How to replace a lawn mower safety switch

Let the engine cool.

Wear gloves to protect your hands.

Disconnect the spark wire so there's no chance that the mower could accidentally start.

Remove the starter rope from the rope guide. If the rope won't slip past the guide and the handle, loosen the guide.

Remove the screws securing the engine cover to the engine. Slide the rope through the hole in the engine cover.

Remove the screws that secure the fuel tank to the engine.

Lift the tank off, being careful to keep the fuel tank upright so it doesn't leak.

Remove the screw that secures the dipstick tube to the housing.

Remove the dipstick tube from the engine and plug the hole with a paper towel to keep debris from falling into the engine.

Remove the bolts securing the blower housing to the engine and remove the housing from the engine.

Take a digital photo of how the zone control cable connects to the engine safety switch.

Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to squeeze the tabs on the cable housing. Pull the cable housing to remove it from the safety switch bracket.

Press down on the tab that attaches the kill wire to the safety switch and disconnect the wire from the safety switch. Remove the 2 mounting screws that secure the engine safety switch to the engine.

Remove the safety switch.

Position the new safety switch on the engine and secure it with the mounting screws.

Reinstall the kill wire by pushing down the locking tab and inserting the wire into the safety switch. Release the tab. Reconnect the zone control cable and work the engine control bail on the handle to make sure it works smoothly.

Position the engine blower housing on the engine and bolt it into place.

Remove the paper towel from the dipstick opening, slide the dipstick into the engine and secure it with the screw.

Feed the starter rope handle through the engine cover up to the rope guide.

Position the engine cover on the engine and screw it into place.

Attach the spark plug wire and make sure the mower works properly.