when i switch from the start position to forward...the clutch doesnt engage until i give it some gas...is this normal or has anyone else had this problem

Is it an older model? There was a red wire on the key switch which supplied power to the clutch,if it came off or the connection burned up that is what would happen.

X2 on the key switch had it happen to mine and smoked the clutch cause it wouldn't engage right

Yes its older model..I had about 2 minutes to look at it this mornin before work. The red wire was definitely loose on the key switch.is that some kind of rivet that holds the wire on the switch? I could barely see in there.

No there is no rivet they can just come loose. Its just a female connection that fits on a male fitting on the key switch. You can remove the key switch and hook it back up. If you do and you hit the key switch on the motor it can blow the 25 amp fuse, just a heads up.

Red wire on the ignition switch.

Alrighty...thanks alot for the help