Need help for friend who is not going to be around long

Look to see what fuel filter it has. If it has an external one AND the small filter at the inlet to the carburetor, remove the one in the fuel inlet of the carburetor. That's the filter behind the 1" fitting at the caburetor. Most times, both filters are too much for the mechanical pump to overcome. ESPECIALLY if the one inside the fuel inlet is the stupid compressed brass filter.