How to rig an X595 to mow in reverse

[ccsial]

As far as I know the X748SE is nearly identical to the X595. Can you tell me exactly how you did it on yours.

I also have a GX345 which I put a jumper wire on, but with the 595 I don't have access to the back of the ignition as with the 345. Is it basically done the same way? Ok let me know.

Thanks
Carl B

Carl,

Check your private messages.

Al

 

[brada]

I just bought an X595 and wanted to know if anyone knows how set it up so it can mow in reverse. It was very simple to do on my GX345 , but the 595 seems a bit more complicated. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

RIO
I got soooo used to reaching for the switch, it became useless to me. I would grab the switch really fast and slam it into reverse with the blades running. Became auto matic for me. I do not have kids, but dogs. So, I set the safety switch such that I could push the back up pedal very lightly without the blades shutting off. I can now mow very slowly in reverse. If I tried to go fast, the blades shut off. There is no right answer. As someone said earlier, pulling the RIO switch become second nature.

 

[jenkinsph]

Works for me,

 

[Dutch445]

Every manufacturer has to have this RIO system in place, and unfortunately it is migrating
into the CUTS with mower decks.
Some have mentioned it's more for legal reasons than safety, and I would venture
that is probably the biggest driver for the system. Transfer of Liability.
Once you put a switch like this on a mower, then the operator has taken
the liability of mowing in reverse away from the manufacturer and put it
on him/herself. Whether they actually look back or not doesn't matter.
There are many stories of the injuries caused by lawn mowers, both going
forward and reverse, kids falling off, people rolling down hills, all tragic.
Unfortunately, a switch like this does not fix the root of the problem, which
in many cases seems to be mostly caused by poor judgement of the operator.

What are the other manufacturers systems? I have seen a key switch with a
RIO position, again, nothing to do with forcing the person to look back, just
acknowledging the fact that when they back up the blades are turning. It still
comes down to the operator. NO different than being in a car/truck/boat/plane/motorcycle/snowmobile.
With any driving situation, there is a level of responsibility that comes with it and unfortunately
injuries/death are the result of many folks lack of it, even if only for a split second.

 

[jenkinsph]

Every manufacturer has to have this RIO system in place, and unfortunately it is migrating
into the CUTS with mower decks.
Some have mentioned it's more for legal reasons than safety, and I would venture
that is probably the biggest driver for the system. Transfer of Liability.
Once you put a switch like this on a mower, then the operator has taken
the liability of mowing in reverse away from the manufacturer and put it
on him/herself. Whether they actually look back or not doesn't matter.
There are many stories of the injuries caused by lawn mowers, both going
forward and reverse, kids falling off, people rolling down hills, all tragic.
Unfortunately, a switch like this does not fix the root of the problem, which
in many cases seems to be mostly caused by poor judgement of the operator.

What are the other manufacturers systems? I have seen a key switch with a
RIO position, again, nothing to do with forcing the person to look back, just
acknowledging the fact that when they back up the blades are turning. It still
comes down to the operator. NO different than being in a car/truck/boat/plane/motorcycle/snowmobile.
With any driving situation, there is a level of responsibility that comes with it and unfortunately
injuries/death are the result of many folks lack of it, even if only for a split second.

Well said Dutch ^^^^^^

 

[sklunk]

Carl Bert,
A few more points:

1) Your title was not very clear, so sorry if we all misunderstood. The X595 already IS rigged to mow in reverse, you just have to pull up on the switch. If you wanted the deck to be engaged all the time you should have said so in your title and we wouldn't have pointed you to the Owners Manual.
2) I agree with you that the switch should be on the rear of the fender, then you would physically have to turn around and look behind you before backing up. I assume they decided not to add another switch and wiring because it would have added much more cost and the customer would have complained.
3) I don't think anybody said the switch makes sense. They came about because of lawyers, plain and simple. I don't mean to sound callous to those whose children have been maimed, but people have been backing over family members for a long time. In the late 80's a lot of lawsuits started happening and ALL of the manufacturers started putting RIO switches on their machines. They are now a fact of life, just like seatbelts in cars.
4) How do you like the ROPS on your BX26? Because ROPS came about for the exact same reason. People were rolling tractors over and lawsuits started, then the Engineers came up with a way to protect the operator if the tractor rolled over. Many people complained about ROPS when they were first introduced but most people are used to them now. Some people still want to get under low doors so the manufacturers make folding ROPS but the user still has to choose to put the ROPS up. As somebody else said it passes the responsibility from the manufacturer to the operator.

Everybody needs to calm down and take a breath. RIO's are here to stay, and arguing about how useful they are is a waste of our time. I don't think anybody really "likes" them, but there will always be those who hate them and those who just learn to live with them. It's like Ford vs. Chevy -- you will never change each others minds!

 

[jenkinsph]

Carl Bert,
A few more points:

Everybody needs to calm down and take a breath. RIO's are here to stay, and arguing about how useful they are is a waste of our time. I don't think anybody really "likes" them, but there will always be those who hate them and those who just learn to live with them. It's like Ford vs. Chevy -- you will never change each others minds!

