securing mini-x at remote location

[40_acre_mule]

I would appreciate ideas on how to secure/lock a kx-71 that will be left outdoors on a property away from my house
There are no neighbors to keep an eye on things or even hear if someone tries to steal the machine
Looking for some way to make it difficult for a person who might know how to get one going with or without a key

 

[4570Man]

Your key is close to useless since they’re all keyed the same. My first mode of operation is you can’t steal what you don’t know is there. The next easiest thing to do is pull a fuse essential for operation. You could also wire up a kill switch. Best option just insure it and sleep easy at night.

 

[thepumpguysc]

If its THAT remote, I'd pull the battery..
I had a similar situation w/ a dual trailer w/ 2 jet ski's..
I pulled the wheel off & put it in the shed.. IDK WHY I left the wheel & took the lug nuts..??
I came up to the property to find the shed door ripped off the hinges, the wheel gone, along w/ the trailer & jet ski's..
They found lug nuts on another old truck that was on the property..
It turned out ok tho..

 

[3Ts]

I know you said it's stored outdoors, but you might consider a shipping container to store it in. Although check dimensions, you'll probably need an extra tall container for it. The other option is to haul it back and forth. At 6500# a heavy duty trailer will handle it. Otherwise, have good insurance.

You could also add an aftermarket fuel cutoff. You should also expect to have no fuel in the tank each time you arrive to do work. It may take a few weeks, but I'm sure it will be found.

 

[EddieWalker]

When I used to go deer hunting in the National Forest, we'd come across logging equipment all the time. They had metal plates on hinges that went over the dash that where locked into place, and also over other things including the fuel cap. I don't know if they removed anything from the machines to make them inoperable, but I do know that those locks and metal plates where pretty secure.

When I bought my land, I lived in town and I was worried about theft, so I added a hidden switch to the starter line that wasn't easy to get to and impossible to see. You had to know to put your arm into that spot and turn the switch before it would start.

I thought about removing the battery, or disconnecting it, but thought that would be too easy for a thief to figure out and then just jump start it. I also thought about adding those metal plates to the cover the key/dash area, but with so many cordless grinders out there, I figured it would be too easy for them to get past that too. Same thing with chains, it's too easy to cut them off.

I did remove one of the front tires when I first got it, but that was such a pain, that it forced me to install the hidden switch. I have no idea if it worked or not since I don't know if anybody ever tried to steal it, but it did make me feel a little better about leaving it there when I wasn't around.

 

[SimS]

Put game cameras on the the access road/path in and out of your property. At least you'll have something to show to the LEOs if it does get stolen/damaged. Additionally don't leave the trailer with the excavator. And as Eddie said, cordless grinders can defeat just about any locking mechanism, so his idea of a kill switch will slow down or stop most common thieves. It's tough to try and outwit determined criminals.....

SimS

 

[joefromga]

Nothing will stop a thief with enough time. The best option is make it difficult to crank and move. Starter kill, no battery, etc.
You can park it between trees if possible so they can't move it easily with a rollback or large truck.

The best option is a GPS tracker. Hard wired or obd if it has one. Nobody will ever check for a tracker and you will know the minute it's cranked or moved and you'll know where it is. A small solar panel helps to keep the battery charged and nobody will think twice about that either.

If it gets stolen, you and the sheriff can go pick it up.

 

[Snobdds]

I don't know about Kubota, but my cat has a key'd battery disconnect switch. If this key is not in the switch, nothing is going to start it. It's not easy to override either.

I leave my mini at the cabin and I just remove the key and go on my way...

 

[4570Man]

I don't know about Kubota, but my cat has a key'd battery disconnect switch. If this key is not in the switch, nothing is going to start it. It's not easy to override either.

I leave my mini at the cabin and I just remove the key and go on my way...

Are they all keyed the same? If so it’s of very little value?

 

[Snobdds]

Are they all keyed the same? If so it’s of very little value?

No kidding, why would cat even bother if their all the same...

 

[RickB]

Are they all keyed the same? If so it’s of very little value?

Looks like a John Deere Ag key from the 1960’s.

 

[Tomtint]

I have the same concerns with leaving my Cat Skidsteer at the property we plow in the winter. I'm 100% certain it would disappear before the season was over. Small equipment is so easy to just throw on a trailer and any jack hole with a pickup truck can make off with it. On the very rare occasions where I had brought my machine to the property before a storm and left it there. I ran a heavy chain across the front entry door and padlocked it. I also chained and locked the tracks to my trailer that was parked next to it .. In all seriousness ....with today's battery operated angle grinders, it would only take about 4 minutes to cut the locks and be off.
Maybe a hidden ignition kill switch and a hidden lock to get into the engine bay would help. ..a little..

 

[Diggin It]

On older cars, one trick was to open the distributor cap and pull the rotor. Another was simply to take the coil wire and one or more plug wires.

I'd be considering something along those lines other than the battery or something obvious. Is there some key ignition item that's portable enough to remove easily but too expensive for dirtbags to be likely to carry around with them?

 

[Tomtint]

On older cars, one trick was to open the distributor cap and pull the rotor. Another was simply to take the coil wire and one or more plug wires.

I'd be considering something along those lines other than the battery or something obvious. Is there some key ignition item that's portable enough to remove easily but too expensive for dirtbags to be likely to carry around with them?

I'll have to look for the rotor on my Perkins Diesel in the Cat. Lol

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yeah. Take out the spark plugs.

I have been in the security business since the 80s. All kinds of technology available for detection. But then what? First, property crime is not a big priority here. But then, what is the response time? And, you had better make sure you have ZERO false alarms, otherwise it makes law enforcement even less interested in responding. Hardening the target is about your only option. And as was said, insurance. But you always pay for that anyway, even if not the full amount.

 

[4570Man]

On older cars, one trick was to open the distributor cap and pull the rotor. Another was simply to take the coil wire and one or more plug wires.

I'd be considering something along those lines other than the battery or something obvious. Is there some key ignition item that's portable enough to remove easily but too expensive for dirtbags to be likely to carry around with them?

I figured there’s close to zero chance of the thief carrying a battery. I don’t know how your LS is setup but on my Kubota pulling the battery would be a pain. Pulling the negative cable off would only take a second. Wiring a kill switch would still be way easier and more effective. For maximum effectiveness the kill switch needs to prevent the engine from running not just starting.

 

[Code54]

If I leave mine I have a SPOT gps that I can hardwire on it. If it moves I know it and could just call it in. Pulling a starter relay would disable things quickly and make it difficult for most people to even guess what was wrong with it. Also parking the machine with the cab perpendicular to the tracks helps - hard to winch it on a trailer and take off with it not starting and sitting in that position.

 

[k0ua]

A hidden kill switch in the fuel shutoff solenoid will keep diesels so equipped from running or starting. Even if they have a copy of the key.

How many guys come on here and can't make their tractor run? A lot. I doubt most thieves will stop to troubleshoot your rig.

 

[farm boy00]

Battery disconnect, fuel shutoff, a few chains to trees, plates that go over the dash.
Maybe you could even remove a Joystick controller.

Depending how your diesel is shutoff, disconnect the electrical or is oldschool and shut off with a kill lever, unhook the cable or level in the off position.

 

[strum456]

A hidden kill switch in the fuel shutoff solenoid will keep diesels so equipped from running or starting. Even if they have a copy of the key.

How many guys come on here and can't make their tractor run? A lot. I doubt most thieves will stop to troubleshoot your rig.

....2X