My John Deere riding mower won't start. I replaced the battery and it started. I turned off the tractor and tried to start again and it failed. How can one tell if the problem is the starter or the solenoid?
:)

My John Deere riding mower won't start. I replaced the battery and it started. I turned off the tractor and tried to start again and it failed. How can one tell if the problem is the starter or the solenoid?
:)
This response assumes that the starter does not turning the engine when the key is turned.

Do you have a meter that you can use for trouble-shooting?

Do you lights work?

Remove and clean your battery cables; then re-connect them.

To check the solenoid, connect a wire to the battery's positive terminal, and then, using your hand, temporarily press the other end of the wire to the lead from the switch to the solenoid.
If the solenoid is good, you'll see/hear the motor turn.

Also, check the connection where the lead from the switch to the solenoid is attached.

Let me know if this was helpful.

If you turned the engine off, then immediately turned it back to the start position, you could have blown a fuse. Also , check to see if the pinion gear at the top of the starter went back down. Do you hear a click or anything?