L3400 Key Switch

[Wayne_Freeman]

My L3400 is by far a machine that does all I need to do and then some. If there is one thing I could change it would be the key switch position. How many times have I been doing something and my knee inadvertently bumps the switch and turns off the engine? Too many to count! I have gotten fast enough to catch it most of the time but not always. Am I the only one with this issue?

 

[teg]

I have not done that but I've turned on my flashers and a turn signal

 

[k0ua]

It never happened to me, try running the seat back one more notch.

James K0UA

 

[KennyV]

You could apply some heat to the Key... then bend it 90 degrees away from your knee.
Key will still work the same, just be less apt to get bumped. KennyV

 

[ccsial]

You must have some long legs or the seat is too far forward. I'm 6'1" and don't have that problem on my L3400. I have done it on my X748 a few times though.

 

[Chilly807]

I have not done that but I've turned on my flashers and a turn signal

I had the same problem, but only when I was wearing my special sheep boots. You know, the high rubber ones? I cut the end off the turn signal lever so it's much harder to turn on by accident, and problem solved.

I've never bumped the key enough to shut the engine off. Or even touched it with my leg as far as I can remember.

Sean

 

[Wayne_Freeman]

Bending the key will work! I am 5'7" and should have prefaced my statement by saying when swiveling in the seat doing something while looking back is when I tend to bump the key switch. Running the 3 pt stump grinder is the biggest offender. Thanks for the input.

 

[johnrex62]

I don't know what to say to this. I have an L3700, which is the same size as the L3400 I believe, and spend a lot of time running in reverse when brush hogging in my dense thickets. I am 6'2" and have a 34" inseam, so my legs are not of the compact variety.

I have never hit the key as I swivel back and forth looking behind me on either side. I suspect you have your seat much too forward. Mine is not all the way back, but is pretty far back from the steering wheel. I figure I must have at least three inches between my knee and the key at the closest point in my motions.

 

[teg]

...when swiveling in the seat...

Do you look over your Right or Left shoulder? I mostly look over my right so my left knee is more forward... I'm guessing you are looking over your left?

 

[westbrooklawn]

I don't have the problem with the key, but like Teg I constantly hit the light switch with my left knee when I am looking back over my right shoulder. I'm 6'1", and have the seat all the way back. I also tend to hit the 3 speed lever for my HST, and often knock it out of gear... I just need to loose about 60 lbs. so my ***** isn't so wide! As to the OP's question, I think I would find a smooth round metal knob of some sort, cut off the head of the key, and adapt the remaining part of the key to the metal knob... make any sense? Complicated fix perhaps, but it would make a neat project.