I assume this is a piece of equipment sits for long periods of time between use. That is why I strongly believe you have an air leak issue within your fuel system, whether it be fuel lines or all kinds of gaskets that harbor/contain fuel to the carburetor, and then through the carburetor to the motor. Even an improper toque down of the new carburetor gasket between motor block and the carburetor itself can cause too much air into the whole system. It doesn't take much of an air leak to cause the problem you are describing. Even old fuel line not properly fitting correctly due to being dried out, can cause the same problem. When equipment such what you have, sits for long periods of time, without or very little fuel in it, gaskets and fuel lines will dry up, or become dry rotten, where there may be cracks, or even microscopic holes in them, where you will not be able to see them with the naked eye.
So, again, I believe your equipment is sucking too much air into the cylinder head, and possibly not flowing through it correctly. That is why I said to check your outtake/exhaust too. If you have enough carbon build up, or it's plugged for whatever reason, the will be enough restriction for hard start as well.
If you have starter fluid, to prime the entire fuel system after checking everything I mentioned previously, and all is good, pull the spark plug, do a couple of small quick burst of starter fluid inside the cylinder wall, put the spark plug back on and finger tighten it down. Attempt to start it. You may have to do this a couple of times in order to properly bring up fuel pressure throughout the entire system and to build some heat into the motor block, which will swell most all gaskets again, too prevent an air leak.
Once you to get it running, shut it off, and toque spark plug down. Start it back up. then you may have to adjust fuel & air jets on the carburetor in order to run correctly under load, and the fuel mixture is not too rich or too lean for the motor.
Again, good luck Mike. Wish you weren't so far from me, otherwise I'd run over to help you out.