Check the fuel solenoid on the bottom of the carburetor for proper operation. Should be clicking when you turn on ignition switch. You might need to remove it and check that the rubber tip hasn't come off and is now blocking the main jet constantly.
 
For some reason I had three solenoids to do this in the last month with this type of rubber tip.
 
An expensive little monster even with my dealer discount.

Ok, one mystery solved! The no start was in fact the fuel solenoid. I broke off the plunger just to see if I could get the engine to start. And wham, it fired right up. I now wonder if I should go forward with ordering a new fuel solenoid or if I can run the way I am. I could add a fuel line shut off between the fuel pump and carb, or is that bad hack? Next I need to figure out why the PTO wont engage. I checked ohms on the clutch again and it still only gives me between .7 and 1.0. I am thinking that means its bad. So I am about to look at what a new one costs...gulp. The dang mower is nickel and dim'ing me! Can a clutch be rebuilt? Thanks for hanging with me all!

Roy, thanks for the response the mower before all the work always backfired terribly, so my wife, kids, and dogs are all used to it :) I thought I needed 2-4 ohms for the PTO? I checked the switch, but come to think of it, I have not checked the leads to the clutch. I will now!

Roy
Do you have power to the clutch? Your resistance sounds ok. Make sure it is grounded.

Roy these electric PTO are partially shorted if .7 - 1.0 ohms. Warner has the minimum resistance reading at 1.7 ohms. And if the max current allowed at 12 vdc is 5 amps then a good reading would be 2.4 ohms. Many mowers that have a fused PTO clutch uses a 7.5 amps fuse so at charging voltage of 14.8 then minimum ohms allowed is 1.97. ON these mowers if the clutch coil is down to 1.7 it would be blowing the fuse as it would be pulling 8.7 amps.
 
Ngreke provided you are  reading this across both wires at the solenoid then yes the solenoid is dead. And since most handheld Dvmm and analog meters seldom read directly anything over 10 amps it is best to either use a clamp meter or simply install an inline fuse and install a 7.5 amp fuse. If it blows the fuse when the PTO is turned on replace the clutch assembly. An line fuse also saves the PTO switch, ignition switch, wiring, and any other electrical components associated with the PTO from excessive current.
 

The cub cadet is mowing again. Snipped fuel solenoid plunger and replaced the PTO clutch. Hoping repairs last a while!