Buy a new battery
Buy a new starter switch
Buy new Battery leads
Thus you have bought everything in the starting circuit that did not need to be replaced because the valve lash is too big.
Get about 3 or 4 every season.
Cars have hydraulic lifters so never need touching
Mowers have solid lifters which according to the maintanance schedule in the owners handbook should be checked between 200 & 500 Hrs depending which engine is fitted.
Excessive valve lash defeats the decompressors and the starter motors do not have the balls to overcome full compression on a good engine.