Theft / safety lock

[coolbrze]

May be a stupid ? but what would you say are the best ways to easily disable my Kubota MX5800 tractor from starting when I go out of town? It's safe where I live but I'm still always worried about some jackknob trying to steal my whip Appreciate it!

 

[WinterDeere]

Parked indoors? Outdoors?

A remotely-monitored home security system with a combination of door, window, and motion sensors is pretty hard to beat.

I have a sensor on each door of my barn, as well as two interior motion sensors, with a monitoring contract with a company that is almost too responsive. It'd be pretty hard for someone to get in or out without the police being notified, and at least in our neighborhood, the police respond to these calls.

If parked outdoors, I'd probably just glue or screw the two halves of one of the wireless door sensors to the hood of the tractor, such that it triggers an open door alarm when the hood is opened. Heck, you could do the same on the clutch or brake, if entry by hood is less likely, or to the door of your closed operator's station.

Even if the police are not responsive in your area, you get a notification on you phone when the sensor is triggered, and a call to your favorite enthusiastic neighbor can be made.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I keep my tractors indoors and use cameras as suggested by @WinterDeere above. The police around here won't respond to alarms but will if called while the break in is in progress.

I keep the barns locked and take the keys out of the tractors when I'm away. There is also a sign on the door that reads "Beware of Owner & Neighbor. Both Have AK47's" (true).

 

[old and tired]

I used to pull the main fuse, 40 amp. Some people would put in a blown 40 amp in it's place. I wrote PTO "Off" and "On" in the opposite locations... then leave the PTO on (for my tractor, that will not allow it to start...)

Out of sight and behind locked doors help but it's not foolproof.

A rollback will drag and load your tractor faster than the police can get there. Make sure you have insurance.

 

[coolbrze]

Thanks guys - it's parked inside in a locked shop & I've got cameras but still worry about it. Always trying to think of other ways to protect my stuff but I reckon when it comes down to it, if someone want's it bad enough, they're going to find a way to get it...

 

[WinterDeere]

It's only stuff. If someone gets into the shop where I keep my tractor, I have a feeling that replacing the tractor is going to be one of the easier parts of the resulting insurance claim.

Tractors are easily-quantifiable items, and even more easily replaced, than things like antique machines and hand tools passed down from your great-grandfather. I have no great sentimental attachment to the new tractor I bought 5 years ago.

 

[bdhsfz6]

This

It's only stuff. If someone gets into the shop where I keep my tractor, I have a feeling that replacing the tractor is going to be one of the easier parts of the resulting insurance claim.

Tractors are easily-quantifiable items, and even more easily replaced, than things like antique machines and hand tools passed down from your great-grandfather. I have no great sentimental attachment to the new tractor I bought 5 years ago.

This is doubly true if you were to confront a thief during a robbery. Injury, from whatever means, to the thief or yourself could be VERY costly!

 

[650gSatoh]

When I was tractor shopping 1 owner had a keyed battery cutoff switch that he had installed on the frame, under the battery.

He told me all the kubota keys were basically the same and wanted a little more protection.

That's about as cheap and easy as you could get, other than the PTO switch idea.

I imagine you could also install a car alarm/immobilizer to interrupt the ignition circuit.

Maybe install a remote start whilst you're at it now that would be cool, but obviously wouldn't work.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Instead of or in addition to the battery cutoff switch, install a hidden switch to the glow plugs ... Gonna be hard to start without them working ...

 

[Eagle1]

Instead of or in addition to the battery cutoff switch, install a hidden switch to the glow plugs ... Gonna be hard to start without them working ...

Not in warm weather, at least I don't need it on my Bota and the LS does not even try to activate the glow plugs above 75 or so...