(quoted from post at 23:43:55 10/25/09) Cody,
Here is what I do to isolate electrical problems. The plan is to determine if it is a battery problem, starter problem or an ignition problem.
You need a cheap voltmeter, even a $8 model will work. You need some heavy duty jumper wire. You need some jumper cables.
1. Check that you did not leave the plastic covers on the battery terminals, I have seen this fool an experienced 68 year old.
2. Check for voltage across the battery terminals. If not proper, charge the battery.
3. Check the grounding point for a bad connection by testing for voltage between the tractor body and the non ground terminal on the battery. If there is a voltage loss, it is due to a bad connecion at the battery or at the ground point.
4. Disconnect the coil hot wire and jumper a wire directly from the battery non ground to this connection. This bypasses everything in the ignition circuit up to the coil.
5. Verify the tractor is in neutral. Turn on the gas, choke the girl and use one side of a pair of jumper cables and jumper from the non ground side of the battery directly to the starter. The girl should start, remove the jumper cable and let the girl run on jumper.
If she turns over but does not start, check for spark from the coil while turning the engine. If no spark, check rest of the ignition system (distributor, points, condenser).
6. If she runs, verify the key is on. Reconnect the hot wire to the coil and disconnect the jumper to the coil. If the engine dies, restart using the jumper cables, if it will not restart, you have an open in the hot wire to the coil circuit. Just start testing for voltage at each connection until you find the open.
7. To troubleshoot the starter. Verify the tractor is in neutral. Use the jumper cable to jumper from the battery to the starter downstream of the solenoid, the starter should turn.
8. To troubleshoot the solenoid and starter button. Connect upstream of the solenoid on the large cable connection. Connect a jumper wire onto the small connection on the solenoid and take the other end to ground. The starter should turn if it does, the starter button or wire to the starter button is bad. If the starter does not turn, and did turn in the prior test, the solenoid is bad.
If this does not get you going on the right track, call me. 580-765-9865, after 6 pm EST.