For future reference to those having the same trouble. On the older Snappers there are two wires going to the magneto, they are bolted together near the carburetor. One is black, one is red. Black shorts out the magneto when the key is off, Red one shorts out magneto when deck is down. Disconnect both wires and try to start motor (you'll have to pull the spark plug wire to stop it if it does start). Sometimes the switches go bad and they in affect ground the spark plug. The give away diagnosis is when the engine attempts to kick over just at key turn and right after key shut off. The plug sparks just when the shorting circuits open back up between starting key positions...
rickie, April 2009
