M5-091 Parking brake switch problem

[AaronfromTexas]

I've had the M5091 about 5 years. Not many hours on it. It's got a switch which won't allow the transmission to activate if the parking brake is set. If you try to activate the transmission when the parking brake is set, a little alarm will sound and the transmission won't do anything. This evening when I tried to activate the transmission, even after I released the parking brake, the little alarm would sound and the transmission wouldn't activate. I pulled out the parking brake sensor/switch and examined it. The switch is default closed when the parking brake is set. When the parking brake is released, the brake lever touches the switch, which OPENS the circuit. I tested the switch with my multi-meter, and it seems to be working fine. But I put it back in and tried it, but the tractor still wouldn't operate. Since the switch is default closed but open when pressed, I though "well shoot, I'll just leave the switch completely out of the tractor, and that ought to fix it." Sure enough, there was no annoying alarm sound, and the transmission activated just fine. BUT, ther was an "error warning" or something on the screen, so the tractor knows that the switch isn't there and I'm worried that might end up being an issue. What I can't figure out is... If the switch is working properly outside of the tractor, why won't it work in the tractor? And how does the tractor know when it's removed? Anybody else have this issue?

 

[JWR]

No, but I have a fresh issue for you to consider: On my MF2660 the parking brake is close to useless. It will hold the tractor only if it is on nearly level ground to start with. I once (brand new and me not yet aware) tried to use the parking brake to hold it on a steeper hillside and found 2 things -- it would not hold the tractor there AND it was damn near impossible to release the parking brake because Charles Atlas in fine form did not have the arm strength to pull up the lever enough to cause it to release. Now, with that stage set -- the ONLY way to get out of the predicament is to use tractor/transmission power to pull up the hill away from it all. What would you do if your tractor refuses to let you operate it !!??

 

[5030]

A straightened paper clip makes a great jumper.