Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): toro 12-32xl, safety switches, micro switches

Question
The problem that I am having is when you turn the key switch nothing happens. No click from the solenoid. Engine doen not spin. Disconnected the main ground wire coming from the engine. Nothing happens. Engine will not turn.No power to the starter. I can start the engine with the main ground disconnected and by jumping the 2 (+) wires on the solenoid but when I reconnect the main ground the engine dies. Replaced the relay with no effect. I can not get power to the side terminal of the solenoid to engage the (+) wires that run the starter motor. The seem to be no short circuit in the wireing cables. Hard to tell because they are bundled up. Could it still be one of the kill switches. They use micro-switches but they usually do not go bad or do they? Or could it be the key switch? Battery has a full charge.

Answer
I suspect a safety switch is the issue.  When you connect the ground it is completing the safety switch circuit which is ground the igntion system and killing the ignition spark.

Is your model number 56175?  If so, use the link below to view the wire diagram.

https://homeownersolutions.toro.com/portal/server.pt?space=CommunityPage&cached=true&parentname=CommunityPage&parentid=1&in_hi_userid=30166&control=SetCommunity&CommunityID=225&PageID=30031#manualsResultPage

Your machine should have 3 safety switches, seat, trans and deck.  One of these safety switches may have be disconnected or may be bad.

Eric