So Grounded, it appears to me that you have a perfectly operating mower with a kill switch that works when you release the brake/bail lever. Is that right? If so, this isn’t a problem, it is you pondering why your kill switch is working. I suggest you google “how does a kill switch work on a lawnmower?” There are some really good videos out there that explain it better than I can. But, if you want the short-cut, not scientific, answer, here’s how I think of it. The kill wire on the magneto is like a lightning rod. Its function is to divert the electricity that the magneto generated from going to the sparkplug. It won’t divert the energy unless there is a clear path for the electrons to follow to ground. That path is via the kill switch.