you have to pull the brake while pressing the starter button. There is a lanyard on the back of the machine, sort of under the rear seat that can be pulled to stop the engine, be sure the little button inside the lanyard is in all the way. Make sure your remote control has not killed the engine. There is a choke on the right side of the carburetor kind of up under the seat. You have to get down on your knees and look under the seat to see it.