I buy a new Garden Tractor every two or three years (I like new mowers) First thing I do is bypass all the stupid switches . The backup switch and the seat is the first to go .
My Mower tractor work like I like it to not like some fool thinks it should .
Double duh: spanner, while you maybe knowledgeable about the JD machines, you apparently don't know much about how to treat people and respond to them.
I, like others I'm sure, find your attitude a little overbearing. Please keep offering advice to the help seekers here, but please keep you comments to yourself.
I bought a used L118 and am restoring it. It has mowed in reverse with no action on my part since I got it. While replacing the dashboard I discovered the two wires that connect to the underside of that switch are disconnected from the switch and just connected to each other. Not sure if that's all there is to it but maybe give that a try.