safety cut-out wiring?

Mountfield 12hp ride-on mower was refusing to turn over or dying on rough ground. Fiddling with the Spring operated safety cut-out and associated wiring on cutting deck handle seemed to restore engine power, i.e. a short. But the starter motor now won't kick in at all and I fear the cut-out has permanently shorted. Can I bypass it?

Allan Bradley
May 2011