Craftsman Riding Mower Won't Start?

I have a Craftsman 42 model 917 372910. For a while, when it sits it has been hard to turn over. To start I usually have to choke a lot. This year I charged the battery to begin to start. Then I did routine maintenance. I changed out a pulley with new drive belt. Then it would not turn over at all. I put in a new solenoid. There is power going to the solenoid, but not coming out. The small wires on the solenoid are hot. Any suggestions?