Hello, I am posting for my husband. He is physically handicapped

[whistlepig]

If you are getting spark at the plugs no need to check the safety switches. If your plugs are wet you are getting gas. I doubt that you are getting both and that's why it won't start. These are the simplest places to start looking. Have to have a place to start.

 

[scaredychicken]

have you checked that the battery is still in good condition ? that the battery is fully charged, and that the connections are tight ? most of the time after a season in storage, charging the battery up and connecting the battery cables is my first task
the other thing that I would look at is to see if there are any fuses that are blown. If I recall correctly, my lawn tractor has one fuse that I had to check.
I hope that you find a solution
a Welcome to TBN for both you and your husband:welcome:

 

[zzvyb6]

Water in carburetor bowl can cause this condition. Clogged fuel filter. Bad fuel pump. Try starting fluid or WD40 into the air cleaner.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Here is a quick fix that might work assuming that you have an older model of tractor. This is also assuming that the spark checks out ok as per previous posts. Before the EPA went totally stupid there were carburetors with mixture adjustment screws on them. If your lucky enough to have one of those then just turn the screws in gently until they bottom out. Count the turns in and turn back out to the same spot. If the tractor still won't start then get an old Windex type squirt bottle or equivalent and put about a cupful of gas in it. Squirt gas down the carburetor throat while cranking and the engine should start. You might have to do this a few times before the engine will run. If this doesn't work then carefully take the float bowl off the carb and clean the junk out of it. This is the short and quick version of getting a motor started. If the motor still doesn't start then the carb will need to be taken apart and be cleaned. This is all assuming that the carb has adequate fuel flow from the tank. Good luck

 

[Bill 55]

I will second the stuck needle valve theory. My cub would not start this spring. I worked on it for 3 days. I finally pushed it up on the trailer and hauled it tem miles north on the roughest road in Coshocton County. I pushed it off the trailer where the shop owner wanted it. Two days later he called and said it was ready. I went up, loaded it on the trailer and went in to find out what I owed him. He said no charge, I asked what the problem was and he said when they went out to get it it started on the first try and they could not get it to not start. He said he had another one do the same thing two years in a row, and the only thing they could figure is the needle valve sticks. If mine does it again I am going to load it up and take it for a ride on a rough road. If you have a trailer and a rough stretch of road it would be worth a try,