Ok, so I just checked, and the starter pulley is spinning counterclockwise, if you're standing in front of the tractor, facing the engine. The starter pulley is spinning inside the belt. Normally, I'd just say, well, the belt's just too loose, as Tom suggested. However, the tractor started fine, before, when jumped, and I haven't changed anything, like moving the starter motor on the tensioner bracket at all. Another head scratcher.

When I get a better meter, what should I check for continuity, in order to check the starter solenoid, as originally suggested?

In the up-close picture of the V/R, I'm getting smoke out of the wire that goes to the top mounting bolt. That's where the ground wire was, when we originally took it apart. Batter wire is to the bottom terminal on the right, generator wire is to the terminal right above that, on the right. the unused terminal on the lft, appears to be a ground, but it wasn't in use when we looked at the wiring originally, and when we tried hooking the ground to it, to check, still same problem.

hopefully this additional info and the pictures will help us get somewhere, and I'll get a better meter soon.

Aaron

It may have started before but if the starter is spinning and the belt is not then either the belt needs to be tightened or the motor is seized. See if you can turn the motor at all by hand and if you can then adjust belt tension.

Thanks, Tom. I'mm have to wait until I get the wire smoking thing figured out before tightening the belt, though. Don't want to ruin anything.

thanks for all the input, all.

Aaron