Yep. We are all frustrated with your results too DerrickD.
Contrast here with another new DOW member who was able to get flares and even lawnmower engine run:
By design elements yours should be producing better engine grade gas than his.
As you suspect you probably have 1-2-3 minor faults going on.
For all initially using old rotary lawn mowers as “mule” woodgas provers I can say this . . . probably the most difficult engines to woodgas get running.
Too small of suction drawing. As a four stroke that suction only occurring once every two engine full revolutions.
Here is help alternative fueling with all of these.
#1 It must still run on it’s original gasoline fuel. That will eliminate most of the dumb-dumb mistakes like trying to operate it without a flywheel effect mower blade. Cracked flywheels that give maybe; maybe-not ignition spark. Dragging against flywheel stop brakes. Worn loose ignition shorting out stop contacts. Etc.
#2 For alternative fuels trialing you absolutely MUST be able to extended crank these over; and allow for a 2nd free hand for systems manipulating. Here is how:
Look specifically at 1:25 → 1:33, then at 2:37 → 3:00
Yes a big enough electric drill with a socket attachment will do it just fine.
Less well fine is using an electric or an air impact gun. These also must be big enough to quickly come out of impact rattling to free-spinning.
Once you are done with these mowers set-aside engines trialing be sure and go to dedicated electric starting engines only then. Especially on engine-generators. I was six months healing up a separated collar bone learning that one on a 6500 watt B&S generator set. Not everything can be solved by just bulling through it.
Regards
Steve unruh