Do I have a short circuit somewhere or could it be something else?

I picked up this craftsmen with a 19hp twin B&S motor. I tried to start it and nothing. I thought simply charge the battery, so I did. Put the battery back in hooked jumper cables up and still not a sound. I took the cables up and hook the hot side to the started and it kicked out and started on starter fluid. Any idea if this could be a short or am I forgetting something?

So let me clarify cause im a bit confused.

It wouldnt start with the key, but when you jumped it directly to the starter, it spun over.

In that case it would be a bad solenoid. They are $10-15 at most stores.

yes thats what im saying. When i tapped the selonoid with a wrench it sparked but the starter didnt do anything.

duzy wrote:

yes thats what im saying. When i tapped the selonoid with a wrench it sparked but the starter didnt do anything.

It will spark if it crosses terminals, but the inside switch is damaged. You cant fix them yourself so you will need to buy a new one. You can jsut cross the terminals with a screwdriver until you get one, I had to do it for months.

couldn't it be the key switch too? not working in the crank position? most likely a solenoid though.

I forgot to mention if you want it to run without using the key to start it, make sure you put the key in the RUN position (one turn) and it will stay alive.

W1ldyOvvnZ wrote:

couldn't it be the key switch too? not working in the crank position? most likely a solenoid though.

Its usually the solenoid.

yes that's another thing. I made my one mud truck a push start by just using a couple toggle switches and a push start, can I do this by chance with this mower? I will get a new battery and solenoid anyway just cause its old.

duzy wrote:

yes that's another thing. I made my one mud truck a push start by just using a couple toggle switches and a push start, can I do this by chance with this mower? I will get a new battery and solenoid anyway just cause its old.

Yup, works the same way. If youre not exactly sure how to do it, FearlessFront has an excellent tutorial on YouTube. Really easy, you just have to be sure you wire up your stator right (if it has one, which it probably does).