Hustlin' Hank wrote:
I did replace a battery cable, and clean the terminals and also the
terminals on the starter and solenoid no fix. I put in KNOWN good
battery, no fix. I haven't tried jumping from another battery. I did
find that the coil wire was twisted together and replaced it with a
connector, no fix. I hook the battery charger directly to the battery,
which is the only way to get it to start.

Starter turns just as fast with charger as without charger, or good
battery. The coil was replaced thinking it was a weak coil.

I am sooooo confused.

Hank ~~~never seen this problem before



I could be the valves need adjusting, there is a compression release
on most small engines that allow for easier starting but the valves have
to be adjusted to specs for it work properly. The added amperage from
the additional battery might be enough to over come the extra
compression. I've got an old riding mower with a twin cylinder B&S
engine and it takes a three year battery to start it when the engine is
hot, the one year batteries just don't have enough cranking amps. Check
out some small engine forums.
And it PMO that I can buy a car battery cheaper than the dinky battery
for my riding lawnmower.