Thinking about disabling the seat switch

[Wagtail]

Just curious ...
How many wear a hard hat, safety glasses, steel-toed boots, gloves, long pants, long-sleeved shirt with button cuffs and ear/hearing protection every time they use their tractor.

According to many safety experts these are just as important/critical as the seat switch...

Perhaps it's my years of ingrained Navy training but my honest answer is: Hard hat - no (unless the situation calls for it, I'd make that decision at the time), Safety glasses - yes (my sunglasses are rated), Steel-toed boots - I have them if required, however I always wear workboots with a good tread on them, Gloves - always (it's better to have them and not need them than the other way around), Clothing as per the weather but nothing 'loose', Hearing protection - always.

Am I pedantic? Probably. I'm the only one on my property and 'help' would be a long time coming were something to happen, so I don't take chances with safety and the best way of doing that is to make it part of your normal routine.

 

[Dan Hunter]

Well that was an insightful 'tip'. Thanks very much for your sage advice.

As to the OP asking for my input... That's what TBN is for, isn't it? Plus the OP isn't a newbie who wouldn't have seen/accessed the previous threads on this very subject from just a few days ago. I can understand this thread being posted months down-the-track but not practically on top of two other simillar threads.

That being said, I will always respond to an issue/question regarding safety if my advice is pertinent.

Wow.

I did use the search but didn't load the phrasing that would have lead me to an existing thread. You act as if I should apologize to you for making you take the time to condescend to me.

My only remaining question is whether anyone else finds you spectacularly egocentric. 115 posts and you appear to be a self-appointed moderator.

You're what's bad about the internet.

 

[Dan Hunter]

I'm the only one on my property.

No surprise there.

 

[Wagtail]

I've had a re-think about your/Dan Hunter's original question. It's the title that sent me off on a tangent... I believe that it's not about disabling the seat switch (that's a proposed solution) but about the situation that is constantly activating it due to the rough terrain that he is traversing.

And it's a true 'bugbear'.

Perhaps the JD 'Home Office' can be contacted to develope some sort of over-ride push-switch? Something that you would engage during certain situations that temporarily disables the interlock but, whenever the engine is physically shut down, resets to re-enable the interlock. There's a similar over-ride on my D110 for mowing in reverse.

 

[71bronco]

My only remaining question is whether anyone else finds you spectacularly egocentric.

Count me as one who does. BTW I disabled my switch and somehow I'm still alive.:laughing:

Originally Posted by Wagtail
"I'm the only one on my property."
No surprise there.

Now that's funny.:thumbsup:

Jeff

 

[GManBart]

My only remaining question is whether anyone else finds you spectacularly egocentric. 115 posts and you appear to be a self-appointed moderator.

You're what's bad about the internet.

Wrong, you're what's bad about the Internet. He was trying to post a helpful reply. If you disagree, or don't like it, super....ignore it.

The reality is, the thread is no longer "yours" the second you post it, and it will remain visible for a long time, so his adding a reply with pertinent facts might help someone down the road, even if you didn't find it particularly helpful.

To understand that, you have to recognize that it simply isn't all about you...or the thread you started.

 

[GManBart]

No surprise there.

I believe rude commentary is against the rules here, isn't it?

Have you been to Australia, or spent any time with Aussies? Years ago I was in San Antonio, and met an Aussie there who was doing some pilot recertification training. He said the ranch he worked on would stretch from where we were to Dallas and was half as wide. That's roughly 250mi by 125mi....so yeah, it's not all that surprising to see someone from Australia living in a remote situation that would shock us. I'm sure you have a similarly impressive spread to discuss, right?

Aussies tend to speak their mind, and if you don't like what they have to say....too bad. As always, we're all free to ignore what we don't like. :drink:

 

[GManBart]

I jump wired a faulty seat safety switch on a lawn tractor years ago. My wife ran over a rock mowing sideways on a hill and was flipped out of the seat. The lawn tractor ran over her leg while the mower was still running. I watched all this happen. The mower cut off the sole off her tennis shoe within 1/16" of the bottom of her foot. Somehow she didn't get hurt. I'll never disable another safety seat switch. This may work for some but it sure didn't work for me.

Where are the wisecrack responses to this post? Nothing....funny. Thanks Whistlepig, I wouldn't have thought about it for a mower, but now I can see how I could make a difference.

 

[Wagtail]

Count me as one who does. BTW I disabled my switch and somehow I'm still alive.:laughing:

Originally Posted by Wagtail
"I'm the only one on my property."
No surprise there.

Now that's funny.:thumbsup:

Jeff

G'day Jeff. Well, as the old adage goes in the Military, "If you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined." The same can apply to TBN I suppose. It's no skin off my arse.

Seeing as you've gone ahead and disabled your seat interlock (and lived to tell the tale) I have a couple of serious 'scenario' questions for you.

Noting that medical bills in the US can finacially ruin a person (and their family) unless they have medical insurance and further noting that insurance companies will investigate accidents that lead to them paying out on the policy, would their discovery that you had purposely disabled the interlock effectively cancel the policy?

Or

Years down the track when it comes time to sell your tractor and you've forgotten about the diasabled interlock so you haven't re-enabled it for the new owner... Are you liable to have your 'backside' sued by the new (and subsequent) owner if they have an accident?

 

[The kid]

G'day Jeff. Well, as the old adage goes in the Military, "If you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined." The same can apply to TBN I suppose. It's no skin off my arse.

Seeing as you've gone ahead and disabled your seat interlock (and lived to tell the tale) I have a couple of serious 'scenario' questions for you.

Noting that medical bills in the US can finacially ruin a person (and their family) unless they have medical insurance and further noting that insurance companies will investigate accidents that lead to them paying out on the policy, would their discovery that you had purposely disabled the interlock effectively cancel the policy?

Or

Years down the track when it comes time to sell your tractor and you've forgotten about the diasabled interlock so you haven't re-enabled it for the new owner... Are you liable to have your 'backside' sued by the new (and subsequent) owner if they have an accident?

Disabling a safety feature that was added because of idiot users is a personal decision the owner of the device can freely do. These seat switches commonly fail. If they where all that important to the National Safety Council or OSHA, THE switches would have a lifetime warranty.

As for liability during a resell. Here is Tennessee USA and many other states there is a "as is" law that protects sellers from being sued because the buyer is ignorant as to what he is buying. Most seat tilt forward and a simple sticker places stating the switch doesn't work would satisfy and possible lawsuit threats. The buyer would buy it "as is". Personally I bought a mower from TSC years back that the engine would die if you tried to cut in reverse. Dumbest thing I ever saw. The rep showed me how to disable it but he wouldn't do it. Most kill switch safeties where put in place because of clueless dummies that had no business around anything motorized. I support the owners right to disable safety switch which hampers the ability to do work as a inconvenience. My ZTR has six kill switches. I cut some areas near pine trees with invasive roots. Very rough ride. I bounce around on the side and the engine cuts in and out. I find that an inconvenience and was tempted to bypass the seat switch. I decided to just weed eat that area instead because of the rough ride. Anyone here has enough intelligence to know the reasoning of the switch. Participants voice their personal opinions as to good or bad. Personally if I bypass a switch, it's my choice. There is no need to throw rocks or brow beat the OP because of sometimg he might do.