Runaway tractor

[EdKing]

I can start my Long by holding my clutch pedal down with my hand, but I always park it in neutral with the parking break set. I don't know if it will start if it is in gear as I always double check it is in neutral before I start it. I usually only start it from the ground (not in the seat) when I am first starting it up to use it. I like to fire it up and then go out to smoke a cigarette to give it a little warm up time.

 

[RoyJackson]

I don't know if it will start if it is in gear as I always double check it is in neutral before I start it. I usually only start it from the ground (not in the seat) when I am first starting it up to use it....

You ought to see if it does start, Ed...
You could do your normal routine without realizing it was left in gear or someone else (kids, for example) left it in gear.
That'd be a heck of a surprise if the tractor moved when you left your hand off the clutch, wouldn't it?
Well, at least you probably wouldn't have to worry about the ciggies killin' ya!

 

[ByuBill]

Chances are,,, if it has a clutch safety switch... it 'will' start in gear. I have started my Long from the ground many times but it has to be in neutral before it will turn over. There isn't a clutch safety switch on my 2360. After my earlier post I checked my MF. It will run over you. It starts in gear. The 'S' position in the transmission is sort of like 'park' in an auto. Except it will start in any gear.
Think Safety,,, Sh@t does happen.

 

[EdKing]

I always double check, both the gear shift and the shuttle, before I put the key in the ignition. I also leave it in low range when I park it in he barn, as reverse in high range is just to fast to back into barn. I also release the clutch slowly and don't just dump it. I thought it through before I started starting it from the ground. It is becoming habit, like my habit of putting my truck in neutral (standard transmission) before I start it.

 

[BillK]

Most of the grey imports have a clutch safety switch,so they will only start if the clutch is down. None of them have a neutral safety switch, where the gear selector has to be in neutral.From our dealings with both grey or non grey Kubtotas with mechanical gear drives, none of them seem to have neutral safety switches,only clutch safety switches.

Keep in mind though, that most of our business is with tractors 15 plus years old, so newer models may have better safety features.

BillK
Diesel Traders

 

[skent]

My B7300 has to:

1. Hydro Range must be in "N"

2. PTO must be in "N"

3. Foot Clutch pushed in.

No seat switch.

Additionally, its part of the routine maint. to perform testing of each safety switch to be sure it will actually prevent accidental starting.

 

[RanchMan]

This happened several years back, but the airport in the town where I grew up leased the land between the runways to a farmer (pretty common practice).

Anyway, not sure how it happened, but one of the fellows working for him let the tractor get away somehow & went chasing after it. Unfortunately he caught up to it -- The tractor ran over him (it also had a disk attachment on it.) After killing him in a way best left undescribed in detail, it proceeded on across the ramp and finally stopped after totaling 3 private planes.

 

[Tractors4u]

A good number of the grey markets have an interlock on the clutch pedal so that the clutch has to be in to start the tractor. My neighbor's JD950 has an interlock that requires that the tractor's hi/low range selector be in neutral to start the tractor. It is a real pain. I would prefer to stick with something simple like the clutch. But then again the manufacturers have to build them so that the tractor virgins don't hurt themselves. I sold a tractor to a guy Monday that thought you had to shift through all the gears to get to the highest gear. He took off across the yard grind gears and then told me he thought something was wrong with it.

 

[RoyJackson]

manufacturers have to build them so that the tractor virgins don't hurt themselves

So true...and I am one of those "virgins".

Even on TBN and the other tractor sites, a lot of folks new to the usage of these machines are quite unknowledgable about the usage...<font color=red>safe usage</font color=red>...of a machine that could kill ya (or someone else) pretty easily.

As mentioned on another thread, most of us on TBN are non-traditional tractor buyers...we're yuppies, baby boomers, computer people, engineering types (me....quality assurance in automotive plastics and machining).
We didn't grow up around this type of equipment...nor have we heard the anecdotes of accidents and injuries.

Now, at least we TBNers do some research (we're on TBN, right?) and try to gain knowledge of the limitations and hazards of our machines.

But, there's a heck of a lot of folks buying these tractors with no knowledge whatsoever...other then what the sales people are telling 'em. How many read the operator's manual (how many TBNer's?). I did...but I had some (very little) exposure to this type of equipment growing up. Just enough to make sure I asked questions, I guess.

That, to me, is not a good situation.

OK, guys..I'm off the soap box now...

 

[Slamfire]

I was smart (?) enough to put the grader blade on the ground before my tractor tried to run off. I got it stopped before it managed to go any farther than over the oil drain pan.