Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Murray riding mower made loud pop then will not turn over, cable protector, loud pop

Question
Hi,
My wife was cutting the grass today and all of the sudden the mower made a loud pop and died. After that when I tried to crank it, it would not start. - Some background info. She was on the concrete driveway when it popped ( sounded kind of like a backfire, but not sure) There was no smoke or oil leakage that I could see. The belt looks good. I had a problem in the past where it wouldnt start and tracked it to a bad battery wire (highly corroded ) so I replaced the wire. I looked at the wire and the new one is now corroding. Not sure why this is happening the mower is well taken care of and garage kept.When I first tried to start it after this happened it did nothing. Then a little later when I tried it made a clicking sound. The battery is showing good voltage 11.8. This is an older mower but in good condition. I suspect the problem is electrical, but not sure how that could relate to the loud pop. Any help would definately be appreciated.
Thanks Shane

Answer
A clicking sound is usually a bad connection, not sure why that keeps corroding either after either replacing it or cleaning it which ever you think it requires, give it a coating of automotive battery cable protector, it will keep it from corroding again. It can be fond at any auto supply store in a small spray can. The pop sound could have been the engine back firing as when you hit a bump, and move on the seat, the safety seat cutoff starts to shut down the engine by killing the spark, but then before it can it feels weight on the seat again and goes back into a run mode firing the spark with extra fuel in the cylinder.......Tom