D15 series 2 gas won't fire

[M. Johnston]

I mowed a few times this summer. Started and ran fine. Sat for awhile (drought) and wouldn"t start. Needed new battery. Replaced and fine. Now has sat into the winter and nothing when I turn key. Lights come on bright. Tried jumping and not even click. With weather changes can starter housing become rusted and not have contact or does that matter. Any other thoughts
 

[old]

Do this but be sure it is out of gear. Hook one end on your jumper cables to the frame close as you can to the starter and the other end to the starter stud the one that cable from the solenoid goes to. If the engine spins over then you have a problem from the starter back as in back solenoid or bad switch or a broken wire etc. By the way mice love to eat wires in to
 

[M. Johnston]

I will try this and maybe I did in a way. I was tightening the solenoid nuts and while on the nut hit the other end of the wrench on something causing a heck of a spark but no movement of starter
 

[old]

What you did was hit the battery side stud on the solenoid with the wrench so that says you have power on that side now you need to find out if you can get it to the other side. That solenoid should have 1 or 2 small studs also and one will have a wire on it. You can take a short jumps from that stud to the battery side of the solenoid and see if it turns over that way and if it does then the key switch or the wire from it is bad
 

[M. Johnston]

Thanks. Il try that tomorrow and go from there.
 

[old]

Post back if you need more info. Always happy to help if I can
 

[M. Johnston]

Replaced solenoid and started right up in this 5 degree weather
 

[old]

Good to here you got it fixed