Model #30-2251-23-10 TAPPAN range (gas)

Thank you for your question. I am sorry you are having this problem with the tractor. First, make sure the engagement lever is down or the PTO button is pushed in and the brake pedal is fully depressed or the tractor will not attempt to turn over. If you have already done this, I recommend checking the fuse. The fuse is located behind the dash. If the fuse is good, you have a wiring or switch problem. The easiest way to pin point the problem is with a volt meter. If you do not have a meter, you can purchase one relatively cheap. Turn the meter to check dc volts, and then hold the black lead to the black negative battery terminal for all of the voltage checks. Place the red lead on the positive terminal of the battery. The reading should be 12 volts. If you have a 12 volt reading, move the red lead to the first blue dot in the image. Your reading should be 12 volts. If you have 12 volts, have someone sit on the tractor and hold the brake pedal while turning the key for the rest of the checks. While they have the key turned to the start position, move the red lead to the next blue dot. The reading should always be 12 volts. Then move to the next blue dot. If you lose the 12 volts, the problem is between the last blue dot you had the voltage and where you lost the voltage. If you have 12 volts all the way to the white wire on the solenoid, the solenoid or the starter is defective. To determine starter or solenoid short the two large posts on the solenoid together with a screwdriver. There should be a spark it is normal. Once shorted the starter should run. If the tractor still will not run once you get the starting issue fixed, please let me know. I will be happy to assist you with diagnosing that. Thank you for using Manage my life. Mark T.

jon, I am glad to hear you have the tractor up and running again. Do not worry you are not the first customer that had this problem. It is more common than you think. I recommend saving this link. It might be helpful if the tractor ever fails to turn over again. Thank you for using Manage my life. Mark.

Thank you for your question on the engine of your mower not starting.

You have already done quite a bit of good troubleshooting so we will need to go deeper if you are comfortable with that.

It still sounds like you are not getting fuel into the cylinder even though you have cleaned the carburetor.

Without the model number of the engine or mower I cannot tell it you have an anti-backfire solenoid on the carburetor bowl. When you turn the ignition switch on you should be able to hear a slight click which would indicate that your carburetor has one.

When it clicks, it opens the fuel passage into the carburetor bowl and fills the carburetor.

Please reply with the model number of you tractor and we can continue to troubleshoot with that information.

Sam A.

Thank you for the update and the model number. This is a whole different model than I was thinking it was. I would first pull the spark plug and make sure the spark plug wire is not close to your hand and put you thumb over the hole to see if you have any compression when turning the engine over. If it blows your thumb off the hole then you may have enough compression. If it does not seem like it has a lot of compression then you may have a valve not closing. You may have to take the head off the engine to see if one of the valves is not closing when you turn the engine over. Please let me know what the engine brand and model number is and it could. Sam A.

Thank you for your question.  I am sorry you are having problems with your mower. Usually when this happens, it is because there is debris floating around in the carburetor and main jet. I recommend cleaning the carburetor first. To clean the carburetor remove the spark plug wire and tip the mower onto its side with the air filter up. Behind the air filter, you will see the carburetor. You have to remove the main jet from the bottom of the carburetor. I have marked it in the image below. Once the main jet is removed, you can take the float bowl off. Make sure you do not loose the rubber o-ring. Set the o-ring aside you do not want to get carb cleaner on it. Clean the inside of the float bowl with carb cleaner and a scotch brite pad if needed. Then use the straw that came with the carb cleaner to spray up into the carburetor where the main jet came from. After it is flushed out you can let is dry while you clean the main jet. The main jet has hole in it. Push a bread tie wire into the small hole of the main jet and flush it with carb cleaner. After it is clean, you can reassemble the carburetor. Make sure you put the o-ring on first. It has a step it should sit on. Then install the float bowl and main jet. Tip the mower back over and put the spark plug wire back on. Try to start the mower without priming first. Sometimes it does not need priming because it was tipped over. If the mower does not start, go ahead and prime it. This usually cures the problem you are having.  I have found a video that will give you more confidence in doing this repair. Please click here to watch the video . The engine is not the same as yours but the parts are similar.  _Note do not get the carb cleaner in your eyes_  Please let me know if you have any other questions.    If you do not feel confident repairing this problem yourself, then you can have it repaired by a Sears  technician.  Here is a link that will provide the nearest drop-off locations:  Sears Home Services   Thank you for using Manage my life.  Mark T.