TC40DA Rabbit/Turtle Switch not working

lhfarm · Jun 17, 2006

Tractor only has 96 hours. The switch seems stuck in the rabbit position. If I hold the paddle switch or the joy stick switch, it does change to turtle, but won't stay. Any ideas?

Thanks,

PineRidge · Jun 17, 2006

There is one screw (Phillips head) that once removed you can pop off the face of the joystick. Possibly the rabbit turtle switch needs repositioned within the joystick housing. It would be a cheap easy fix if that's it.

bayoublue · Jun 18, 2006

There are many past threads on this but the first thing I would check is the brake locking lever ....may not be pushed down all the way.

jinman · Jun 19, 2006

lhfarm said:
Tractor only has 96 hours. The switch seems stuck in the rabbit position. If I hold the paddle switch or the joy stick switch, it does change to turtle, but won't stay. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Barry, since the switch causes the transmission to switch, all the mechanics are working, but the range is just not holding. It is most likely the "hi" or "low" relay that is is defective, but could be the paddle switch on the fender has become "gummed up" too.

PineRidge has mentioned how to get to the rabbit/turtle switch in the joystick. If you can find the end of the wire coming from the joystick and just unplug it, that would tell you the same thing. If you unplug it and the problem stays, you've eliminated the joystick as the problem.

To get to the relays, you have to remove the two bolts on the cowling/panel right below your steering column and two bolts on each side of the firewall after raising the hood. Remove the cowling and look on the left side of the tractor (It WILL be very dusty in there. Use only air or a brush for cleaning). The hi range relay is the top/left plug-in relay and the turtle relay is the one next to it. They might be loose or defective. By swapping similar relays, you can isolate the bad or malfunctioning circuit.

Good luck.

lhfarm · Jun 19, 2006

Thanks for the advice. I won't be able to get to the tractor until next weekend, but I'll report my findings.

kensfarm · Jun 20, 2006

Have you been in heavy brush.. happened to me once.. a wire on the underside of the tractor just came unplugged.

lhfarm · Jun 20, 2006

kensfarm said:
Have you been in heavy brush.. happened to me once.. a wire on the underside of the tractor just came unplugged.

I had the bush hog on and did a lot of mowing in heavy grass, but not brush. I also had just mounted the BH and just notice that the switch wasn't working. I'm hoping it is something simple.

lhfarm · Jun 25, 2006

I can't get the switch for the joy stick unplugged - is there a trick?

AND the switch is now stuck in Trutle. It won't move nor do I hear the relays click. The Rabbit light doesn't flash any more.

The problem may be in the wiring. When I pulled the panel to get to the relays, I find a mouse nest - and some insulation missing from a wire. I had found a nest behind the battery and they have chewed that cable to the wire.

bayoublue · Jun 25, 2006

Barry, I had the same problem. What's their attraction to wires?? It happened twice at the same spot...finally I opened a box of moth balls and jamed the whole box inside the cowling and have not had a problem since.

jinman · Jun 25, 2006

lhfarm said:
I can't get the switch for the joy stick unplugged - is there a trick?

AND the switch is now stuck in Trutle. It won't move nor do I hear the relays click. The Rabbit light doesn't flash any more.

The problem may be in the wiring. When I pulled the panel to get to the relays, I find a mouse nest - and some insulation missing from a wire. I had found a nest behind the battery and they have chewed that cable to the wire.

Barry, I'm attaching a photo of the joystick removed. Is the connector you are having trouble with the one on the bottom? That's the one I disconnected easily.

Also, in your second picture of the wire damage, the hi/lo relays are the two at the top-left of the picture. All of those relays are the same ones, so if you can swap them or move them around, you might find your problem. Of course, it is wire damage, who knows? It could be anywhere the rodent may have found a home.