Can I temporarily run without a hydrostatic safety switch?

Timmer92 · May 16, 2022

Hi all,

I have a 2019 Kubota L3901. I was doing some tree and brush work yesterday and ran over a small limb which tipped up and caught the wiring for my hydrostatic neutral safety switch. It ripped the wires out of the end of the switch so I have no way of splicing it back together and there isn't anything to solder to either. I'm wondering if I can splice the wires together in order to bypass this switch and use my tractor while I'm looking for the part? I'm not entirely sure I understand what safety this provides and what I'm risking by bypassing it.

Henro · May 16, 2022

My understanding is generally the safety switch is there to prevent unexpected movement of the tractor when it is started. Once started, the switch no longer serves that purpose. At least on my tractors. And if your switch only has two wires, probably works the same on yours too. My BX might not even have a directional pedal switch, as it must be in neutral to start the engine.

On my B2910, I also have to push the clutch pedal in to start the engine, so the tractor would still be stationary until I let the clutch pedal back out. Actually I need to verify that I actually have a switch on the B2910 directional pedal!Pretty sure I do…

Point is simply that you can run the tractor with the directional pedal eliminated from the safety circuit, but you need to be VERY aware of possible movement when the engine starts. If you put the range selector in neutral before starting this would prevent unexpected movement when starting the engine, but the tractor could still move unexpectedly when you put it back in gear.

RjCorazza · May 16, 2022

Some machines will also shut the engine down if the hst pedal is pressed without the operator in the seat. I developed the very bad habit of pressing the hst pedal while out of the machine when lining up implements during attaching on my previous tractor. I don't do that anymore.

I personally wouldn't hesitate to temporarily bypass a broken safety switch while waiting for the replacement. The operator manual should give an overview and testing procedure that will tell you exactly to expect from the various switches, and what they prevent.

Timmer92 · May 17, 2022

I ordered the part but it won't be her for a week. I twisted the ends of the wires together thinking it would temporarily allow me to run but it still won't start. I am sitting in the seat when I'm trying. Is it possible that switch has more brains than just completing the connection? Or could I have blown a fuse at the same time?

RalphVa · May 17, 2022

The B2601 does not seem to have one. Not sure about running PTO without HST in "N". Think it'll run with it in gear.

RjCorazza · May 17, 2022

Timmer92 said:
I ordered the part but it won't be her for a week. I twisted the ends of the wires together thinking it would temporarily allow me to run but it still won't start. I am sitting in the seat when I'm trying. Is it possible that switch has more brains than just completing the connection? Or could I have blown a fuse at the same time?

According to the WSM the HST switch is ON when the pedal is in the neutral position, so connecting the wires should work.
There is no other logic to the pedal switch that I am aware of. Is it possible either the pto is engaged, clutch not engaged (some hst's had them), or the parking brake isn't set?
I don't have an L01, so the parking brake or clutch may not apply.

That's all I got, and it's not much!

Timmer92 · May 17, 2022

Hi all, I made some headway this afternoon. I found that I had also blown an EC fuse. The tractor is now moving! One item of note is the parking brake indicator is permanently lit. I tried engaging and disengaging the breaks and parking lever, but that did nothing. Do you think when the switch arrives and is installed that indicator will go away?