Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): B&S 14.5 OHV will not crank, jumper wire, montgomery wards

Question
1990 era B&S 14.5 OHV motor will not crank over.  It is installed in a Montgomery Wards Signature 2000 Elite lawn tractor.

the starter clicks and engine moves about 1/8" of an
inch.   

When I remove the starter from the motor, it spins freely.   I can also manually turn the engine using both hands.

Could I just have a weak starter?

Answer
Hi Jesse,

You may have a weak starter.  Follow my No Crank proceedure below and let me know how you make out.

Michael

I would check the starter first.  Jump the positive battery terminal to the starter and it should crank over. If so, skip to step 2.
If not, jump from a battery that you know is good, from a car.  If still nothing, the starter is bad.  If good, then the mower battery is weak.  

Step 2.
If the starter and battery are good, you will need to trace the entire circuit from the starter to the battery.   The solenoid, switches the battery power to the starter, when power from the key switch is sent to the small terminal on the solenoid. To test the solenoid, first make sure that you have power at its large terminal which comes from the battery. Then jump power from that terminal or the battery positive post, to its small terminal. You should hear a click and the other large terminal that feeds the starter should be energized. If not, then the solenoid is bad. If good, then continue tracing the power through the key switch to the battery until you find the break in the power path.   All testing can be done with a 12 volt light or a voltmeter.  Most equipment has safety switches in  the seat and on the blade engagement lever. Check them by temporarily bypassing with a small jumper wire.