Why not have a "kill switch" on a tractor?

[Depmandog]

My fish-n-ski boat has a kill switch that I hook onto my PFD. I can see the value of that safety feature - 60 mph and hit a rogue wave - out I could go. The boat shuts off, and hopefully I could swim back and rescue myself.

Anything having a static (user positioned) throttle will continue on its merry way until it runs out of fuel or crashes. Both my boat and tractor have such throttles.

I don't mind the seat safety kill switch in my Kubota. I kinda look at it like my boat. If I get tossed off, sure will be nice not to have to worry about chasing the tractor down - or retrieving from the side of someone's barn or house.

Occasionally I forget and will stand up to stretch or cool my back - then I hear the tractor starting to die....probably a good thing that safety is there. I really have no business standing especially with an implement attached.

Like the others have mentioned, it wouldn't be hard at all to install a kill switch.

 

[Redbug]

You could easily run a line to the fuel soleniod switch, (or whatever you call it), and shut the engine down. I have mine marked under the hood so it's easy to find. I would be willing to bet that a lot of the older tractors had something like that. If you had a runaway engine, pull the knob and it would shut down.

 

[RoyJackson]

In some circumstances, I can see an advantage for a kill switch...especially if it's a remote of some sort.
Most, if not all, new tractors sold legally in the US and Canada have the operator presence switch...and that's great if you're mowing or similar task.
However, if one is doing off seat PTO work (chipper, wood splitting, etc), a remote kill switch would be advantageous.

 

[flusher]

The anti-falling-off need has probably been met by the seat belt and ROP on new tractors. But a kill-switch might be a good idea on an old tractor (no belt or ROP).

Bruce

I restore old tractors. My tractor club requires a kill switch on all tractors that participate in club events. Most kill switches are on the dashboard. But I've seen them mounted on the backside of the seat--probably safer to reach the switch when the tractor is moving forward. The kill switch is easy to configure--it just has to open circuit the 6V or 12V line to the ignition coil for a gas engine tractor.

Diesel powered tractors are a little trickier--most vintage diesels don't have solenoid-actuated valves in the fuel line like modern diesels. For example, my 1964 MF135 diesel just has a manually-operated shut off valve in the low pressure fuel line. The knob for that valve is on the dashboard and would be hard to reach and dangerous if the tractor started to move without the operator on board. The safest way would be to install a solenoid valve for fuel shutoff and install the switch in the safest position on the tractor.

 

[sandman2234]

Magneto powered gasoline tractors are a little more fun also because they don't require batteries, which is how you mentioned fixing the problem by opening the circuit. I can just see some lawmaker requiring a ignition power switch installed in every tractor prior to use and not vary in this requirement. Grounding the magneto is a simple deal, but cutting power to it is a little, no make that a lot harder.
David from jax

I restore old tractors. My tractor club requires a kill switch on all tractors that participate in club events. Most kill switches are on the dashboard. But I've seen them mounted on the backside of the seat--probably safer to reach the switch when the tractor is moving forward. The kill switch is easy to configure--it just has to open circuit the 6V or 12V line to the ignition coil for a gas engine tractor.

Diesel powered tractors are a little trickier--most vintage diesels don't have solenoid-actuated valves in the fuel line like modern diesels. For example, my 1964 MF135 diesel just has a manually-operated shut off valve in the low pressure fuel line. The knob for that valve is on the dashboard and would be hard to reach and dangerous if the tractor started to move without the operator on board. The safest way would be to install a solenoid valve for fuel shutoff and install the switch in the safest position on the tractor.

 

[dfkrug]

It seems to me (the novice) that a kill-switch tethered to the operator might
be something to think about. Back in my boating days we were required, by the coast guard, to have one.

That is what you would call a "deadman" switch.

Modern tractors have so many safety controls, they seem to be the #1 cause of failures. There are seat
switches, neutral switches, brake switches, PTO switches, and fwd/rev pedal switches. Not to mention
the ROPS and safety belts, which are passive.

Now, consider this: tractors, unlike most other equipment, are used sometimes off the seat, esp with the
PTO. Not so with PWCs, boats, cars, etc.

As CALG points out, you are in even greater danger driving your car, and the main safety device is manually
activated (or not): The seat belt. Tractors have those, too. Why not use them?

Seat belts are hard to make automatic. Remember about 88-91 in the US, cars had automatic belts? Ugh.

Finally, newer tractors have a major safety feature that I really love: hydrostatic drive. Let go of the pedal
and the tractor stops.

You can make tractors foolproof, but not damfoolproof.

 

[Nooodles]

I don't think thee op will come back to the thread. I think he probably feels a little silly after reading the responses

 

[joe t]

It is not a bad idea but would be a little difficult on an older diesel tractor.


Probably a better investment to install a seat belt and roll bar. My next tractor will definitely have these 2 items.

 

[MattJ]

Hi Flusher -

I know this thread is 4 years old but had a near rollover on my Ford 3000 I restored yesterday and looking at ways to increase the safety of my old tractor, on top of doing a better job at the operator level. I had retrofitted my 3000 with ROPS, which saved me when my tractor slid down into a ditch. I was negligent in not wearing my seatbelt but I was able to hold on. After spending money and time coming up with a good bracket I should have had my belt on.

I contacted you as I'm interested in the comment you had about kill switches. I have the full cutoff plunger on the dash to shut down the engine. Have you ever seen a good automatic setup out there like a normally closed solenoid and a seat presence switch for the older tractors?

Thanks

Matt Johnson

I restore old tractors. My tractor club requires a kill switch on all tractors that participate in club events. Most kill switches are on the dashboard. But I've seen them mounted on the backside of the seat--probably safer to reach the switch when the tractor is moving forward. The kill switch is easy to configure--it just has to open circuit the 6V or 12V line to the ignition coil for a gas engine tractor.

Diesel powered tractors are a little trickier--most vintage diesels don't have solenoid-actuated valves in the fuel line like modern diesels. For example, my 1964 MF135 diesel just has a manually-operated shut off valve in the low pressure fuel line. The knob for that valve is on the dashboard and would be hard to reach and dangerous if the tractor started to move without the operator on board. The safest way would be to install a solenoid valve for fuel shutoff and install the switch in the safest position on the tractor.

 

[CincyFlyer]

If somebody falls off their tractor they were doing something wrong to begin with.

Like finding a ground hog hole that wasn't there yesterday?