[Thumper]

Note... FYI, "open" choke means NOT choked. Bill Hilly is describing the high air method of blowing out extra fuel! Choke will just add more!

If it is/was flooded, and you dry the spark plug, I would try to start it without choke and only slightly opened throttle at first. You can always pull the choke if it isn't getting enough gas.

When it starts, keep the rpms at least 2000 while you nurse it to life. If there is a build up of crap from the rich running/flooded state, this will blow it out. Try to hold it at a steady rpm, and get it off choke to avoid flooding.

Starting characteristics will tell you how lean it is jet, or if it is OK. Cold start should need a choke briefly when the weather is cool. Summer temps you may not need to choke to start. Keep in mind that repetitively twisting the throttle way hard when trying to start it can quickly cause it to flood, especially if the choke is still pulled.

The idea is to keep it running as lean as possible and get to a stable idle. Do you know where the slide height adjustment is on the carb? It is a brass knurled knob with a flathead slot on the starboard side (kick start side). If you tighten that screw (clockwise), it will hold the slide higher in the tower and it will idle higher. As the engine warms up, you may need to turn it clockwise to get the idle back down to 1200-1400 rpm. You can replace the tiny idle adjust screw with a large knob so you can do this without a screwdriver. It can be tough to get your fingers in there around the frame stay.