Chris Martin wrote:

Reference my previous post: along with the black smoke etc.,: it runs
faster when I take the air filter cover off, but raw gas sprays out the
carb.

Too much gas causes the black smoke. It could be the float valves (if
your model has them) are stuck open. In the old days we fixed that
with a sharp wrap up the side of the carb with a rubber mallet. Less
aggressive folk rebuild the carb using a kit from a repair shop.