ask your mate to make sure he's giving the motor full choke, leaver on top of carb, it has three positions, fully open , half open sometimes used to warm up when cold , and fully closed, choke needs to be fully closed to draw fuel into the cylinder to fire when engine is cold , some kirbys had a primer bulb to pump, if it has make sure he pumps it a few times and checks that its working.
something to try hope its that simple
damo
