B2620 shuts down after leaving seat

seapea · Apr 27, 2008

I've been having a problem more and more often with by B2620 shutting down once I leave the seat. I know, you are all thinking I left the PTO engaged, but that is not the case. My dealer gave me a long lecture on this before I even received the tractor, telling me NOT to call him if the tractor won't start until I checked that the PTO was engage. However, this problem didn't start happening until after I started using the PTO for the first time. Before then I did about 10 hours worth of landscape rake and loader work with no problem.

Whenever this happens (the tractor shutting down when I leave the seat), when I first try to start the tractor up, nothing happens except for the normal dashboard lights. The first couple times it happened, pressing on the clutch allowed me to start it up. However, now it is happening about half the time I leave the seat, and I can't get it to start until I basically depress every pedal and move every lever a couple of times.

I recently spent about 10 minutes doing this repeatedly: engaging and disengaging the PTO, depressing and releasing the clutch, depressing and holding the clutch, pressing the forward and reverve pedals, lowering the loader and 3PH. I was all set to give up, when I decided on one last turn of the key and it started.

I'm guessing this is related to the PTO in some way. Probably whatever is suppose to detect that the PTO is engaged is getting confused. BTW, there was at least one time when I got off the seat with the tractor running (and it didn't shut down), got back on, did some loader work, and when I got off again it shut down. I never touched the PTO in this case. I think all the other times I had used the PTO.

Any suggestion? Should I just let the dealer handle it, or is there something I can try on my end first?

Tractor Dr. · Apr 27, 2008

seapea - I had a B7800 with the same problem. You probably have a pto lever that has a safety switch that needs a simple adjustment. You said..."and I can't get it to start until I basically depress every pedal and move every lever a couple of times". When you moved every lever and pedal you likely pushed on that PTO lever enough to close the safety switch on the PTO which allowed the tractor to start. All (or i should say most) safety switches are simple on/off switches that are mounted to engage with the linkages (PTO, Clutch, Seat, etc) which moves the switch as you operate the function. The PTO switch is mounted on a threaded adjustable rod allowing you to bring it closer to the linkage so it closes properly. My bet is that when the tractor stalls after you leave the seat is due to the vibration of the tractor engine running which makes the lever (and linkage) vibrate rearward enough to "open" that safety switch (PTO "ON" position) which tells the tractor to shut off. Even though the PTO is not running the lever isn't moved forward enough to close the set of contacts in the switch.

Next time your tractor shuts down simply hold in the clutch AND the PTO lever, and see if it starts. If it doesn't go to the next lever until you find the culprit.

Hope this helps.
TD

seapea · Apr 28, 2008

I only got about 30 minutes of tractor time today, but did have it shut down twice out of maybe 6 times I got off the tractor. Playing with the PTO and gear levers doesn't seem to help. Both times I got is started I had just depressed both the forward and reverse pedals, and then when I pushed on the brake it would start. Very strange.

I also looked at the PTO lever linkage. I didn't see anything that looked adjustable. What I did notice is that if you put in in 540 mode, is presses down on a button. When the PTO is in neutral or 960/2500 mode it does not (and doesn't appear that it is suppose to). There are some wires running from very near the linkage to the seat sensor. Everything else is internal.

GreenMtns · Apr 28, 2008

seapea said:
I only got about 30 minutes of tractor time today, but did have it shut down twice out of maybe 6 times I got off the tractor. Playing with the PTO and gear levers doesn't seem to help. Both times I got is started I had just depressed both the forward and reverse pedals, and then when I pushed on the brake it would start. Very strange.

I also looked at the PTO lever linkage. I didn't see anything that looked adjustable. What I did notice is that if you put in in 540 mode, is presses down on a button. When the PTO is in neutral or 960/2500 mode it does not (and doesn't appear that it is suppose to). There are some wires running from very near the linkage to the seat sensor. Everything else is internal.

Seapea

Check that your forward and reverse pedals are fully in neutral. If they stick in gear just a little bit you can't start the tractor. That may be why moving the PTO lever does not seem to help.

Yankee Clipper · May 1, 2008

Seapea,

There is an operator's presence system on your tractor and I would guess the seat switch either is not making a good consistent contact or it's wires have become damaged under the seat.

Bear in mind, it is designed to shut the engine off when you leave the seat - PTO engaged or not. If you want to do stationary PTO work, you flip the seat over the steering wheel and another switch closes which lets the engine continue to run without an operator in the seat.

You should not have to go through all that to start and run the tractor. Take it to your dealer and have them check it out so you can use it without wondering if it will restart.

Good luck!

seapea · May 1, 2008

Yankee Clipper said:
Seapea,

There is an operator's presence system on your tractor and I would guess the seat switch either is not making a good consistent contact or it's wires have become damaged under the seat.

Bear in mind, it is designed to shut the engine off when you leave the seat - PTO engaged or not. If you want to do stationary PTO work, you flip the seat over the steering wheel and another switch closes which lets the engine continue to run without an operator in the seat.

I don't think the problem is with the seat sensor. It is with some other sensor, beacause getting it to work always involves pressing pedals. I think I've narrowed it down to the forward or reverse pedal. Someone earlier mentioned that it won't start if you are pressing either pedal, so maybe one of them gets stuck slightly depressed.

Also, the tractor is suppose to run when you leave the seat. You only need to flip up the seat when you want to use the PTO while off the tractor. I've confirmed this with the manual and my dealer, and that was also my experience when I first used the tractor. I actually brought this up with the dealer when he first dropped it off and was showing me a few things, because my riding mower does shut down if you don't apply the parking break before leaving the seat, and I was wondering if the Kubota was the same. The answer is no, you do not need to apply the parking break, or lift the seat, as long as the PTO is not engage.

Yankee Clipper said:
You should not have to go through all that to start and run the tractor. Take it to your dealer and have them check it out so you can use it without wondering if it will restart.

Agreed. I've already mentioned it them. I have a few other minor issues that need to be looked at when I bring it in.

n8586m · May 1, 2008

Hold on there Yankee, that is not how my 2008 B2620 works. I can leave the seat and the engine stays running as long as the pto is not engaged. I can leave the seat with the rear pto engaged if I raise the seat as soon as I stand up. I can and do start the engine while standing beside the tractor. I would guess that the problem with the OP is a faulty adjusted limit switch on the pto leaver.