Safety switches, or lack thereof

[Stan B]

I've not owned many tractors. I had a 1958 Oliver 550 (inherited), that obviously didn't have any safety features, and was gifted a 2006 Cub Cadet garden tractor when dad upgraded to a zero turn. I can't get off the seat without it killing the engine unless I lock the parking brake, nor can I back up (hydro trans) without it disengaging the mower unless I do this 'turn the key one position then hit a button' dance. Totally polar opposites.

Now I have my brand new Kioti CK3510, and I'm (pleasantly) flabbergasted by the complete lack of safety switches. I can drive it standing up, which is great for lining up pallet forks, or push the HST pedals when standing alongside which helps with hooking up 3PH attachments.

I'd be curious to hear everyone elses' takes on what safety features other modern brands have. Is the Kioti config normal on CUTs, or do people have to find workarounds?

 

[mcfarmall]

I've got my flameproof suit on so here goes...I bypass the seat switch, the backup interlocks all that jazz with the exception of the neutral safety switch. I was taught how to operate equipment at a very early age and if safety is second nature, you don't need all that stuff. Let the flaming begin!!

And I don't care about lawsuits, liability, resale value or "climate change."

 

[4570Man]

If I had a Deere HST machine having to put it in neutral to start wouldn’t last long. If I had a mower that wouldn’t mow in reverse that wouldn’t last long either. The seat switch is the least nuisance but I usually bypass those too.

 

[MAD777]

I love being able to stand up and drive my Kioti CK2610HST into the tight fit of my garage. Seat switch would be exasperating for me. Before I get off, I set the emergency brake, slow the throttle, lower the bucket and only get off on level ground. I plow snow with a rear blade that articulates all directions, so I have to manually adjust side to side, angle & tilt. That means on & off a lot while the engine idles.

 

[deserteagle71]

Seems every manufacturer is different as to which safety nanny they consider important. My Kubota had a seat safety switch that, though it did not shut down the engine like some do, would startle me with an earsplitting buzzer every time I shifted around in the seat. Disabled!

 

[Roadworthy]

My Kubota does have a seat safety switch. Once the tractor is started I can leave the seat and it will keep running. If I have the PTO engaged and leave the seat however the engine will die. I have the HST transmission and although I need not shift into neutral I do need to push in the clutch to start the tractor., I can live with it. If it becomes a hassle I'll live without it.

 

[oosik]

I have a 2009 Kubota M6040. I engage the PTO - stand up - a buzzer will buzz for about ten seconds and turn off. Nothing is stopped. Same as my previous tractor - Ford 1700. It's all a matter of learning the routine.

 

[levi333]

I love being able to stand up and drive my Kioti CK2610HST into the tight fit of my garage. Seat switch would be exasperating for me. Before I get off, I set the emergency brake, slow the throttle, lower the bucket and only get off on level ground. I plow snow with a rear blade that articulates all directions, so I have to manually adjust side to side, angle & tilt. That means on & off a lot while the engine idles.

Hmm, my new CK2610HST has a seat switch, very annoying when trying to mount the backhoe. I have to get off the seat just slightly to see down behind and it kills it.
What year is your's?
May have to deactivate it...

 

[BrkMstr]

Hmm, my new CK2610HST has a seat switch, very annoying when trying to mount the backhoe. I have to get off the seat just slightly to see down behind and it kills it.
What year is your's?
May have to deactivate it...

I have to set the brake and put in neutral - if PTO is on it will shut off but tractor will remain running - mine is a 19 -

 

[PILOON]

Most safety switches are a normally closed circuit type so one solution is to simply short them out.
(Not that I recommend that due to liability considerations.)

On my CUT I simply remove the 'short' as that becomes my theft deterrent.

A big problem with many of those 'safety' circuits is they live in a tractor's most corrosive locations, (like clutch, throttle or seats and especially worst on open station tractors)
Just think- dirty boots covered with salty snow and a clutch safety! = bound to cause problems.

HA, bet 89% of experienced tractors have most safety switches bypassed.

 

[WranglerX]

MY MF GC 1715 has seat safety switch and only kills motor when I leave seat and HST is still in gear..... Biggest pain for me is bumping any lever and engaging something like mid mount PTO lever and its out of neutral position and machine won't start (mid mount PTO has no implement attached and is never used), I have to go over all the lever to ensure all are correctly in neutral) probably need "position locks" for unused levers ... It's a learned procedure like when stopping to get off tractor or shifting into neutral ALWAYS set brake first... When HST in neutral you have no (trans/engine) braking or control you normally have through HST... Something it can be a bit startling...

