Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Murray riding mower, jumper wire, volt light

Question
My Murray 16.5 42" rider does not start without jump starting it.  I have been through numerous batteries, both cheap and expensive and fully charged, and nothing seems to work.  I have checked the solenoid and it works and starter works as well although there seems to be a problem getting power to the starter now since I removed and cleaned the solenoid.  Could it be the wiring harness?  Thanks for the help.  Jeff

Answer
Hi Jeff,

If adding power with another battery allows faster cranking then I would suspect a weak starter or bad connections.  Will it crank with the mower battery jumped to the starter?

Apply my No Crank proceedure below as needed.

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.  

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.