Ok so after a thread on here and a new solenoid we got our mower running! We mowed more than 3/4 of our yard yesterday, then today we started mowing the rest of it an bam shut down! We thought maybe fuel filter (in-line), got a new one and it is plastic see through but no fuel is going through it. So it is halkf ful of gas and we try to start it turns over and will run if we use starter fluid. No such luck with the new filter but it must be getting spark and air. What do you think, fuel pump? Something else we can check before putting that time and effort? it is a birggs and stratton 422437 type 1209 01. It is on a craftsman 917.255919. It is old but has been good except lately. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

You probably need to rebuild your fuel pump and clean out your carb, since your mower is over 20 years old your better off buying a carburator rebuild kit which will also come with the fuel pump diaphragms. Here is your parts manual, make sure to check if you have a 4 or 3 screw model pump and select the proper rebuild kit for your style carb.

http://www.briggsandstratton.com/pdf/illustrated_parts_list/100%5CMS9492.pdf
have a good one