I have a 10hp craftsman rear engine law mower . When I got it no Battery included bought a new one checker wiring with sigmatic look OK but when I hook the ground wire OK then I try to hook up the positive and that's when sparks fly . Should there be no power with draw with the key in the off position. What could be the cause of this . Model no 502.257336

If you have the schematic for this particular model, and have done as it shows, I can't tell you what could be wrong other than a short somewhere? Have you traced all the wires to see if they are in good shape and that they haven't rubbed enough someplace to wear off the insulation at some point.

I'll betcha what ever is wrong, is the reason it was sold "without" the battery in the first place though.

Hope someone else has a better answer for you!

If you are getting sparks flying, I'd be suspect of a dead short to ground.

Do you have the model number of the mower so that I can see if the maintenance manual is online.

What are you connecting the battery to:

What are you using as "Frame Ground"? What are you using for the "Charge Side"?

If you are getting sparks flying, I'd be suspect of a dead short to ground.

do you have the model number of the mower so that I can see if the maintenance manual is online.

What are you connecting the battery to:

What are you using as "Frame Ground"? What are you using for the "Charge Side"?
Model no 502.257336 the positive go's to a selenide

Model no 502.257336 the positive go's to a selenide
The engine will start and run without the battery the person was jumping off a start box by connecting to the ground and to the starter post could this of damaged the selenide

If you are getting sparks flying, I'd be suspect of a dead short to ground.

do you have the model number of the mower so that I can see if the maintenance manual is online.

What are you connecting the battery to:

What are you using as "Frame Ground"? What are you using for the "Charge Side"?
The engine will start and run without the battery the person was jumping off a start box by connecting to the ground and to the starter post could this of damaged the selenide

I cannot find an schematic for the model number you gave me. Without that, I have no way to chase the failure. Does the owners manual have a part number on it?

You either are hooking the battery up incorrectly, or have a dead short somewhere on the wiring harness.

I cannot find an schematic for the model number you gave me. Without that, I have no way to chase the failure. Does the owners manual have a part number on it?
I don't have an owners manual I contacted sears they said manual is no longer in print they told me to to sears parts direct .com I did and could only find 502.25733 whitch is close to my mower I printed schematics and parts list whitch only half were available