BX B7500 Safety

hazmat · Feb 12, 2002

First Let me say that I have enjoyed reading all the posts here. What a wealth of info. I bought the "book" for two reasons, 1. for the info inside, & 2 to support TBN.

I am looking for a new tractor (Assuming I can get my fiancee to agree). She is sold on the Utility, but keeps reminding me that her car cost as much as these machines.

My question is: What kind of safety features do the BX and B7500 have? I drove both last weekend (great machines), but forgot to ask. There are two things I am concerned about:

1. What prevents the tractor from starting?

2. If you leave the seat, will it shut down? Under what conditions (ie PTO engaged, Hydro pedal "in gear")

I was on JD's comparison web site and it mentioned that Kubota didn't have an operator presence system.

My current tractor JD 316 will shut down if you leave the seat with the PTO engaged, but won't if the tractor is in gear. Potential for a run away tractor. The best setup I've seen was on a honda lawn tractor, it would only run without an operater if the parking brake was on, trans in nuetral and PTO off.

Steve

Jeff396 · Feb 12, 2002

I have a B7500HSD. I'm pretty sure the only thing that will prevent starting is that the PTO is in either of the two settings. The tractor will start if in either 2wd or 4wd provided the clutch is depressed. I have never tried to start with the Hydro pedal engaged. It does automatically come back to neutral so unless it were malfunctioning or your foot was on the pedal it wouldn't be a problem.

There are no driver pesence cut off switches. I have mixed feelings on the subject. I do religously use the seat belt which I believe would make such a system redundant.

Jeff

looch · Feb 12, 2002

Like Jeff I also have a B7500HSD. There is no operator presence system and if there were I'd remove it. I don't envision myself sitting on the tractor for 10-15 minutes while it warms up. The JD and Honda set-ups you mention would be more tolerable, but there is no substitue for common sense. What if you came to depend on this system? Like you get off the tractor and the engine doesn't die - you think the PTO must be disengaged...

Tractors are dangerous, govern yourself accordingly.

TresCrows · Feb 12, 2002

No, Kubota does not have the silly seat switch and I would have disconnected that foolishness first off. Kubota has a ROP and a seatbelt and an interlock on the Clutch on my 2410. The BX can be started without anyone on the seat which is a good thing--it can be started and allowed to warm up, when stopping to move obstacles--yep--you must use the ol' noggin to kill the PTO and yes, the tractor will continue to run. If safety switches of dubious lawyer instigated engineering are important to you then perhaps JD is the way to go. Either brand is a fine tractor, Kubota prefers to provide solid engineering and durability--check out the metal vs plastic components (I know this will wake up all you snoozers). Good luck with your shopping, don't let the wool get pulled over your eyes on things like a 50 cent seat switch. Neither brand has airbags or antilock brakes.
J

Charliebrn · Feb 12, 2002

I have a BX. You cannot start it if it is in gear or if the PTO is engaged, but you do NOT have to be sitting in the seat to start it, ie:no operator presence sytem. Thats the way I like it, and if it had it, it would need to be removed. The reason? Safety. Yes, thats right...this is why:

When using any tractor with a FEL or a larger hood and mowing there are times when you have to stand up or lean heavily forward to see that you are not going to be destroying something that is unintended, or running over something with a mower that will fling projectiles at unintended targets (the house or the family dog or worse). To do this, you must remove your weight from the seat, and if it had this "safety" your engine would shut off everytime you did it. I know this because my last tractor (a Cub) had this switch. After a while, you get tired of restarting your tractor and you start getting complacent and stop leaning forward or standing, and sure enough, an accident is going to happen. After something like that happens (and it will), you then remove the seat switch (which I did). With the FEL, I am frequently standing up to get a good look at what I am doing, this would be impossible with the switch. Not to mention the warmup time that is required with all diesels as TresCrows mentioned earlier, as sitting on a running engine in a shed or garage is also dangerous...

A utility tractor is a different animal altogether from a lawn mower, and the increased utility brings with it more responsibility. Don't buy the 4100 for that seat switch, your dealer will be happy to install one for the BX or 7500 if you really want one, but you will remove it on either green or orange if you use the tractor for its intended purpose, i guarantee it. Its' unsafe to not leave the seat every now and then to see what you are doing. Make your decision based on the capabilities of the tractor, be it either color.

GlueGuy · Feb 12, 2002

I'm with the others on the seat switch FUD. I get up off the seat enough that it would royally torque me off if the engine quit when I was just getting up to look around the loader or something. Likewise, I will stop the tractor, drop it to idle, and get off to take care of something. If the engine quit when I did that, I'd take the seat switch and put someplace where the sun doesn't shine (if you get my drift).

crown · Feb 12, 2002

Ditto to the Glue Guy's comments my old Murray had that feature it annoyed me there and certainly would on my tractor.
Crown

ewoss3 · Feb 13, 2002

Beside if there was a seat switch how would we operate implements like backhoes which require you to be out of the drivers seat.

hazmat · Feb 13, 2002

Thanks for all the replys. I do see the convenience of not having an operater presence system and I am willing to own up to the responsibility required to operate one of these machines.

That said, I think I prefer the added cushion of some kind of operator presenance system. My feeling is that it is there for the 1 time in 1000 that you forget to shut down the PTO before getting off the tractor to move something out of your way while mowing. Now assuming the planets are aligned against you on this particular day, you also forgot to set the brake, and you happen to be on a hill. You realize that the tractor is about to roll over you and slip while trying to run away. Now they call you stumpy because thats what you have instead of a left foot.

I also think that the operator presence system comes in handy when someone new to tractors (my fiancee or in 20 years my kids) is learning to use the machine. There are lots of levers on these machines. A friendly reminder that hey, you need to turn this off and set the brake before you get off is a good thing.

The New Holland tractors require that you set the parking brake before dismounting, but will let you run the PTO. The assumption is that this is for using a chipper or other implement that requires you to be off the tractor. It would be real slick if it had some kind of PTO overide swith you had to set in order to run the PTO while off the tractor.

Each has his/her own opinion, I think a well engineered safety system is towards the top of my list as far as requirements go. The "dumb" systems that require you in the seat to run the tractor at all are not a viable solution.

Steve

Jeff396 · Feb 13, 2002

I wouldn't be at all surprised if all of the safety items you are looking for are mandated in the near future. Especially when you read the articles about tractor related deaths. I believe I read that there is a bill being put forth to prevent children from riding on the tractors.

That said, the only thing I am currently using my pto for is my mmm. I have never fogotten to turn it off mostly due to the fact that is sounds like a B-17 when it's running at the proper rpm. It's kinda hard to overlook and fear is a real motivator for me.

The biggest problem I have had is forgetting to carry a load in my fel low when on a slope. One of the rear tires has come off the ground at least 4 times and I still will forget to carry the load low....doh!!!

I was thinking, as you are, that my wife and kids when they get older would be operating the tractor. I would probably feel differently if we had level land but after having it for a while there is no way either of them are getting on this machine. First reason is that you'd have to pry me out of the seat and secondly I'm not real thrilled with three more learning curves on the tractor.

Jeff