I know the deck is MTD, not sure about the engine though. It has a choke knob up on the handle. I bought this used a couple weeks ago and mowed my yard over two days and it started up fine and ran great. I go to mow today and it started when choked and ran a few minutes and then died. It will not start unless choked and when choked and started it will die. I have not messed with the carb yet but I did notice a cut in a hose going from the airbox to the engine, could this be the issue? The first time I mowed I did notice occasionally it would idle very high sometimes, not sure what would trigger it though