Before you start replacing parts, clean all the cable connections, including the GROUNDS.
Is the battery charged? If it's sat all winter, it may have ran down.
Also try jumping the 2 large terminals on the solenoid. If it turns over, the starter motor is good.
If not, will it crank with the spark plug removed.

On Briggs OHV engines, too much valve lash can cause the compression release to not work.
Walt Conner will email valve adjust instructions if you email him. Just look at the other 3-4 threads about people having the same problem to get his email address.

I recommend looking at this thread-
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tractor/msg0416204430549.html?32

Battery is new . I charged it last night to be sure. i cleaned all the terminal conections when I installed the new batt. i just removed the ground at the frame and cleaned and retightened bolt, next I looked at the starter conection , it was clean and shiny.but a little loose so I re tightened, all conections on the solenoid are clean shiney and tight.i removed the spark plug ,then tried to jump the to large posts on the solenoid, sparks and clicking is all I got
mike

Will the engine turn by hand?

Jumping to the solenoid posts and just getting clicking infers that one or more of the following is true-

Battery isn't fully charged
Engine is seized
Starter motor is bad

how do I turn the motor by hand?
It was running great last time I shut it down . I cant imagine the motor seized.
thanks mike

Your problem is near certain the solenoid. The function of the solenoid is to connect high current, from the battery, to the starter. There are two large terminals on the solenoid. One from the battery and the other to the starter. These terminals are connected internally to the solenoid when you operate the key switch. Short the two large terminal together with a screwdriver and see if the motor turns over. If it does replace the solenoid, or take it apart and clean the internal connections. You can drill out the rivets clean the internal connections and put it back together with small screws and nuts. If you are going to throw the bad solenoid away what do you have to lose in trying to repair it?

A new solenoid should not cost more than $8. Anyone that is 12 volts and will mechanically fit it will work.

bill in nc, You are the man. Troubleshooting is pretty simple if you keep it simple.

""Short the two large terminal together with a screwdriver "and see if the motor turns over. If it does replace the solenoid,"

"bill in nc, You are the man. Troubleshooting is pretty simple if you keep it simple"

Yah, it is except this may not necessarily be so and the solenoid may not be the problem. There is at least one more step needed to really tell if the problem is the solenoid. Even if you replace the solenoid and then the starter works, it may still not be the real problem. While he has 12 v to the solenoid, safety switches or ignition switch may not pass enough current to cause the solenoid to make a solid hit. A new contact surface from a new solenoid may let it work for a while. I learned the expensive way.

"then tried to jump the to large posts on the solenoid, sparks and clicking is all I got"

Well I think you are leaving something out. Jumping across the two large posts on the solenoid would not cause the solenoid to click. There is nothing in there that even an internal short would activate the solenoid causing clicking. You should be able to tell if the clicking is coming from the solenoid or the starter.

Bill asked you if you could turn the engine by hand. I don't see where you answered. Put your palm on the flywheel screen and turn it clockwise.

When you short those two large posts, if you do it tentatively, you will get a lot of sparks. You want to stab it like you meant it.

Walt Conner

WOW ! you guys are good !!!
I tried to turn the fly wheel screen with my hand .NO go !!
I got underneath the tractor and put a small pipe wrench on the main shaft. I started to apply pressure and the motor suddenly turned (plug was out) It didnt take much muscle to get it to break free. I jumped the solenoid and presto the motor turned over.
NOW what caused the motor to freeze???

Thank you so much im so glad i found this forum ! youguys saved me from throwing money at my tractor

Perhaps your starter gear is worn and was jammed in the flywheel ring gear. I thought afterwards that I should have told you to check this. No way of telling now except to look at the starter gear and see if it looks chewed up.

Walt Conner

Do nothing. I have seen this happen many times once and never happen again. On rare occasions the taper on the starter gear teeth and the taper on the flywheel gear teeth will jam and lock up and never happen again. Kind of a freak of the beast.

I sure wouldn't think about replacing the starter - starter gear perhaps IF it appears to be chewed up.

Walt Conner