1440 Vangaurd, w/no spark both sides
 

I went to shut off the mower and it wouldn't shut off. So I choked it out, and stalled it. I put it away and next time I went to use it, it started and in the middle of mowing it just quit. So I ordered a new ignition switch and when I went to install the new one, I noticed that the wire harness was burned. So I replaced the wires with individual slide on clips, and went to start it and nothing. It turns over put won't start. So I put two spark testers on and no spark. I am at a loss now. Brake switch works cause it turns over. Seat switch was bypassed by connecting both wires together. Now what?

Disconnect the kill wire to rule out the switch or wire grounding out the magneto first.

How do I find the kill wire? And thanks for the reply.

Kill wire on a Vanguard is on the right side of the engine as your sitting on the tractor.

Ok I disconnected it and it fired right up. It looks like where it goes into the engine covers that it is being pinched and possible shorting out on the metal of the cover. What do you recommend I do now?

Examine the wire carefully, and if you find the chaffed section, you can put some shrink tubing on it and then heat it up to restore the insulation, or bypass the old wire, and run a new wire from the magneto to the correct terminal on the key switch.

That's what I thought you would say. But on this 1440 with the vangaurd and the driveshaft that's is gonna be a hell of a lot of work just to get to the Magneto's! Any other suggestions?

If there were a short to ground on the kill wire under the tin your engine would not run at all because the mags would always be grounded period. The ground is applied to the kill wire thru the key switch when you turn the key to the off position.

In your Post #1 you say that you replaced the key switch. All key switches do not function the same on the inside just because they look identical on the outside. Are you positive that you got the correct key switch for a 1440??
You also say that you "replaced wiring with slide on clips". Does that mean the plug that plugs onto the key switch. If so did you put the correct wires on the correct switch lugs.

Just out of curiosity, since you say it starts with the wire disconnected, does it shut down or continue to run when you turn the key off??

If you don't already have it, here is a link to the 1440 wire diagram.
Scroll down to "Cub Cadet Garden Tractor Wiring Schematics"
https://www.ccpartsnmore.com/cub-cad...ing-schematics

UPDATE ok so I got the mower to shut start and shut off. Then the motor wouldn't stay run if I let my foot of the brake pedal. So I ran a wire directly to the M postion on the ignition key and ran a wire directly to the bolt that is connected to the ground wires on the magnetos. Now the PTO won't kick on. I am going to check the switch for the pto to make sure it is working. In summary everthing is working correctly except the PTO will not engage. What do you think? Oh and the switch I purchased off of amazon says it fits the 1440. But who the hell knows!

I am with Ironman, sounds like you got the wrong switch or it wired wrong. Get the schematic for your serial number range.