The black wire running off of your coil is a grounding lead and it is meant to kill the engine. When that wire is connected to ground, it keeps the coil from firing. It is the way that the ignition switch turns off the engine. Disconnect both of the black wire leads coming off the coils and make sure they aren't touching any metal on the engine or tractor frame. Now try starting the engine. If it starts and runs fine then either you have the black wires connected to the ignition switch wrong or you have a short in the wires somewhere. Just a heads up when you try this though. You will not be able to turn off your engine with the ignition switch with both those leads disconnected. You will need to fully engage the choke on the carburator to do it. Most newer tractors will choke off the carburator when the throttle lever is pushed all the way up.

Keith

I only have 1 black wire coming from my coil

Since you have two spark plug wires I am assuming you have two coils. The black wire on each coil should NOT be connected to ground, a shroud bolt, or any other metal part on the engine. It needs to be connected into your ignition harness. When that black wire touches anything metal on the engine, it grounds out the coil and prevents it from firing. That is what your ignition switch and deaman switches are doing. When they are in the off position it is connecting those wires to ground.

Keith

I only have one coil with 2 plug wires coming from them. I disconnected the wire and it still started....will trace the wire back and see if there is any exposed wire....thank you

"Since you have two spark plug wires I am assuming you have two coils."

You need to check out the model number of the engine before offering advice.

That ground wire is not causing the problem. Sometimes a bad coil will act this way but you have replaced it with a new(?) coil.

"The new one simply has a brass fitting that looks like I could connect with opne of the shroud bolts....Any ideas?"

I don't know what you are talking about here, can you post a picture?

Walt Conner

I followed the wireas far as I could up to the ignition switch. The tape holdong several wires together was looking pretty worn and was falling off. Took the tape off and disconnected and reconnected2 connectors on the kill switch. Hook everything back up . Engine would not start with just the "bad" side hooked up. Put both plug wires back on, started engine and pulled the "good" plug wire off and the engine kept running. I'm thinking I can live with that.