it, The cap doesn't appear to be damaged or worn.
I was starting then running for about 5 seconds when primed, then stops and will not restart. Thanks!

 

Its got to be something with the carb and or float, the priming forces extra gas into the carb which gets burned but then starves without additional fuel from the carb.

 

Hold the deadman bar down and follow that cable to the kill switch on the engine. See which way it moves when you pull the handle down? Reach down and help it move a little further in that direction and see if it runs longer.

 

Okay cheese, first, sorry for the delay responding due to travel.
Second, I did what you said and the cable/dead man bar seemed to be pulling the lever as far as it goes. I pulled it like you said and even with some needle nose pliers, that's as far as it goes.
However, when testing the kill switch I notice fuel dripping a little behind the primer bulb area. So I pushed the primer a bit and more fuel dripped out at the bottom of the air cleaner. So I removed the cover and the air filter and it appears that the fuel is coming from behind the black metal plate with three bolts on it. The plate has a round hole in the center that looks like where the carb is behind the plate. Thanks again!

 

Try running it with the air filter removed, it may be saturated and is choking the engine. Have a good one. Geo

 

It's not the air filter geogrubb. Also, the cap has a plastic cylinder that snaps off the bottom of the cap. It says "refill when empty" but doesn't indicate where or why. Is that cylinder supposed to have fuel in it ?
It's dried out all day so I am going to try the primer bulb again and see where it's wet or dripping and try and find where the fuel is leaking from. Thanks

 

The cap has nothing to do with it, it had fuel additive in it. Gimmick.
Have you replaced the spark plug?