How do I disable the seat switch on JD L105?

[msquier]

I just bought a John Deere L105 lawnmower at Lowes last weekend and its a good mower......whenever I can get it started, that is.

Here's the problem; I'm a 5'3'', 105 lb (currently mad as ****!) Polish woman and even with the seat fully forward I can barely reach the brake pedal to push it in; when I finally push it in far enough my butt lifts off the seat just enough to keep the mower from starting. I had my husband push down on the seat to help me get it started; once I had it started it would shut off in the middle of the yard if I happened to shift my weight even slightly.

I called John Deere's 1-800 number to complain and the dipshit I talked to told me that it was MY problem for being small! He told me to return the mower if I wasn't happy; not feasible, because all makers do this.He was very rude and kept interrupting me. He's lucky I didn't get nasty on him; I can make someone feel pretty bad if I have the mind to.

I called a local dealer who was very nice and explained that there have been lawsuits over kids doing dumb things on the mowers and getting hurt (my dad would have whipped my butt if I even tried anything that dumb as a kid) so they install the switches. He did tell me that it is very easy to bypass the switch but he couldn't tell me by law (curse our litigious society!).

Can anyone tell me how? Otherwise I have a completely useless lawnmower.

 

[jimpa]

on my old tractor i just took the plug off the switch under the seat and put a jumper on the plug from one side to the other




jim

 

[jimmyj]

Same with me, it was just a plug n play connection.

Is there any other way you could somehow overcome this by using a cushion or something. I know it sounds silly but the safety is there for a good reason.

Maybe you could wire a switch to the plug that you could turn on and off.

 

[Stargazer]

Matbe take a ball of tape and put on plunger part of switch to make it go down more with less pressure or epoxy/washer combo as more permanent if tape works

 

[msquier]

Growing up, my dad always bought cheaper MTD models that during the 90's didn't have that stupid switch thing. I had no problem with using them at all.

Are these makers trying to discriminate against short/small people for some reason?

 

[Stargazer]

Yah I have a pair of early 90's MTD's (monkey wards) which I have disabled the seat switch on the snowblower one to be able to jump dead battery and the reverse mower/kill switch as dogs stay away from tractor (run other side of yard) and if the youngest (22) doesn't stay away it's his fault. I do have the seat switch hot as have rolled mower twice trying to mow palces I shouldn't.

 

[LBrown59]

Growing up, my dad always bought cheaper
MTD models that during the 90's didn't have that stupid switch thing. I had no problem with using them at all.

*Are these makers trying to discriminate against short/small people for some reason?

No****

 

[nybirdman]

I wouldn't disable that switch either,you might look in the kill switch they use on raceing snow sleds ,motorcycles.It attaches to your body.Being your size I think you are more apt to be thrown off.

 

[dfkrug]

He did tell me that it is very easy to bypass the switch but he couldn't tell me by law (curse our litigious society!).

So much for personal responsibility, MS.

JIM has it right...just jumper the 2 wires under the seat. You will prob need
spade-type electrical terminals. All the JD compact tractors I have had have
these electric seat switches, and some even require you to pull up on them
if you want to use the PTO without being seated. JD goes a bit overboard
in the name of CYA safety.

I just acquired another JD project tractor from a rental company and it (like
the others) comes already provided with seat switch bypass. These safeties
cause more problems than anything else, esp as the tractor ages.

 

[Wis Bang]

The kill switch from a Sea Doo that clips onto your clothes could be wired in place of the seat switch. They are a simple switch that opens the circuit if the seat does not hold it in the closed position so a new switch could be placed on the dash and the under seat wires re-routed to the new switch.

A 'double pole - double throw' switch could be wired in between to allow the seat switch to be activated for larger persons VRS the Sea Doo switch for you it you want to consider re-sale. Otherwise just re-route the leads from the seat switch.