The carburetor on these mowers is artfully simple. There are usually two problems to examine for first: A stuck (or leaking, which could cause flooding) float. And secondly, there is a hair-fine pressure-relief hole in the bowl, so small that if it gets varnished from old gas -- or plugged for other reasons, it is nearly invisible. Make sure it's open. If it's not, the mower can start -- run a few seconds and stop because it has created a vacuum that won't allow gas to flow to the engine. Use a fine sewing needle, carefully to pick out the obstruction until you see through it. Never drill this hole, as any enlargement may send you back for a new carburetor.
I had the same problem and I had to replace the tank. Simple job, Sears sent me the replacement tank.
Possible tank joint or cracked
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6.25 craftsman; model 917.388340 (number won't bring up anything in Sears' site); won't keep running after warmed up; first try since winter; new gas; new air filter; plug cleaned; magneto assembly rusted, cleaned off; now won't start.
Q: what are the gaps for the plug and magneto?
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