Seat switch #$#$$#$#%

[plowhog]

My seat switch is incompatible with using my new Woodland Mills WC88 chipper. When I leave the seat to use the chipper, everything shuts down. The manual says PTO and engine will *still run* if Park Brake is engaged and selector is in Neutral-- but it doesn't behave that way.

Trying to stuff a bag of cement into the cab tractor to fool the switch isn't going to work-- my back isn't compatible with that.

I checked the circuit at the seat by unplugging the connector. On the seat side, it looks like just straight continuity-- either on or off. But on the "tractor side" of the connection there is about 1V DC coming from one of the leads. I don't want jumper it and short out the electrics of my tractor.

Does anyone know if a straight jumper will work OK, or if there is some other method? It's a Grammar air ride seat.

 

[Jstpssng]

I took a piece of wire and fastened the switch lever down last year and haven't even looked at it since.

 

[plowhog]

On my tractor the switch is buried inside the seat where I cannot see it. It would look like quite a project to take the air ride seat apart but I will check that again. Am hoping for a solution that doesn't require disassembling the seat if I can avoid that.

 

[Jstpssng]

Mine is out in the open, all that I had to do was flip the seat up. Like you I was leery about bypassing it as I didn't want a big repair bill a week after I got the tractor home.

 

[gimmodog]

Not sure about how yours is wired . A safe way to do this and still have the safety switch when you are on the seat is to add a toggle switch in parallel with the safety switch then you can turn on the toggle switch when you get off the seat then turn it back off when you get back on the seat and still have your seat safety working when you are sitting on the seat. Just don't forget to turn the toggle back off. Is there just 2 wires connected to the safety switch? If you know where the electrical connection is that turns on the PTO put the switch directly to it.

 

[plowhog]

Is there just 2 wires connected to the safety switch?

Just two wires to the seat safety switch. I'm tempted to put a jumper across it but after finding some voltage on it I am not so sure.

 

[Wagtail]

Just two wires to the seat safety switch. I'm tempted to put a jumper across it but after finding some voltage on it I am not so sure.

On my 4105 the seat flips forward and the entire seat-safety-switch (a plunger type) can be wiggled out. It's in two interlocking parts so that you can replace the plunger/switch if it goes bad.

All that I did was to tie-wrap (zip-tie?) a small block of wood over the plunger = I'm always in the seat. No need to jumper the circuit. (At least in my case)

And, no, I didn't put the switch back into the seat, I coiled it and the now excess wire down onto the floor & zip-tied it to something that wouldn't move and kept it from interfering with anything else. When/if I sell the tractor on, I'll just put everything back the way it was.

 

[gimmodog]

Just two wires to the seat safety switch. I'm tempted to put a jumper across it but after finding some voltage on it I am not so sure.

it should have 12v to gnd on one side when not making and 12v to gnd on both sides when making. if it has a small amount on the other side when not making that would just be some type of feedback of some sort. if you jump it that would be he same as if it was being sat on amd making

 

[Tractor Seabee]

On my K all I have to do is flip the seat up and the PTO interlock is bypassed. Who knows, try it.

Ron

 

[oosik]

Give me a break - there has to be some simple method to bypass the seat switch when using the PTO and you are out of the seat. Are you telling me that MF did not realize this situation and make provisions for it.

What mine does makes no difference here but - I turn the PTO on - stand up - the buzzer goes off for ten seconds - that's the end of the show folks. Climb down and start stuffing the chipper. My seat switch is not a cut off/disable - its a warning.

My recommendation - - since what the Owners Manual says does not seem to work - call the local MF dealer.