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Good times all,
So I have a multimeter and I've tested a couple of things I'll list out what I've tested I believe I'm good with power up to the ignition switch then I'm not sure where to go from there.

Symptoms: Lawn mower doesn't start, doesn't attempt to start. Seated, with clutch / break depressed, all the way in start no sound (ie starter isn't even trying to start). No number display on the little LED read out that reads out hours. (please note lawnmower was running 2 weeks ago when i parked it, I've had the headlights disconnected for about a year that the only thing i haven't tested that i know how to test.).

Battery Terminals show 12,9 volts. Solenoid in shows voltage, both small wires on the solenoid show voltage. I checked the fuse inline, and confirmed good. Ohm meter tested good.
12+ volts in one wire . I traced the other wire up to the ignition switch, and I have power to the red wire there. That is also the other side of the fuse (used ohm meter to test resistance to it.
I'm not sure how to test the ignition switch or if there is anything else that i need to test.

Unfortunately I'm not sure how to test the solenoid. It has 2 larger posts, and 2 smaller connections. I"m assuming my issue is here, or in the ignition switch, but i don't know how to tell what to test next. I'm guessing there is a way to bypass the ignition switch.

The only thing that makes me think there is power going through the system is i can hear the noise that mower switch (up down plunger switch) makes when it engages / disengages. (what can i say i tried all the buttons but the lights).

suggestions and ELI5 appreciated, thank you.

You test the solenoid by disconnecting the two small wires at the base ( black & white in the diagram above )
Apply power to one terminal and ground to the other , does not matter which way just so long as the regular wires are not connected at the time
When the trigger is energised the solenoid will close & power will go from the solenoid to the starter which should spin
If not test the starter by running jumpers directly from the battery to the starter + terminal & a good ground near the starter
No joy then do the same with a known good battery
Let us know what happens

Thank you BertsMobile1, looks like a bad solenoid. I tested as you described and it started right up.

slewfoot2xm said:

Thank you BertsMobile1, looks like a bad solenoid. I tested as you described and it started right up.

Click to expand...

If the solenoid worked when you jumped the trigger wires at the base then the solenoid is good and the wiring is bad
As you can see from the diagram Star posted the black wire is always ground ( check it ) and the white wire should go battery voltage with the key in the start position , the blades turned off & the brake set .

If no voltage then pull the plug from the key switch & jump from the B terminal ( red wire ) to the S terminal ( white wire )
If the key switch is bad & others are good the engine should crank

No cranking then with the key plug still jumped pull the plug on either the PTO or Brake switch and do the same
The one you jump that cranks the engine is the bad switch.
Note because there is no power to the carb solenoid the engine should not start , or may fire a couple of times & stop

Be careful not to jump the White to gray on the brake switch ( bad choice of colours ) or you will send battery voltage to the magneto & fry the timing chip
You can pull the blower housing off and remove the kill wire from the coils to prevent expensive accidents, I do because it costs me money .

I make up proper patch leads to do these tests which is just a short length of wire ≈ 4" to 6" with an insulated male terminal on both ends .
If all that fails to crank the engine then one of the wires between the switches is broken
Same tests but use a much longer wire to bypass the loom

Note the wiring diagram above is WRONG
brake pedal up has the bottom pair of wires Black & Gray connected while the White pair are not connected
Pedal depressed reverses this , white connected , black & grey disconnected