This mower was getting hard to crank, the engine would barely turn over and it acted just like the battery was going out. I installed a new diehard, made sure it was fully charged and it still will not crank - turn the key and nothing happens. I go through the normal start sequence - push the clutch/brake petal down, partial choke, clutch lever disengaged, ROS system in first position. Great mower - if I could only get it to crank.

DJ

Have your starter checked out.

I should have made it clearer when I said that nothing happens when I turn the key that there is no spark to the engine, even with the new battery. Is there something between the battery and the starter that could have failed? If so, could I jump this out and go straight from the battery to the starter to get it to crank?

Thanks for your help.

DJ

Yes could be the solenoid ,
Follow the red wire from the battery , should go to solenoid .this could be bad , however you can cross the two terminals on the solenoid and make it crank ,the two big ones on top.
Luck

I agree with DG but this can also be a failed safety switch, that tractor has 3 of them. The ROS rarely failks but the switch under the seat fails more often than the others. Also you jump around with some terms and I am confused. By "clutch lever disengaged," is that a redunant statement since you said you depressed the clutch pedal in the sentence before? Also you say spark and then later crank, they are not the same thing. Does the starter motor turn the engine over at all?