Have a Murray riding mower and we have replaced the selnoid and the battery, but still not staring. Does not start, will click once when you turn the key. Some one told us the engine may be locked up? How do I know and how do I fix that?

MMoore, May 2009

Try turning the motor at the top by placing your hands on the screening material and applying a little pressure while trying to rotate it. If it moves easily it is not locked up. But the magnito may be a little rusted to the other moving part giving you a little resistance. Keep trying until you get it to move a little then try to start it. Also I just got mine running today after years of sitting by bypassing the ignition completely and using jumper cables to attach a car battery directly to the starter positive and grounding on a large bolt holding on the hood. Sparked a little but she started... Now I got to fix the frozen deck...lol

Scott, May 2012

To check that the engine is free, put a socket spanner on the nut that holds the main drive pulley onto the crankshaft and see if you can turn the engine over. The pulley can be seen below the main chassis but above the cutter deck.

John, May 2009