How do I disconnect my seat safety switch?

farmacist · Dec 28, 2004

It is near 10 degrees and my TC35D won't start, I want to disconnect the seat switch to disable the safety system to see if that lets the motor start. Right now it just spins over fast but never fires. I can not see under the back of the seat where the switch is. I can see 3 wires going in ( one orange and 2 white) I can feel the switch but can not feel that the wires are held in place by a disconnect. If anyone has unplugged theirs I would appreciate knowing what is there. It is very cold out there and I would rather not remove the whole seat to get at the switch if there is a way to just unplug the wires but it does not feel like a disconnect. Once I get it out do I jump all 3 wires together or do I leave them open and not connected? Thanks for reading my dumb questions but I will thank you for any help. Thanx Frank

kozak · Dec 28, 2004

I would first look at the fuel. I had the same problem about 1 week ago & I realized I had not re-fueled since the fall. I put a whack of diesel fuel conditioner in the tank. Let it sit for half to one hour. If you have a block heater, energize it. Then try to restart. Mine started no problem. If your engine is turning over it definitely is not the seat switch. You would not get any turn over if the switch was not made.

jinman · Dec 28, 2004

Frank, I'm attaching photos to help you in disconnecting your seat switch if you wish to do that. You only need to jumper two contacts to bypass that switch as shown in these photos.

As Kozak noted, your engine will not turn over with the starter if the seat switch is malfunctioning. Perhaps your engine is too cold or the glowplugs are not working properly. It could also be that the cold weather has your fuel shutoff solenoid "frozen" so it will not allow fuel to your engine. There are only three things listed in the Repair Manual for "starter motor energizes, but fails to start engine." Those are: 1. defective operator safety module, 2. defective fuel shutoff relay, 3. malfunctioning fuel shutoff solenoid. Good luck. I don't envy you working in such cold conditions. That is definitely not fun. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

erosol · Dec 29, 2004

Try warming the engine by putting a large blanket over the engine and put a space heater under it to warm it up. Drain the fuel bowl for water or ice that may be in it. Be careful and don't start any fires. Good luck.

DKinWA · Dec 29, 2004

Jinman,

I just have to know, did you run out and take those pictures today or did you actually have them on you computer already? When I first read the post I was thinking I'd see if there was enough light outside in the morning to snap some pics and post them before going to work. I guess it looks like I don't have too since you already beat me to it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

johnday · Dec 29, 2004

You may want to checkout your nuetral start switch also. Tried starting mine yesterday and wouldn't even crank. I wiggled the trans shifter back and forth with the key turned to start and it worked. I'm beginning to wonder about the checkout the dealer is "supposed" to do. There have been a couple of issues with this machine of mine that I feel the dealer should have caught and fixed instead of me. Read the post " Sometimes Cruise Control" and maybe you'll see where I'm coming from. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Egon · Dec 29, 2004

Beware Jinnman; the Safety Bypass Inspector will soon come knocking on your door with a citation in hand!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

jinman · Dec 29, 2004

( I just have to know, did you run out and take those pictures today or did you actually have them on you computer already? When I first read the post I was thinking I'd see if there was enough light outside in the morning to snap some pics and post them before going to work. I guess it looks like I don't have too since you already beat me to it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

I faithfully sit by my computer all day long waiting on the opportunity to help someone. When I need a picture, I just take my camera and run right out and get the photo... NOT! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I had that picture from 2001, shortly after I bought my tractor. I posted it way back then, but I was just lazy and reposted when Frank asked his question.

I do have a lot of tractor photos though... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

kensfarm · Dec 29, 2004

If it was any of the safety switches.. it wouldn't crank over. As others have said.. check the fuel.. I'd do a quick check w/ the bleeder valve first.. okay.. maybe check that the fuel line switch is on.

jinman · Dec 29, 2004

( Beware Jinnman; the Safety Bypass Inspector will soon come knocking on your door with a citation in hand!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

What does OSHA stand for?
Our
Savior
Has
Arrived

Hmm... Maybe not. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Thanks, Egon. I'm watching my backside... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

markie61 · Dec 29, 2004

( If it was any of the safety switches.. it wouldn't crank over. )

On my TC40D, if it is in gear or if the PTO is engaged, it won't crank. It WILL crank but not start if the brake isn't set and nobody is in the seat.

Mark

farmacist · Dec 29, 2004

Thanks folks. The next AM it started right up. Here is what happened. On Tuesday at 10 degrees I started the TC and moved it outside to warm up. As I got off the seat it shut down as if I had not set the emergency brake or left in N, (that I have done many times when I forget, I'm just a little absent minded) but this time I had done things right. Then the starter would just spin but no start. It was in N and the brake was set, so I figured that the safety circut must have a problem. I disconnected and connected the emergency brake plug a few times just to clean the contacts and wiggled and wiggled the shift lever to be sure it was in N, but the motor would not fire. I could not get at the seat switch so I left it in the driveway and came in the house and posted my question. This morning I went out and it started right up Jinman: Thanks for the photo and thanks to you all for the advise. You pointed out that the motor would not turn over if the seat switch was defective. I wonder if the fuel solenoid set up because of the sudden shut down when COLD. Thanks for ALL your help Frank

kensfarm · Dec 29, 2004

I wonder if the safety switches have changed for the newer models.. my 35D is a 2000 year model.

markie61 · Dec 29, 2004

Maybe...mine is 2001....

have_blue · Dec 30, 2004

( Thanks, Egon. I'm watching my backside... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif )

Watch out for the matterss tag police too. I think they hang out with the safety switch police and the big fat product liability lawyers. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

farmacist · Dec 30, 2004

It happened again this morning. It started fine but as soon as I got off the seat it stalled and would not restart (it would crank but not start). Remembering Mark's post "On my TC40D, if it is in gear or if the PTO is engaged, it won't crank. It WILL crank but not start if the brake isn't set and nobody is in the seat. That post convinced me it must be my emergency brake connector. I cleaned the contacts of the emergency brake connector and it started right up. You all might want to keep those contacts clean, mine had been getting splashed by mud, I brought it into the shop and used Jinman's (non OSHA approved) method to "jump the seat safety switch" . I am going to leave this switch jumped, (for now) so I will bypass this problem in the future. This seems to bypass all safety switches except the Neutral Trans switch. Thanxs to you all Frank

Todd_C · Dec 30, 2004

I had a similar experience last week when I put my new tire chains on my TC 30. It was 15 degrees outside and the tractor quit as soon as left the seat even though it was in neutral and the brake was set. It would not turn over. I started wiggling the brake stop lever and and tried the ignition and it fired right up. There must be a common problem among new NH compact tractors.

kensfarm · Jan 4, 2005

You were right.. I tried it over the holidays.. it cranked but didn't start.

Bob_K · Jan 11, 2005

The same thing happened to me. Started the tractor pulled it out side jumped off the seat and it died. Took me a while to find out what I did wrong. After wiggling the leavers a few times it started, seemed to be the brake switch was stuck.