Trouble shooting craftsman riding lawn mower

Hi,
I looked up your machine. With the engine you have, it sounds like fuel starvation. Inspect the fuel filter and bottom of tank for trash. It would be unlikely that it is ignition or flooding (though not impossible) because of the engine type and time span. An alternate possibility is that the valve timing is being affected by heat; I think it unlikely since the valves on your engine generally require one adjustment during the lifespan of the engine and your symptoms are opposite of the expected problems (valve clearance(s) too tight rather than too loose.)
Peace,
Clarke

Hi, I have a craftmans riding lawn mower model #917.272761, a few weeks ago I was cutting grass and when I turned a corner it sounded like it was running out of gas, I check the tank and it was still half full, then I checked the fuel filter and it was clear. Then I noticed that the choke was closed so I thought there was a return spring issue so I bought a repair kit and that sloved the choke staying closed problem. But then I thought the plug probably fouled since the thing was flooded so I replaced the plug. Still won't start even if I put gas manually in the carb. So I pulled the plug and left it out to see if it was getting spark, Not enough I am thinking. So I'm now thinking I need to replace the Magneto-Armature. The wire to the spark plug looks burnt and melted. But before I'm going to spend the $55 to get one I did take a compression test even though the engine turns over really slow sometimes and other times it turns over fast. The compression I got was a little over 120 lbs. Is this enough to have the proper combustion to run? Please advise.

I have a mtd Briggs and that problem happened to me all I did was adjust the mixture screw

when i engage my mowind deck nothing happens ! its a 1996 craftsman 36 inche cut