Safety of a HST

[john_bud]

If that were true..whats the safety switch under the operators seat doing? If I try EITHER of those 2 moves...my engine dies!

Kubota L3410 HST factory NOT equipped with a seat switch.

I also use the tractor as a tractor and stand up while bush hogging so I can see the stumps, rocks, deer carcases before running over them. You can't do that sitting. I also have to stand when cutting new trails in the brush to avoid the holes in the ground and to pick the best path so as to not get boxed in by trees, rocks, stumps, etc.

Lots of reasons to stand. I even stand to keep the old body from freezing in one position after 6-8 hours of tractoring. When there's work to be done, you do it. A tractor that stops like a lawyered up lawn boy would quickly P me O. If I were to fall while standing, it would be my own fault. While sitting, oddly enough actually wear the seat belt. Quite the dicotomy of operations.

 

[rdsaustintx]

... A tractor that stops like a lawyered up lawn boy ...

Now, that's funny right there.

(no matter how many safety switches ya got)

 

[Volfandt]

Uhhh Ohhh, whatcha gonna do,,,, the safety police is gonna come for you

I must confess, I learned my tractoring on an old 48 Ferguson TE20 and 66 856 Wheel Horse and neither had any kind of shutdown switches other than the ignition switch. No ROPS either. Safety was the responsibility of the operator (me) to practice properly.
I have many gates to open and close as well as having to constantly dismount to remove debris in my path that gets scattered about so in MY case I've found it more benefitial to by-pass the seat switches to keep the wear and tear of disengageing/reengageing pto powered implements down to a minimum. Thus I can safely remove my seat from the seat when needed. This is a responsibility I knowingly accept, as well as the consequences.
My ROPS does get pinned up when operating tho, it makes a great radio and aux lights mounting frame

re. original question, IMHO the foot controlled HST is much more safer than either the lever controlled HST AND/OR gear model tractors (I have all three types). I can easily control my speed, in either forward or reverse PRECISELY while simultaniously haveing both hands free to control both the tractor and implement.
I've never suffered fatigue on my foot controlled HST but if it did become an issue I'd add the crusie control feature to it in a NY minute