"safety" switches

[dougtrr2]

On my BX24 the PTO safety switch was the culprit. It got out of adjustment and would sometimes keep me from starting. If I just let the lever snap back to the off position it would work again. It was an intermittent thing so I didn't get around to actually fixing in for a while. The adjust is easy. An accessible bolt and slide the switch.

Doug in SW IA

 

[jebova2301]

all the switches are there for a good reason

I agree...to an extent. For the vast majority of situations, the safety switches are a good thing and should be left well enough alone. That said, I ran into an issue today while trying to move some items with pallet forks and the frame of the forks was blocking my line of sight. I could easily just stand up and that gave me plenty of clearance to see over it...but then the tractor shuts off after a few seconds. In this very specific situation, having a switch to temporarily override it would have made things much easier. In the end, I made it work, but an override switch would have been a much better solution. Like I said, though, this was a very specific situation, and the first time in 2 years with the tractor that I would have liked to have the capability to override it, confirming that the switch in most normal use is no hindrance at all. Even so, since I will be moving pallets/totes around much more often, I will still probably look into putting in a bypass switch for those instances.

 

[rich bx]

I've a bx23 2007, it's probably got at least a dozen safety lock outs. Sounds like you use your tractor "somewhat" infrequently? I will let mine sit for months at a time then when I use it I am using it some every day for maybe a week or two. I have a dickens of a time getting the machine to start when I first get back to using it as described. I've replaced batteries, tried jump starting, everything and can't get it to start. It's a TLB and I've got the 54" mower deck on it as well. I have ( i hope) finally figured out how get it going after it sits. Try wiggling every control there is, PTO height, pto engage, neutral turtle rabbit, treadle pedal, lift seat drop down sit down hard, keep jiggering the control switches, sooner or later you will trigger the sticky culprit. I know sounds crazy especially if anyone is watching you bouncing up and down on the seat, wiggling every lever but seriously, these safety switches are a pain but as mentioned by others there for good reason. Don't try to disable them. If have to troubleshoot and fix, but from my experience with my bx, I have to sometimes jigger things around for a as much as 5 minutes, get off walk away come back in a few minutes to a release frustrations and ease the fears I've got bigger problems. The other day I cranked the tractor to pull it off the trailer, the PTO was engaged, but the engine started anyway, good thing the mower deck was clear of foreign matter, but that is safety switch that is obviously not working, they are a pain I need to replace that one. FWIW Good luck.

 

[jaxs]

I've a bx23 2007, it's probably got at least a dozen safety lock outs. Sounds like you use your tractor "somewhat" infrequently? I will let mine sit for months at a time then when I use it I am using it some every day for maybe a week or two. I have a dickens of a time getting the machine to start when I first get back to using it as described. I've replaced batteries, tried jump starting, everything and can't get it to start. It's a TLB and I've got the 54" mower deck on it as well. I have ( i hope) finally figured out how get it going after it sits. Try wiggling every control there is, PTO height, pto engage, neutral turtle rabbit, treadle pedal, lift seat drop down sit down hard, keep jiggering the control switches, sooner or later you will trigger the sticky culprit. I know sounds crazy especially if anyone is watching you bouncing up and down on the seat, wiggling every lever but seriously, these safety switches are a pain but as mentioned by others there for good reason. Don't try to disable them. If have to troubleshoot and fix, but from my experience with my bx, I have to sometimes jigger things around for a as much as 5 minutes, get off walk away come back in a few minutes to a release frustrations and ease the fears I've got bigger problems. The other day I cranked the tractor to pull it off the trailer, the PTO was engaged, but the engine started anyway, good thing the mower deck was clear of foreign matter, but that is safety switch that is obviously not working, they are a pain I need to replace that one. FWIW Good luck.

to
I'm not anti-safety switch because I witness people doing stupid stuff almost daily that proves some need's to think for them. Your experience pretty much sum's up my main objections to safety switchs on tractors and mowers. Being unreliable make's the tractor more dangerous than if it had no switchs at all. In the afore mentioned case where tractor started despite the pto being engaged. Suppose 2 people were working on/servicing/cleaning mower and 1 was in contact with mower when tractor started. The same applies to tractor starting in gear,taking one by suprise and who know's the outcome. Automobile safetys that prevent starting in gear seldom if ever fail but when and if that should happen,the car would do nothing. Cars also have visual and audiable alerts. Tractors often let you keep grinding and cussing and/or die,restart then die again at random.
Ok,got my little rant out of the way,now something we can do to help live with the cards we are dealt. I highly reccomend anyone doing their own repair and upkeep have products called Deoxit on hand. Simply spraying switches with the right product can save hours of frusteration. Deoxit is manufactured in over a dozen varieties, so you should read carefully about the uses of each type before your purchase. Your trailer lights will thank you and you will thank Deoxit.:drink:

 

[Fuddy1952]

I agree...to an extent. For the vast majority of situations, the safety switches are a good thing and should be left well enough alone. That said, I ran into an issue today while trying to move some items with pallet forks and the frame of the forks was blocking my line of sight. I could easily just stand up and that gave me plenty of clearance to see over it...but then the tractor shuts off after a few seconds. In this very specific situation, having a switch to temporarily override it would have made things much easier. In the end, I made it work, but an override switch would have been a much better solution. Like I said, though, this was a very specific situation, and the first time in 2 years with the tractor that I would have liked to have the capability to override it, confirming that the switch in most normal use is no hindrance at all. Even so, since I will be moving pallets/totes around much more often, I will still probably look into putting in a bypass switch for those instances.

I think an override switch is a good idea and I think I'll put one on my Deere. I just checked the seat switch and it's normally open, closed when in seat. I think I'll use a DPDT switch like I drew in the dotted box . When switch is thrown it would turn on a back-up beeper ($8.20 Ebay), S in drawing. That way it beeps when override switch is on, otherwise I'd forget to turn it off.