Everything is drained and all lines are clear, vent oil and fuel

 

Did you take the plug out and turn the motor over? Water will not compress, and if you have water on top of the cylinder it will not turn over and run.

 

Pull the exaust off as well, or tip it up on it back end. It could still be full of water. Make sure the air filter is clean, or take it right off untill you get it to run.

 

I did undo the spring connection where the exhaust joines the manifold. I did not remove the remainder of the exhaust because it does seem to be pushing air out the tailpipe. I have also had the arrester / muffler removed and made sure that it was clear.
On a note of clarification when I mentioned previously that I checked all vent
lines and oil lines what I have done is removed the entire oil system drained and flushed. The oil pump was emptied by pulling the engine over with the spark plug removed until all contaminated oil was pumped out. The fuel tank as well as all fuel lines and the fuel filter have been removed drained cleaned and flushed.
Fresh oil and fuel have been added to all systems and I now sit with a machine that fires checked the plug, has fuel checked the plug, but will not start. I am starting to suspect that a bent valve is giving me grief or that the entire valve train has been damaged when the machine went in the drink. I will check to make sure that exhaust system is clear though because at this point it is the only component that I have not removed cleaned and verified.

 

Something to check the safety system like the throttle switch might be acting up from the water adjust the cable.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Scout 1

Yes, it actually pulls the cord back right out of my hands. Almost like it seizes up for an instance.</end quote></div>

my push mower did the exact same thing when i hit a stump and it sheared off the key on the crank and the timing was off

 

Thanks will check it out.