I was given a bolens yard tractor and the motor needed a lot of work, when I got the tractor I got it started but it would run really rough, it would idle really high and then start to die then idle really high and start to die, took it to a guy who does small engine repair and he told me that the head gasket was shot and that I was getting blowbuy in the rings, and he wanted 500 bucks to replace everything, I went and bought everything and replaced the rings and all gaskets and now when I try to turn the motor over it backfires really bad, I have taken the carb apart and cleaned the float needle, replaced the fuel solenoid because it was really clogged up, cleaned out the bowl because it was coated in garbage. When I put the engine back together I replaced everything back the same way it came out, I took photos and marked each piece when I put it back in.

Does anyone have a repair manual for the engine it is a B&S 15 hp model # 283h07 Type 0197. Any help would be greatly apriciated.

Robert

Have you checked the valve lash for proper clearance?

did you use a new flywheel key?