Snapper Z1402K won't start - electrical suggestions?

[butisitright]

My Snapper Z1402K quit while maneuvering a turn around - the blade was shut off and the mower was being backed up to make a turn. Now it won't restart. I have replaced the battery and the PTO switch and verified that the blade clutch is still OK. I have bypassed the brake switch as a test. The seat switch is working. The engine will crank but only with the blade engaged (obviously not good but we know the ignition switch is working). When the blade switch is turned off, the alarm beeps but nothing else happens. When the joy stick is pulled up, the alarm no longer sounds so that switch seems to be working properly. Fuses are not blown. It is obviously an electrical problem some place ahead of the engine. Do you have any suggestions on other things I should check? Thank you.

 

[mechanic mark]

https://www.snapper.com/na/en_us/support/manuals/results.productmanuals.html?searchrequested=80184

see pages 17 & 18 in troubleshooting section, check all wiring by hand making sure everything is tight & secure. let us know how it goes, thanks , Mark