Welcome to the forum from Alabama. Did you clean the terminals before connecting the battery? Look to make sure the wire is making good contact with the terminals. Also check where it grounds to the tractor.
Welcome to the forum. I guess that you didn't get an Operator Manual with it. On mine you just pull the handle up but on yours I have no idea. Someone on here probably will.
Welcome to the forum from Alabama. I really like your area especially in the fall when the trees turn. I used to arrange to go to training at Data General at that time of the year.