Life as well as government needs input from the people to improve. I would not admonish people who take a stand or position in their lives suggesting that apathy is a better route to take. " To each his own" better to voice an opinion and hold true to your beliefs than to be apathetic.

 

[Carl Bert]

Life as well as government needs input from the people to improve. I would not admonish people who take a stand or position in their lives suggesting that apathy is a better route to take. " To each his own" better to voice an opinion and hold true to your beliefs than to be apathetic.

So very well put!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[Carl Bert]

Carl Bert,
A few more points:

1) Your title was not very clear, so sorry if we all misunderstood. The X595 already IS rigged to mow in reverse, you just have to pull up on the switch. If you wanted the deck to be engaged all the time you should have said so in your title and we wouldn't have pointed you to the Owners Manual.


3) I don't think anybody said the switch makes sense. They came about because of lawyers, plain and simple. I don't mean to sound callous to those whose children have been maimed, but people have been backing over family members for a long time. In the late 80's a lot of lawsuits started happening and ALL of the manufacturers started putting RIO switches on their machines. They are now a fact of life, just like seatbelts in cars.

4) How do you like the ROPS on your BX26? Because ROPS came about for the exact same reason. People were rolling tractors over and lawsuits started, then the Engineers came up with a way to protect the operator if the tractor rolled over. Many people complained about ROPS when they were first introduced but most people are used to them now. Some people still want to get under low doors so the manufacturers make folding ROPS but the user still has to choose to put the ROPS up. As somebody else said it passes the responsibility from the manufacturer to the operator.

To respond to #1, everyone didn't misunderstand, only a select few. Your first response to the thread was " I agree with Tim" who had told me to "learn to use the tractor properly", instead of rigging it. If you agreed with his statement, its pretty clear you knew what I meant. How that makes a difference at this point of the conversation, I do not know. But I did feel the need to respond to it.

Response to #3, If it doesn't make sense then why use it? Your going to use it because John Deere put it there? Even if (and it definitely does) it makes mowing in reverse MORE DANGEROUS? You would seriously rather risk the safety of the people around you rather then think for yourself and say "hey this thing doesn't make sense, I am going to figure out a way to by-pass it". RIO's may be a fact of life right now, but I don't have to live with it, and please don't compare this to seat belts. Seat belts save lives.

Response to #4, Its a B26 and I love them, and I will tell you why. If your tractor rolls over, they prevent you from getting crushed. Very simple, this is a safety measure that makes clear common sense. You see, you asked me a question and I answered it. Now can you do the same for me? Here goes, HOW DOES THE RIO SYSTEM MAKE IT SAFER TO MOW IN REVERSE? Anyone want to take bets whether or not he will answer?

 

[sklunk]

To respond to #1, everyone didn't misunderstand, only a select few. Your first response to the thread was " I agree with Tim" who had told me to "learn to use the tractor properly", instead of rigging it. If you agreed with his statement, its pretty clear you knew what I meant. How that makes a difference at this point of the conversation, I do not know. But I did feel the need to respond to it.

No, I didn't know you wanted to override it permanently, I thought you were just asking how to mow in reverse and you didn't know the tractor already could do that. I thought maybe you missed that part in the manual (or didn't have a manual since X595's aren't made anymore and maybe the previous owner didn't give you the manual) which is why I agreed with Tim and provided a direct link to the manual. Sorry for trying to answer the question ...

Response to #3, If it doesn't make sense then why use it? Your going to use it because John Deere put it there? Even if (and it definitely does) it makes mowing in reverse MORE DANGEROUS? You would seriously rather risk the safety of the people around you rather then think for yourself and say "hey this thing doesn't make sense, I am going to figure out a way to by-pass it". RIO's may be a fact of life right now, but I don't have to live with it, and please don't compare this to seat belts. Seat belts save lives.

So YOU think it makes mowing in reverse more dangerous and YOU think it should be bypassed. Why does that make you right and everybody else wrong? And how can you say they don't save lives like a seatbelt or ROPS -- do you know for sure that nobody was ever saved because someone used a RIO?

Response to #4, Its a B26 and I love them, and I will tell you why. If your tractor rolls over, they prevent you from getting crushed. Very simple, this is a safety measure that makes clear common sense. You see, you asked me a question and I answered it. Now can you do the same for me? Here goes, HOW DOES THE RIO SYSTEM MAKE IT SAFER TO MOW IN REVERSE? Anyone want to take bets whether or not he will answer?

It makes it safer to mow in reverse BECAUSE IT FORCES THE OPERATOR TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO DO BEFORE HE DOES IT. The deck shuts off so you have to consciously think about going in reverse and turning it back on. That pause will remind many people to turn around and look behind them before they engage the blades. This reminder may be just enough to keep a child (or dog) from being hit by sharp objects spinning near 2000 rpm. And you ignored folding ROPS in your reply. They only do their job if they are in the upright position, so you have to CHOOSE to put them like that or they won't save your life (Before you answer I agree this is not an issue with fixed ROPS like your B26 has. I personally disagree with folding ROPS but that is a discussion for a different thread).

I agree with you that people should be responsible for their own actions and we shouldn't need a RIO switch, but whether you believe it or not some people did misunderstand your first question. Let's just leave it at that and move on to other things.