I have a snapper rear engine mower less than two years old.It will start fine and stay running as long as my foot is on the brake. But as soon as I let my foot off it will die. Sometimes I press the brake back before it dies completely and it runs smooth. Ive tried different gears and neutral and the same thing happens. someone told me to release the brake fast and in sort of a jerking motion, that was no help.

Brenda Childress, January 2006

Wow it helped me!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for this question for engine dies when you take the foot off brake!!!!!!!

Peter, April 2011

You have a safety switch gone bad in sytem

bg, January 2006

It sounds like the saftey switch under the seat is not closing. It closes when there is weight on the seat. When the clutch/brake pedal is released and there is no weight on the seat, the engine should die. It's there so if you'd fall off the mower when it's in gear it will shut off the engine. If the switch has fallen out of it's bracket it can not close. Check to see if it is in fact where it should be.

Rick, January 2006