"safety" switches

[Skypuppy]

My BX 2660 is a 2009 model. How do I disable ALL the so-called "safety" switches? My tractor will not even crank right now and I desperately need my machine to be WORKING, not sitting around collecting dust. My grass is almost a foot high in the tall stuff.


Thanks.

 

[seville009]

it’s probably impossible to defeat all if the safety devices.

on my zero turn mower, i had one if the seat switch wires break - easy fix with a coupler.

on my tractor, i override the seat pressure switch because the seat freezes in the winter and won’t trigger the switch.

 

[Tinhack]

You have to determine if the switch is "normally open" or "normally closed" for the purpose used. Some circuits require an "on" or closed path some require an "off" or open path. Since you're not specific on what/which switch(s) prevent your tractor from being used, the problem may be mechanical.

Keep in mind "safety" switches are just that. They are there for safety reasons. If you defeat the purpose, YOU are creating an UNSAFE condition.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I wouldn't disable safety switches. I would troubleshoot, It's easier than you think.
First disconnect one battery lead (ground is best).
With an ohm meter (multimeter on ohms Rx1 scale) check each switch. As mentioned they'll either be NO or NC. So you'll read zero ohms...push switch it goes high. Or high...push switch it goes low.
Any switch that doesn't "toggle" hi-low is bad.

 

[Thomas]

Before disconnecting switches check for build up debris air hose might help.

 

[JimRB]

My tractor has three safety switches. One:not in gear, Two: PTO not engaged, Threeperator sitting in seat when in gear or PTO is engaged. Does your tractor have more? As others mentioned all the switches are there for a good reason and are simple normally open or normally closed. Easy to test with a multimeter or a trouble light. I start my tractor from outside the cab. If I had bypassed the in gear or not or in PTO on or not would be a disaster waiting to happen. I do like all three switches to be working properly. My wife could not start the truck today. I suggested she put it in neutral or park and try again. That worked.

 

[Diggin It]

Have you determined is IS a switch and not some other problem?

 

[fried1765]

My tractor has three safety switches. One:not in gear, Two: PTO not engaged, Threeperator sitting in seat when in gear or PTO is engaged. Does your tractor have more? As others mentioned all the switches are there for a good reason and are simple normally open or normally closed. Easy to test with a multimeter or a trouble light. I start my tractor from outside the cab. If I had bypassed the in gear or not or in PTO on or not would be a disaster waiting to happen. I do like all three switches to be working properly. My wife could not start the truck today. I suggested she put it in neutral or park and try again. That worked.

We obviously could never agree on this subject......I HATE 'em !!!

 

[Henro]

This is from memory, so search a little more, but if you look at the starter you should see a large wire and a small wire. The safety circuit energizes the small wire, causing the solenoid to pull in and the starter motor to activate. If you use a jumper to short these terminals together, the starter motor should turn the engine over.

Make sure the tractor is in neutral if you try this. Once started you can use the tractor normally until the next restart.

Best to fix the issue though.

 

[Fuddy1952]

A friend has a zero turn mower that was loaded with safety switches, a mix of n/o & n/c. It wouldn't run, he was going crazy checking them as his grass was getting out of hand. He called me. Since it had magneto ignition coil I said just unplug kill terminal, wire that to a switch to ground so he could shut it off.
It worked fine, dangerous though since PTO ran in gear, no one in seat, etc. I said at least you can mow your yard, fix it later.
He may have never fixed it...I haven't heard from him in a long time .

 

[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.