Zero Turn Mower. I'm stumped.

Yes, I agree. I was surprised when about three months ago I read I should check the floats in a newly purchased (supposedly off the shelf) Edlebrock 1913, regardless of the "bolt-on and go" sales pitch. I did open it up after about 3 months of running and was surprised to see water at the bottom of the float base. No fuel, only water, or what looked like water. Maybe other issues here but I will be putting electric fuel pumps on all my classics to avoid dry starting.