I have a 17.5 murray riding mower it won't start I have a new battery I jumped across the two big post on soleloid it will turn over then does that mean the soleloid is bad if the safety switches were bad would it crank by jumping the soleloid how do you check the soleloid and switches on one I have another mower MTD mower that's doing the same thing correct if wrong to test key switch put a volt or test light on small wire on soleloid to see if got power when key is turned on and not when turned off please help

The power will alternate from the switch to the solenoid.

That still doesn't answer my question how do you test the solenoid to tell if it is bad will not turn over with key switch but will if you jump across the solenoid

Try to make sure you hear a "click" when you turn on the key switch, I have often had a bad cluster plug behind the key switch. Wiggle the plug while holding the start switch on and see if it jumps in and out...

Bunch of hoooy!