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Went to fire up the mower this spring and it starts and runs fine but as soon as the clutch is released or the blades are engaged (blades will try to engage with the clutch in) the motor will go dead. Can anyone tell me where abouts this electrical gremlin might be located?

Sounds like one of the safety switches. Thinking the seat.

Nevermind. Figured it out... @#$% fire ants (or some other kind of ants) were nested up in the PTO wiring harness shorting it out.

Took it off, blasted them with some ether, plugged it up and it fired right up no problems.

I'm glad you found it. I don't think I would have ever told you to look for ants in the PTO switch.