Motorcycle Repair: ATV starts and quits, clutch plates, pickup coil

Question
QUESTION:  I have a Manco talon,276cc, 4X4, (chinese) ATV, I bought it, drove it ten miles. It starts and runs as long as the starter button and front brake switch are in the start position, as soon as either is released it quits.

The Starter button is normally closed and the hand brake is normally open (open and closed when starting, respectively). I have replaced the CDI unit, the pickup coil, the starter relay.

The coil checks out, as does the stator, battery is at 12.8 volts. Any ideas on what the problem is?

ANSWER: Hi, Sounds to me like you have a stuck safety switch, possibly a tether? I would look into the kill switch itself. Sounds like the brake switch is working, but the kill is not. if the machine ran before the CDI replacement, that would eliminate that alone.
If there is a tether switch, i can almost say thats positively the issue.

Hope this helps!

~Mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mark, Thanks for the reply. I also thought the kill switch was the problem. I wired around the safety switch, normally closed. No change. Thanks Butch

Answer
Is the machine in gear when it dies, or does this happen in Neutral as well? If in gear when it does it, then the clutch plates may be stuck together. Other than that, It has to be a safety or kill switch. There is nothing else in the system that would cut spark to the CDI..

~Mark