Bring it back to life...
 

I just picked up a LT 1042 series 1000 with 164 hours on it. It's been sitting in & out but really looks almost new. Had no battery. I put a new battery in, it won't turn over. I jumped from the hot battery lead to the starter, nothing. I can hear a little click when I turn the key, it could be the solinoid but is seams to quiet. Any reccomendations on 1st steps to bring it back to life?

If you ran a jumper from the positive pole of the battery directly to the starter terminal and "got Nothing" then you obviously either have a bad starter or the negative pole of your battery is not making a good ground to the frame. That is, assuming your new battery is good.

yep
 

The ground is working on the battery, it's also brand new and fully charged. However, I wonder if it might be a bad ground on the starter or something to do with the "starter relay". Seems like hot to the starter hot pole should do something. However, it doesn't seem likely the starter would die from sitting. :beatdeadhorse:

Lets cut to the chase,
Get the jumper cables out and put the red/positive on the battery+terminal.
Put the black -, to the battery negative terminal.

then put the red+ terminal of the other end of the jumper on the starter terminal stud.
Then touch the negative jumper terminal to the body of the starter.
If the starter/engine spins, you have a wiring problem somewhere in the system.
If it does not spin, you have a starter problem:beerchug:

or a stuck engine?

That is a given, but he would at least hear some action of the starter trying to spin,-- or not, if problematic.:bigthink:

I'm not talking about the battery terminal connection.
Did you verify a good clean, tight electrical connection where the negative cable bolts to the frame?
Also, while testing, it wouldn't hurt to remove the spark plug in case your cylinder is full of gas from a leaking carb.