Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Hotwired mower, key switch, fuses

Question
The key switch on our Ariens rider broke. Before the new one arrived the "boys" had to move it so they started it by hotwiring the ignition. After putting the new switch in all it does is blow fuses. Defective switch or did they ruin something by hotwiring it.

Answer
Depending on what you mean by hotwiring, they could have caused a problem.  If they hotwired it correctly and it ran, there shouldn't be an issue.  It's possible you have the wrong key switch or your "hotwirers" didn't remove some handywork (jumpers, bared wires, etc.) before the new switch was connected.  Hope this helps.