Hi, I have a 2nd hand Craftsman 917.252520 model ride on mower with a Briggs & Stratton 15hp engine.

After the winter layover I could not get the mower to start. I replaced the starter switch, starter solenoid and starter motor plus bought a new battery. I also replaced the fuse and also the safety switch under the seat and the clutch safety switch.

After all these changes the mower still would not start normally but I managed to get it started by jumping across the starter solenoid. This worked for a while (several cuts) but now I cannot get the motor to start at all. Now all the engine does is make a whining noise when I jump the solenoid but makes no sound at all if the engine is started normally.

When I jump the solenoid the engine tries to start, but it does not fire up. Very frustrating.

I was thinking it might be the fuel solenoid... could this be it, if so how do I check it?
Or could it be the transmission or cutting deck safety switches?

Or a combination of these or something else?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I live outside the US so it is expensive to keep shipping parts from the USA to Ireland, can anyone help me isolate this problem(s) and fix at first go hopefully.
Thanks

This post I lost when AMHD went haywire, so I'll try again.

There is a lot of non-consistant or terms that have multiple meanings here, so it's difficult. "fire up", "start", "whining noise", and "motor start at all". Confusing.

Lets start with "turn over". Starter engages and the engine shaft moves.

"whining or screaching"?

Take the plug out and turn off the fuel if possible.

What happens when you try to start it electrically?

Whir or screach once in a while?

Aside:
My thoughts based on what you said so far. Storage with gas in it without fuel stabilizer points to a carb problem BTW, Use high octane fuel and a fuel stabilizer near the end of the season. Try to use up all the fuel in the mower before storage.

Leas acid batteries go south really fast when discharged. From now on trickle charge battery during storage.

Typical problems: The screach is the rope starter clutch. It or timing could break the starter bendix.

End aside.

The starter has to move. Once it moves the gear engages the flywheel and the engine turns. You need to check for spark.

Do we have an electrical problem with the starter and a broken gear?

Do we have a valve adjustment problem?

Do we have a dirty rope clutch? It makes occaisional screaching sounds while the engine is running.

Betting on valves out of adjustment or clutch and a broken bendix. They are supposed to break. And a carb that needs to be cleaned.

Do we have fire?

Do we have fuel?

Hi,
I can understand your mystfication. The starting circuit goes through the clutch/brake and attachment switches. My guess is the latter since it was not replaced. The voltage potential travels through the white wire. The red wire should have 12V all the time. The white wire should have 12V with the switch held in the start position and it should travel through those two switches to the small post of the solenoid.
The whirring is unclear, though three things cause it; battery hooked up backwards, stripped starter pinion and stuck pinion.
You ought to be able to find parts more locally since this is an Electrolux brand (Swedish owned) and should make inquiries locally. Part #109553X is the switch (same switch for both locations though different circuits running through them.)
Schematic attached:
Peace,
Clarke