Conversely when I bought my property there was a JD L120 riding mower mixed in deal... It has seat safety switch disabled and reverse lockout/bypass switch wired around so it would mow in reverse without having to hold down push button...

Lockout can be good or bad but one should try to work with them if possible ...

The real enemy here is lawyers and litigation, that is why manufacturers try to make machines "idiot" proof, much to consternation for educated/intelligent users...

Dale

 

[radios1]

just imagine what happens when you fall off the seat while the tractor is moving!. and don't say it can't happen!. incidents of that is why safety's are put on in the first place!..

 

[JDAOWNER]

ONLY SAFETY SWITCH I'VE RUN INTO ON MY 4110 IS CLUTCH MUST BE IN TO START. I HATE SEAT SWITCHES. FIRST THING I DO IS GET RID OF THEM. I RAN HEAVY EQUIP FOR A LIVING. MY CRAFTSMAN LAWN MOWER --MUST TURN KEY BACK ONE NOTCH TO MOW BACKWARDS. ONE TURN AND RUN ALL DAY.

 

[WranglerX]

just imagine what happens when you fall off the seat while the tractor is moving!. and don't say it can't happen!. incidents of that is why safety's are put on in the first place!..

And then there is the seat belt on my tractor that gets tighter across the hips every time the seat bounces (downward) and belt tensioner locks it tighter with ever bounce....

Dale

 

[MAD777]

levi333 My CK2610HST is a 2019 with no seat switch. Maybe my dealer did me a favor

 

[DarkBlack]

Thats what seat belts are for!
If you fall off with any significant tractor speed, it would still run you over, even if you had a switch.

Shorted mine on my Massey the first week I had it. Engine would cut out and back in every time I drove over rough ground. If I remember right I couldnt use my chipper either.

 

[SmallChange]

I like safety equipment. I'm happy they catch brainfart errors, which seem to get more common as the decades creep by.

Even so, my 2018 NH WM25 seat switch is much too touchy. Several times I've killed the engine with it because I was reaching for a control or trying to see. Usually this happens when there's an audience, like when I'm blocking a car in the driveway and trying to get out of the way, or working with a helper.

I *ALWAYS* wear my seat belt, even just to pull the tractor out of the barn (in fact I remember reading some horror story about somebody catching some high tractor structure on some low barn structure and slowly flipping the tractor just pulling out). I think any seat switch that will kill the engine when you shift around inside the seat belt is too **** sensitive, and I think I'm going to disable it. Even though I'd actually prefer having a seat switch, as long as I could shift around in the seat with the seat belt fastened.

 

[tomplum]

Well at least the CUB "dance" you do once per cutting cycle. How hard is it to turn the key back a notch and press a button? Once. Husqvarna much the same. Disconnecting the MIR switch is as easy as pie should you see the need. How ever nice Deere L&G tractors are, they make you think to push a button each time you reverse w/ the PTO on rather than concentrating on what you are doing. DO I look forward to push a button 20 times when I cut the lawn or do I look backward in the direction of travel. Seems sdrawkcab to me. Seat switches can save or life and limbs on a rider mower. Knew someone who got comfortable with hopping off when the blades were turning and off the end of her toes went!

 

[RalphVa]

Some are good. We had a 1983 Benz that had almost none. Had a switch on the clutch and the brake for when the cruise control was on. Both shut it down. That was it. Could actually start the car in gear, and it would likely start, too.

I'm surprised that the Kioti has none. Makers went too far with the under belly mower switches.

Ralph

 

[drizler]

I've got my flameproof suit on so here goes...I bypass the seat switch, the backup interlocks all that jazz with the exception of the neutral safety switch. I was taught how to operate equipment at a very early age and if safety is second nature, you don't need all that stuff. Let the flaming begin!!

And I don't care about lawsuits, liability, resale value or "climate change."

You said it all right there.. I can稚 tell you how many times I致e fixed ignition issues by unhooking those things on my stuff. Now I知 preemptive and off they go straight away. There are decent applicable safety devices but those aren稚 one.