If the mower sat for a year, it probably has varnish/gunk built up in the carburetor. The quick fix (if you're lucky) is to remove the air cleaner, spray a squirt of carburetor cleaner/starting fluid into the intake, then try to start it. If it fires up, shut it off, replace the air filter, and try to start normally.
Chainsaws are usually two-stroke and require oil mixed in with the gas - but you mentioned you got a pre-mix, so that should be OK as long as it's the right mixture for that chainsaw. Unfortunately, it's ridiculously easy to flood the engine (I suspect this might be your problem - google how to deflood an engine), get the mixture wrong, burn out the spark/glow plug, etc. so I totally understand your pain. There could be gunk stuck in the carburetor if it wasn't flushed out properly before storage. There are just so many points of failure with a combustion engine, as you are well aware. Also, EYE PROTECTION. I don't care if you are just trying to get it started. EYE PROTECTION ALWAYS NO EXCUSES. Personally, I like to be as far away from the sharp bits as possible, so I would recommend a pole saw in all situations where you can get away with it (basically a small chainsaw on the end of a stick - useful for trimming tree branches). Also, electric motors and Lithium batteries have come a long way in terms of raw power. Sell that gas powered crap and go all electric. I have an electric pole saw and the same batteries can be used in my trimmer and they both have plenty of raw power. Various brands have families of products like this, including Toro, which I prefer.
Y'know I just might go electric, problem is I don't know how long a charge lasts. Generally, I need to use a chainsaw to cut up a whole downed tree in my driveway, not trim branches. So I'll be out there cutting for a while... do the batteries last several hours?
If the mower sat for a year, it probably has varnish/gunk built up in the carburetor. The quick fix (if you're lucky) is to remove the air cleaner, spray a squirt of carburetor cleaner/starting fluid into the intake, then try to start it. If it fires up, shut it off, replace the air filter, and try to start normally.
Chainsaws are usually two-stroke and require oil mixed in with the gas - but you mentioned you got a pre-mix, so that should be OK as long as it's the right mixture for that chainsaw. Unfortunately, it's ridiculously easy to flood the engine (I suspect this might be your problem - google how to deflood an engine), get the mixture wrong, burn out the spark/glow plug, etc. so I totally understand your pain. There could be gunk stuck in the carburetor if it wasn't flushed out properly before storage. There are just so many points of failure with a combustion engine, as you are well aware. Also, EYE PROTECTION. I don't care if you are just trying to get it started. EYE PROTECTION ALWAYS NO EXCUSES. Personally, I like to be as far away from the sharp bits as possible, so I would recommend a pole saw in all situations where you can get away with it (basically a small chainsaw on the end of a stick - useful for trimming tree branches). Also, electric motors and Lithium batteries have come a long way in terms of raw power. Sell that gas powered crap and go all electric. I have an electric pole saw and the same batteries can be used in my trimmer and they both have plenty of raw power. Various brands have families of products like this, including Toro, which I prefer.
Y'know I just might go electric, problem is I don't know how long a charge lasts. Generally, I need to use a chainsaw to cut up a whole downed tree in my driveway, not trim branches. So I'll be out there cutting for a while... do the batteries last several hours?