Bypass 445 safety switch?

tica · Jul 5, 2010

I have an lx277 with the round yellow knob for pto engagement. You have to pull up on it to keep blades running when backing up. To solve this I simply clipped a clothes-pin under it to hold it up all the time. Works perfectly.

beenthere · Jul 5, 2010

dragon7 said:
On the tractor I have now no way you can see it looking under tractor they put the switch in the u-channel of the frame rail. Maybe on some models you can see it.

I've crawled under the 425's, two 445's, an X485, and my latest 455 to disable the RIO.

The X485 was the most difficult to disable, but gotRdun.

I'm thinking there are plans afloat to make it more and more difficult to over-ride this feature.

Didn't have to go through any trouble except removing the mower deck from under the tractors.

Transit · Jul 5, 2010

You answered your own question; it is called a "Safety Switch" for a reason. The lawyers had it installed to protect the company from YOU doing something stupid.

Cyclone Jake · Jul 10, 2010

beenthere said:
I'm thinking there are plans afloat to make it more and more difficult to over-ride this feature.

I would be surprised if there weren't. Coworker's dad got a new JD combine. It has a similar switch to prevent running the PTO for the head while not in the cab. They disabled it as normal however it only briefly worked. They suspect they are building some sort of resistance in the switch now so if you jumper it, it still won't work.

beenthere · Jul 10, 2010

Transit said:
You answered your own question; it is called a "Safety Switch" for a reason. The lawyers had it installed to protect the company from YOU doing something stupid.

I think the lawyers had it installed so that someone couldn't sue the company. The lawyers (company and ambulance chasers) get rich and the stupid get to sue. We (99.9%) just end up with a machine that doesn't work well for our needs.

Backing up with the mower deck running isn't stupid. Stupid is mowing with anyone else around that can be backed over. With the "Safety Switch", still can back over the same kid, just can't with the mower deck running. How safe is that?

Oldmechanic · Jul 11, 2010

I think your right on about the CO. they are worried about what I call the idiot factor (People with no common sense). If they are that bad a driver put a mirror on it. but of course they won't use it. to lazy to look. I grew up on a large farm and know of a lot of stupid stuff one getting in a feed wagon with it running and getting a spike in the thy and another where he go sucked in the auger (Died). these were both freinds on other farms. Like the combine, cleaning a plugged head with the engine running (Dumb)!!!! An osha inspector that got his ear taken off by a PTO, And this was our inspector! And they think he is smart enough to figure out what is safe, (NOT)!!!!!!! The main thing is think before you do stuff, What will be the result? you are only as safe as the operator.