craftsman lawn tractor starting issue

[chevrolet1969]

I have a craftsman 14.5 hp 42" lawn tractor. Drove it out of the garage to change blades and the cable clutch assembly. I replaced the blades, put on a new belt, and installed the clutch assembly. I slid the mower deck back under the tractor, and attached with the retainer springs. Turned the key and the tractor would not start. It would turn over slow but would not fire. I hooked up my battery charger, and tried again and it wouldn't start. I took the starter out and had it checked and it tested fine. I reinstalled the starter and it wouldn't fire. I have replaced the solenoid, the ignition switch, the spark plug, the plunger switch under the seat, still same thing. It turns over, but slow and will not fire. Any suggestions as to what to do next. I did buy a new battery also and that didn't help

 

[james rice]

sounds like its not getting the proper current to the starter.maybe a bad cable or connection.try putting a jumper cable from hot post of battery to starter direct and run the other cable to a good ground.if the starter turns fast it is a battery cable bad or connection.could even be the ground wire.

 

[pugaltitude]

Maybe not electrical but a parasitic load on engine like a belt or clutch causing drag on engine.

Also could be valve clearances are out and/or decompressor broken on camshaft.

 

[Fish]

take the plugs out and crank, then turn the flywheel by hand, use common sense, think the problem through.

 

[bigunn]

Sorta had the same problem tractor had set awhile and I put a new battery in and had put about a half gallon of fuel, by the time I got the batterry in and was ready to start and it was really slow got off and was checking the cables and smelled gas. I looked at the carb and it was all wet so I pulled the air filter and tthe thing was fuel of gas the float was stuck and so was the cylinder . I cleaned the carb and it done it again, Lucky I had another complete engine took the carb and replaced it and that was the problem. I was never able to get the float to work right so I will have to try and find a kit as I want to fix the old engine, by the way these were 14.5 engines the old engine came off the tractor.

 

[dennis morris]

When u replaced the drive belt after taking off the clutch, by chance is the belt on the wrong side of the belt guides?