Security & Theft seat safety switch.

[cat fever]

I have often thought about disabling mine. I know as soon as I do I will have something bad happen and then I will be looking up with a dumb or dead look on my face wishing I had left it alone. So for now it still works.

 

[murphy1244]

I have often thought about disabling mine. I know as soon as I do I will have something bad happen and then I will be looking up with a dumb or dead look on my face wishing I had left it alone. So for now it still works.

I am surprised the new Kiotis have a seat switch as the older DK series did not.

 

[Threepoint]

OP, I'd first investigate this with your dealer as a warranty item. Among other questions, what is Kioti's specified minimum operator weight for the switch to close. Hard to believe your wife is too light to activate a switch that is working within spec, unless Kioti engineers are assuming no-one under 100 lbs is going to use their tractors. In any case, not in this lifetime would I consider disabling a safety switch so that an inexperienced, or even infrequent, operator could use the tractor. HST or not, that's just nuts, IMHO.

 

[4570Man]

I put a switch on my Kubota seat safety. If I am doing loader work I turn it off. If I am mowing I turn it back on. My machine is HST, so I am not worried about it. Letting off the HST pedal will stop the machine much quicker then getting off the seat. If this safety is just a button under the seat frame you could hang weight off the back of the seat and leave the seat safety working. It is likely inside the seat and is harder to defeat. He could just feed her more bacon. Make sure the seat is far enough forward. Somebody that weighs 200 pounds couldn't activate it sitting on the edge of the seat.

 

[DK35vince]

I am surprised the new Kiotis have a seat switch as the older DK series did not.

I have never owned a tractor that had a seat switch.
Never needed one, don't want one.

 

[cat fever]

I am surprised the new Kiotis have a seat switch as the older DK series did not.

Well it's there; I have to have the parking brake set when I get out or it kills. It is a PITA when hooking up implements.
But I am getting used to it.

 

[Redneck in training]

I have TYM that originally had the seat switch. I called the dealer to get replacement and was told that new TYM tractors don't have the switch. I bypassed it. The switch, while it was still working prevented starting the tractor unless somebody was sitting on the seat. Once the tractor was running I could stand up or fall from the tractor it would keep running. So its safety function was questionable to begin with.

 

[cat fever]

I have TYM that originally had the seat switch. I called the dealer to get replacement and was told that new TYM tractors don't have the switch. I bypassed it. The switch, while it was still working prevented starting the tractor unless somebody was sitting on the seat. Once the tractor was running I could stand up or fall from the tractor it would keep running. So its safety function was questionable to begin with.

Mine has a 3-4 second delay. So I can stand up and look at something for a second or two. Usually when I forget, I'm up with the door open and stepping down when it kills.

 

[Hard Knocks]

Is the switch still located in the middle of the seat pad? If so, ask your dealer to install the relocation kit. It will move the switch from the pad to the seat frame. This kit helps lighter operators and for us in freezing climates no starts from frozen seats.

 

[tman1020]

My zero turn mower has same problem when my son mows. I just put a 1 " piece of steel on the seat and Lay a cushion on top of it.

If he stands up the safety still works but adds the needed weight when he is seated. Steal weighs about 40 pounds for a 12" x 12" piece 1 inch thick.