the electric starter on my 250 won't urn the engine over, just a clicking noise. it will start with the pull start cord, is the starter bad?

 

Always check the battery out first. Load testing can tell if it's good or not. May be as simple as that.These old machines can pull start as they actually don't need the battery for ignition. Battery is just for the starter,lights,etc.Use a simple test light or meter and see if voltage is jumping from the battery side of the solenoid to the starter cable side.If it's not,the solenoid is bad. If voltage is present on the starter cable side of the solenoid,check that you're getting power on the starter itself. Sometimes corrosion on the starter terminal can keep the starter from working. Slide back the red cap back and loosen the 10mm nut enough to move the cable around,retighten the nut.If the starter still doesn't kick in then,probably a bad starter. Easier to just go ahead and replace the starter bendix(gear shaft) when you replace the starter. Fairly cheap here for both of them or find some on ebay.http://www.dbelectrical.com/c-1790-250.aspx