According to MLD :

wrote in message
ps.com...
About 2 hours later I reattached the battery. Positive (red) cable
1st. Negative (black) cable second. When I touch the black cable to
the battery terminal the enginge tries to crank over. All I would need
to do is give it gas (choke) and it would probably start. Heres whats
weird. THE KEY IS IN MY POCKET (IGNITION SET TO OFF), THE BRAKE/CLUTCH
IS NOT PUSHED IN (HAS TO BE TO START) AND THE DEADMAN SEAT SWITCH IS
NOT PRESSED IN BECAUSE I AM NOT IN THE SEAT!
It should not be trying to start. There are 3 thing that should keep
it silent, but every time I touch the black battery cable to the
battery it tries to start up. Is this a short of some kind? What do I
do? My grass is almost shin high and I have a good sized yard.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You need to look at the electrical schematic that came with the tractor.
Obviously it's not gremlins--you have a short from the battery to the
starter to ground which is by-passing the ignition switch and all the
various disconnects and safety switches. Get hold of a multimeter that will
let you check resistance (ohms). Disconnect the battery leads and walk you
way through the system (using the schematic as a guide) and see if you can
find the short to ground. You're looking for a short that is upstream of any
normally functioning component or switch that should prevent this from
happening. I suspect it will be very close to the starter.

If the Murray has a starter solenoid/relay like a car (may be part of the
starter) it _may_ have fused/jammed itself with the contacts closed.
Loud buzzing is suggestive of a solenoid/relay problem. But it may
just be a symptom of a short elsewhere.
--
Chris Lewis,

Age and Treachery will Triumph over Youth and Skill
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.