Craftsman Mdl 917256410 riding mower safety switches.

The mower starts and runs ok with the clutch in but if I start to let out the clutch the engine begins to die. If I keep my foot on the clutch and move to engage the blades the engine begins to die. I'm thinking the clutch safety switch might be bad but would that cause the engine to die when engaging the blade?
I found the manual for this mower at Sears parts direct.com and on the diagram on page 30 it shows switch #29 as what I think is the clutch and 2 #39s one of which I think is the engage switch, the other I don't know. I'm not real good at wiring but I think I can replace a switch if someone can point me to the right one. Thanks
Jerry

 

you likely have a defective seat switch or a short circuit in the coil safety kill circuit. It thinks no one is in the seat so trying to go in motion or operate the blades kills the spark to the engine. It would appear that clutch and blade PTO switches are doing what they are supposed to do ie close the kill circuit. If you are on the seat then the seat switch should open the kill circuit and allow the engine to stay running.

 

38racing. Thanks for your reply. It does seem to have been the seat switch. It doesn't quite fit in its slot as it should but I think I can fix. Thanks again.
Jerry