Yard Machine Riding Mower Won't Start?

I have a Yard Machine riding lawnmower that won't start. It has good gas and the oil is good. So id the battery. It turns over strong. The only way to get it to fire off is to either pour gas in the intake or cover the intake to restrict the air from intake, but it will die as soon it it fires off. Fuel is in carb bowl and it's been cleaned.