I've had this Cub Cadet since 2020 and only put about 100 hours on it. Today it randomly acted up. I usually have to turn it over about 5 times before it fires up. Will about the fifth time it turned over, it made a weird noise i've never heard. Like it tried to fire but didn't, and then nothing after that. it'll turn over but won't fire. I'm pretty mechanically inclined and checked fuel air and gas. Its getting all 3 of these. Spark is good, its getting fuel and i even shot some starting fluid in through the airbox, and no fire at all. When I did that, it would turn over and about the 4th time it would either backfire really loud or stop like it was locking up.
I checked the compression on both cyclinders and i'm getting 160 at both. 
 
I'm currently at a loss and not sure what to check next or what to do next. Any ideas?

First, it shouldn't take it 5 times cranking to start.  Sounds like the choke be an issue.
 
 
Next, I'd pull valve covers, check valve clearances, that the push rods are in place.
 
Also spin over,(with spark plugs out) and make sure everything is rotating / moving as it should..
 
I know you said you had fuel ( I assume you have a fuel pump), but pull off the fuel line at 
the carb, put the hose in a container and crank over.  Just to make sure fuel is indeed pumping.
 
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SRTsFZ6
First, it shouldn't take it 5 times cranking to start.  Sounds like the choke be an issue.
 
 
Next, I'd pull valve covers, check valve clearances, that the push rods are in place.
 
Also spin over,(with spark plugs out) and make sure everything is rotating / moving as it should..
 
I know you said you had fuel ( I assume you have a fuel pump), but pull off the fuel line at 
the carb, put the hose in a container and crank over.  Just to make sure fuel is indeed pumping.
 
.

Thank you for your response. It ended up being the flywheel key had sheared off and wasn't in line with the crankshaft anymore. New key installed and she runs better than ever.