Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Craftsman 19.5 hp will not start or turn over, jumper wire, safety switches

Question
I have a question..I have a Craftsman 19.5 hp 42″ Lawn Tractor with a very elusive problem. Last year I couldn’t get the motor to run without standing over it pouring gas in the carburator. This year I rebuilt the car again and replaced all the fuel lines. New problem, The motor wouldn’t turn over at all. I replaced the battery and after 20 minutes of banging on controls and safety switches the thing finally turned over and started to come to life. It died out and again wouldn’t turn over. I could turn the motor by hand, I bypassed the solenoid and the starter turned the motor over no problem so I went back to the safety switched and contacted a local repairman. he advised that I could disconnect the kill switch and it should turn over. I did this an did started right up and I was able to drive it around and parked it so I could air up tires and tighten some bolts. Now it is back to not doing anything. I have good battery power and I can still bypass the solenoid to turn the motor over. I still have the kill switch disconnected. Anyone have an Idea of how I can get this thing to run again?

Answer
There must be a wire or switch preventing exciter power to the solenoid.  If you solenoid has only one small wire, you can use a jumper wire from the positive battery terminal to the small post on the solenoid to see if the solenoid is working correctly.

Basically, when you turn the key to the start position, 12 volts DC should be applied to the solenoid exciter which closes the connection between the two large wire thereby turning the starter motor.

Let me if the solenoid is funtioning.  Also, can you send me the mower model number, xxx.xxxxx, located on a sticker usually on the rear of the mower under the seat.

Eric