Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): tracing a short, safety switches, safety switch

Question
i have a 12 hp murry rider that sparks only when the ground wire is disconnected.ive tried unhooking all the safety switches and putting jumpers on them with no luck.could the selonoid be causing this? or a short somewhere?and should i be trying the safety switches all at once,or one at a time?  ty  steve

Answer
Not the solenoid.  It is a safety switch.  The reason jumping all of them does not work is some of them are required to be open, depending on the mowers model.

I would jumping the safety switches on a a time.  Do you have a multimeter?  If so, the use the continunity function to check each switch.  Make sure the switch in in the start position, for example, the clutch is pushed downed to start.  The switches are very simple, just an on/off switch just like a house light switch...current flow in only one position.

Do any of your safety switches have 4 pins?  Usually one side is open and the other side of the switch is closed.

Have you looked under the rear seat or fenders for the mowers model number?  It is usually on a sticker about the size of a business card.

Eric