Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engines - Starting is wierd

My 4-year old, well-maintained 42" Murray lawn tractor needs special attention when starting. I need to partially turn it repeatedly until it cranks. It's like I need to find just the key position for it to make the connection. I get a click on every turn of the key. Once the connection is made it starts strong and runs fine.

Is this likely to be an ignition switch, starter, or other electrical problem?

That's a 17 hp, B&S engine.

My 4-year old, well-maintained 42" Murray lawn tractor needs special attention when starting. I need to partially turn it repeatedly until it cranks. It's like I need to find just the key position for it to make the connection. I get a click on every turn of the key. Once the connection is made it starts strong and runs fine.

Is this likely to be an ignition switch, starter, or other electrical problem?

If you just get a little click, but no response from the engine or starter when you turn the key, I'd say you either have a loose battery cable connection or a bad solenoid. You can test it to be sure with a test light. See if power is going to the starter when it clicks but doesn't start. If not, then check for power at both big terminals on the solenoid. If there is power at one but not the other when trying to start, and the solenoid is in fact clicking, then the solenoid is bad.