Disable tractor seat shut-off?

[fishdrivel]

Yes I've done a search and seen some ideas, but would like up-to-date input....

My new tractor is wonderful, but the only big PITA is having it shut off every time I need to jump out and grab or move something.

I understand the inherent dangers of rolling over/falling out etc, but that would be unlikely on my flat acreage.

I just jumpered my riding tractor a while back with no issues, should I do the same on my new Kioti? Thoughts?

I do not like the safety switches being disabled.
If it's done on a job with an employee using it, it is illegal. Your own machine, used on your own property, there is no oversight, you can do as you please.
What worries me is you want to do this on a new machine. Why so soon? Perhaps use your machine for awhile before making this decision.
I once had a track hoe operator jump out of machine running. He was wearing a safety harness and it snagged on controls on the way out. The controls activated the tracks and as he stepped on them, they carried him to the chassis where he got sucked in between the chassis and the moving track. When somebody went looking for him at the end of the day, he had been ground up by that track that was still running until he was thin enough to fit between the track and chassis.

 

[Cataclysm]

So because someone somewhere had a brain fart and screwed up all the rest of us have to suffer? What's next - a breathalyzer on each tractor that won't allow it to be started if I've had a beer?
One of the first things I did to my Kubota was disable the seat switch. Been running tractors for 67 years now without injury...I think I'll make it OK in the time I have left on this earth.

Where did I say you or anyone else had to do anything?

 

[Gord Baker]

I had to disable the seat safety switch on my MF1540. Seat was frozen and could not detect any weight in the seat, so couldn't use it to blow snow. Dealer told me how to disable it. I only hook it up if I let the neighbor use it to mow his field.

Never lend your wife, tools or equipment other than the Tom Cat. He always brings the tool back!

 

[Tony H]

They do get frustrating. My backhoe never had one. My friends Kabota has one. Sometimes I need to get up on the edge of the seat to see what I'm doing in tight quarters. Thats when the engine starters stall or does stall
Very annoying.

 

[FERLING]

I do not like the safety switches being disabled.
If it's done on a job with an employee using it, it is illegal. Your own machine, used on your own property, there is no oversight, you can do as you please.
What worries me is you want to do this on a new machine. Why so soon? Perhaps use your machine for awhile before making this decision.
I once had a track hoe operator jump out of machine running. He was wearing a safety harness and it snagged on controls on the way out. The controls activated the tracks and as he stepped on them, they carried him to the chassis where he got sucked in between the chassis and the moving track. When somebody went looking for him at the end of the day, he had been ground up by that track that was still running until he was thin enough to fit between the track and chassis.

Goes to show safety harness can kill under the right conditions.
Jumping out of a running machine with a safety harness on can lead to death.
Do you know wearing a wedding band can cause you to lose a finger under the right conditions?

 

[fishdrivel]

Goes to show safety harness can kill under the right conditions.
Jumping out of a running machine with a safety harness on can lead to death.
Do you know wearing a wedding band can cause you to lose a finger under the right conditions?

That is why safety code require you to wear the correct PPE.

I had trouble with one of the safety guys on a big goverment project.
He kept writing up the welders for not wearing (flammable) safety vests.
I had to remind him that it was not "us against them" We were a team and should cooperate to keep workers safe.

Any equipment, including safety equipment can get you in trouble if you are not using correctly or are not trained in using them.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I used to bypass the seat switch on my tractors but now that I'm getting older and more forgetful, I decided it wasn't such a good idea. I thought about installing a toggle switch as a bypass but that was only a slight improvement. Instead, I now use this simple twist timer switch as a bypass:

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When I need to stand to see the fork tips or line up a FEL SSQA implement, I just give it a twist. 15 minutes later, it automatically reactivates the seat safety switch.

The only issue I have with using a timer bypass switch is it isn't useful when running a PTO generator. For that, I keep a 40# sandbag handy.

 

[Hoodoo]

If you engage the parking brake before you leave the seat, the engine will keep running.

I need to set the brake AND put it in neutral. Not a big deal I guess. I will stick with this plan until I'm really used to the tractor operation.....I should really get good with the thing before I start monkeying with it I suppose.....

 

[Fxfymn413]

All this discussion reminds me of the number one gun safety rule "Always assume it is loaded". Safety switch or no safety switch you should always assume the machine like it is out to kill you and keep yourself out of harms way.

I was a first responder for over 30 years and my experience is that many, if not most, stupid incidents involving injury or death from a machine also involved some kind of intoxicant. Drinking and operating machinery is just plain stupid, but I saw folks who did just that frequently. If you think that you have to have a beer while you cut grass or split wood please keep all of the built in safety devices operational.

I do use the seat safety switch on my BX since it is used as a lawn mower for the vast majority of time it is used and the consequences of falling off of a machine running a mower are significant.

One other thing; my 4060 is a cab tractor. If I am stupid enough to fall out of a closed cab and get killed by letting the tractor run over me I probably had it coming and would qualify for the Darwin award.

 

[Jagnut]

Yes I've done a search and seen some ideas, but would like up-to-date input....

My new tractor is wonderful, but the only big PITA is having it shut off every time I need to jump out and grab or move something.

I understand the inherent dangers of rolling over/falling out etc, but that would be unlikely on my flat acreage.

I just jumpered my riding tractor a while back with no issues, should I do the same on my new Kioti? Thoughts?