I picked this up cheap. It has a 12.5hp b & s engine. Never started using the key, I always jumped the 2 pins on the solenoid to start. Did this probable 10 - 12 times, now it won't start. Lots of sparks when I jump the pins but the flywheel only spins slowly and only a turn. Pulled plug out, faint smell of gas, turns a bit more when I jump without plug in. I had replaced the ignition with a new one and it never made a difference, so I returned it. I can turn the flywheel by hand also. Couple of things I did notice in trying to get it started, was very low oil, so I filled it, oild did not smell of gas, and an orange wire with a connectoir hanging. Diagram says it connects to alternator, I don't seem to know where that would be or if this wire was ever hooked up to anything. I did replace plg also and no change, old onme had pretty good carbon build up. Jumped seat swith also, no change. Any thoughts would be helpful. Did I kill the solenoid? Also blades are not engaged. Not really too concerned with switch jumping it is fine, can this be retrofitted with a pull start, not that it would help right now. Thanks

I have had a couple craftsman mowers and have had the most trouble with the safety switch for the deck handle. If you look on the back side of the dash where the handle attaches to the cable you should see the switch just below the handle. Make sure that it is making contact when the deck is not engaged. This might be the trouble with the ignition switch not working.

As for the currect starting problem, It sounds like you have one of three things that might be causing it. 1) It could just have a low battery. Especially if the wire for the alternator is not hooked up and it isn't charging. 2) Your valves may need to be adjusted. 3) your starter could be going bad.

Try jumping the mower right off your car with the negative cable clamped on the block of the mower engine and then touch the positive cable to the post on the mower starter post. It will spark but you seem to be used to that. This should make it crank over normal. Of course, try it again without the spark plug in if it doesn't.

Let us know what you find.

Thanks I'll try it over the weekend and let you know

OK negative, term to the body and positive to the starter pin, started like a brand new machine. Thanks js. Any chance you can tell me how to hook up the alternator, or check if it even is. I have a connector sitting there that comes froim the wire harness, orange wires, schematic say it goes to the alt. I think. Now, there is a black wire that comes out of the narness that is clamped to another wire coming from under the engine cover. The clamp is one of those cheapies that crimp the two wires together to make a connection. At the end of eaqch wire, the one coming and the one going to the engine there is a strange round plug, maybe 1/4 inch around with a pin in it. They do not fit together, don't look like they ever could have yet they are the ones clamped. Thanks much for all the help, got rid of 1/4 acre of leaves today.