Trouble with a 424

I took the tractor out, and went about 40 yards before it cut off. It died just like the key had been turned off, but the amp light came on, like it does with the key on before I start the tractor. I did some checking, found no spark coming from the coil. Coil is new, and measures 3.3-3.7 ohm across it with all three wires removed.

Today, I put on a freshly charged battery, new condenser, points, distributor cap, and rotor. I hooked up the battery and when I tried to start the tractor, the starter just clicked, then when I released the start button everything shut off, just like I had turned the key off. I disconnected the battery and found one of the two small wires that go into one connector on the solenoid broken. I fixed the wire, then reconnected the battery and tried to start the tractor again. The starter clicked, then everything shut off when I released the start button. I noticed small wisps of smoke coming out the the starter this time, where the little bar comes out of the starter body and connects to the solenoid.

I'm assuming the starter is bad now, but I will have it tested tomorrow. My question is, could there be a common cause for both the tractor dying, and the starter going out? Where should I start looking?

Thanks

Sounds like you have a bad battery, a bad connection at the battery or a bad battery cable.

No matter WHAT happened to the starter, it shouldn't have killed the engine while it was running. (Unless the solenoid is severely damaged, but then the battery and cable should have heated up as the battery was drained.)

A bad connection to the ignition/charging system from the starter relay (solenoid) can do it check contenuity and wiggle it while checking. If the new solenoid has thin sheet metal tabs to hold it on, the bolts/screws can go into the starter and short it out. Put washers under the bolts. Good luck. Put it in higear, and rock ir back and forth to unstick the starter, it happens, JimN