Riding Lawn mowers - Craftsman riding lawn mower wont start

I have a Craftsman riding lawn mower. It will not start. If I turn the key and hold it in the s..

I have a Craftsman riding lawn mower. It will not start. If I turn the key and hold it in the starting position it makes a clicking, grinding noise.
I replaced the solenoid because I thought that was where the noise was coming from but I believe it is below the solenoid. The battery is charged. The lights do not come on when I turn the key to the light. Any ideas?

Could you explain your situation a little more?
How have you verified that the battery is charged?
Any information off the identification plate on the mower?

I will get the identification plate on the mower on Monday, but the information I have is Craftsman lawn tractor, 18.0 HP, 42" mower, electric start, 6 speed transaxle, model no. 917.273753. I have put the battery on a battery charger and it registered as charged. Also, when I try to start the mower, the ammeter needle moves to the left.

This sounds like a bad ground or poor connections somewhere. I would suggest that you take the battery to most any automotive parts store and have them run a load test on the battery since it can be the problem.
Let me know the results and I will continue after you send the information Monday.

Thanks for your reply, I will take the battery an get a load test on it. Someone told me to run a battery cable from the positive post on the battery to the post on the starter and see if it would try to start. I did and all that happen was a little spart but no turning over of the motor. I'm not sure what that tells me.
Jeanette.

Let me know what the load test of the battery indicates. Jumping the starter as you did should have resulted in the starter turning over if the starter and battery are is good.