Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engines - craftsman lawn tractor won't start

I've got a 5y old tractor that won't start (ie when I turn ignition I get nada..zilch) I have electrical current going from battery to the starter and from the starter to the plug. Additionally I have checked to make sure that the blades are disengaged and the safety switch in the seat isn't tripped. Also checked the fuse and it is intact. What am I missing?????????

You didn't specify what engine. But I would check the solenoid. It could be bad, thus creating the problem you describe.

You might also double check that the safety switch from the blade lever if fully depressed. I had this trouble with my tractor before and while the blade was disengaged, the lever was not 100% down and was not fully depressing the safety switch.

You have current from the battery to the starter? And from the starter to the plug? What plug?...spark plug?

You have current to the starter, but the starter still doesn't turn, then the starter is bad or stuck. Before you go replacing the starter, I'll say you don't have current going to the starter, because you said you get "nada...zilch" when turning the key. If you were getting current to the starter, you would get more than "nada...zilch", even if the starter was disconnected. How are you testing this, and where are you testing?

So here is the full story- the mower was working fine last week. I ran out of gas and had to push it back to the shed. When I tried to start it the other day I got nothing- no clicking no err..err.err. Checked the battery and it has a full charge. I have replaced the ignition switch because I thought it might be bad. I have current running from the battery to the soleniod, from the soleniod to the starter and from the starter to the spark plug (checked w/ voltmeter)..Interestingly I have current whether the ignition is in the on or off position...is that right????- I thought the ignition switch served as a sort of curcuit breaker (like a light switch) and I shouldn't have current to the starter when the ignition is off. HELp

Soleniod was replaced a year ago---how long do they last?

How do I check to make sure that the button to disengaged the blades is not tripping the safety- where is the safety switch? Does it have anything to do with the lever to raise and lower the cutting deck?


Whats the best way to check whether I have current going through the system properly???IE where should I place the testing prongs on the voltmeter maybe I'm not testing it properly.

Apparently you're not testing properly. I am quite sure there is not current from the solenoid to the starter, and definitely not from the starter to the spark plug. There is no way for power to get from the starter to the spark plug, and it should not ever.

What setting do you have the voltmeter on? It should be on DC volts. Black lead to metal on the frame or engine, red lead to whatever wire you're checking. A reading of 12 volts indicates power. No reading indicates no power.