Hi,
I have a three or four year old craftsman lt1000 lawn tractor, that is on its second battery.
When I installed the new battery, it cranked fine. After sitting for a week or two between mowings, the engine won't even m,ake a complete revolution, if I jump it with my car, after 5 minutes. It will turn over. Now I see that the ampmeter is nor shaowing that I'm charging.
Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this problem. One month is too shrt for a new battery to die.

Thanks

Battery could be fine, sounds like a problem with charging circuit(Alternator/regulator?)
I would charge battery measure voltage, start and check running voltage to see an increase(charging).
A drail or load can slowly discharge a battery.
Your ampmeter may be correct and not charging, battery is probably good.

How would I go about finding a drain or short that is draing the battery if that's what it is?

Without a meter, you could disconnect 1 battery terminal and hook light to battery terminal and one on post. If it lights there is a drain, if it doesn't it may be low or no drain. Turn something on to provide drain and see if the light goes on.

So I take off one terminal and hook between it and the terminal on the battery?

A light bulb is a current dependent resistor. This means when it's inserted in series with the battery terminals, it will limit the amount of current from the battery. The filament lamp also has about a 10X lower resistance when cold than when operating, thus hooking a low current lamp betwwen + of the battery and the battery cable will indicate drain. Turning on the ignition will light the lamp, but no appriciable power can be drawn so the mower can't start.

If it will try and turn a revolution and stop, it could be the valves are out of adjustment.

I didn't think small engines had valves that were adjustable. Thought they were reed valves. I guess I was wrong... as usual :confused: