Deactivating Safety Seat Switches

[SCDolphin]

I have a Kubota 5240. There are times I need to stand up to see where my bucket is. I notice that my seat has not one but 2 safety switches. I would love to put a switch to disable them for occasional bucket work. Has anyone done this....You can remain anomymous

 

[MOPAULY]

My BX24 will allow me to get up, but not move the tractor without weight in the seat....wonder why other models would be different? It shouldn't be hard to bypass, the question is do you really want to do that.

 

[Taiser]

Kubota probably changed the switching mechanics when people (customers) started complaining. Million times I got to get up and off the machine to check something, if the thing stalled each time, I'd be losing it. Mine won't move either if I'm not in the seat. That's a good feature. If your's stalls just getting up I'd pull the switch and have no hesitation to do it.

My cub cadet has a mower deck kill for everything, getting up, going backwards etc. I yanked every one of them out. I can only imagine how hard it is on the clutch to start the mower deck every five seconds after a stop. All these switches do is keep idiots from doing stupid things. This POSSIBLY prevents lawsuits and you can't blame tractor companies for doing their best to try and prevent injuries but sometimes it just goes too far.

 

[MarkV]

I’ve done it on an L39 with a wire tie. A better way would be to put a switch in line that would disable when needed but enable if someone else were using your tractor. There have been some threads on the subject in the past if you want to do a little searching.

MarkV

 

[toytruck]

Just pull the two wires off the switch and put a jumper between them

 

[Volfandt]

If the setup is similar to my BX23, one seat switch (plunger type) opens when you lift up to immediately kill the engine when in gear and you depress the treadle pedal and/or have the pto engaged and the other seat switch is a make-break-make lever switch that allows the engine to continue to run with the rear pto engaged with the seat tilted forward (to allow it to run chippers, generators etc).

I don't recommend bypassing these switches as they are there for your safety but if one wants to assume 100% responsibility for their tractoring safety ( like thse who operate older non-compliant tractors & L&G tractors) then you need to experiment as to which switch kills your engine when you stand up. It's probably the two wire plunger type switch. Unplug the connector to it and plug a simple jumper wire into the two connector slots on the "tractor side" connector. Start your engine then lift up. If it stays running you've found the switch. Next thing to do would be to get a simple on/off type toggle switch at an auto parts store and wire it into the connector so that in the "on" position it shorts the connector out and in the off position it remains open and doesn't effect the circuit. You'll want to wire it in "parallel" to the seat switch. In other words splice it in with the connector still connected to the seat switch so that the seat switch will still kill the engine with the toggle switch in the "off" posistion. With the toggle switch in the "on" position it will short-out or bypass the seat switch, rendering it ineffective.
Good luck

 

[N80]

Hugh, I suspect yours is like the one on my L4400. If the tractor is in gear or if the PTO is on, the tractor turns off if you get out of the seat. If the tractor is in neutral and the PTO is off, you can get up and it will continue to run. You can also lean the seat forward and then activate the PTO and it will continue to run. This is for running PTO driven devices, like a generator or pump that do not require operator presence.

Personally, I've learned to live with it and have not found it to be that restrictive. Sometimes I get the urge to stand up for certain things but find it to often not help that much and sometimes to be dangerous.

 

[Cap-n-Cray]

You could put a latching relay with a push button to activate the relay. The relay would override the safety switch. Once you start the tractor you would need to push the button to override the safety switch to stand up. The push button would override the safety till you turn off the tractor. When you turn the tractor off the safety switch would be back to normal.

I would worry about someone using your tractor or if someone services it. They may not know about a regular switch. Using a latching relay would be activated only when you need it. It could not be left in the on position like a switch.

Cary

 

[GeeWally]

On my BX2230 I can get off the seat but I have to put her in neutral. I like the idea of an inline switch that you could activate for occasional use vice a permanent disable.

GW

 

[john_bud]

I have a Kubota 5240. There are times I need to stand up to see where my bucket is. I notice that my seat has not one but 2 safety switches. I would love to put a switch to disable them for occasional bucket work. Has anyone done this....You can remain anomymous

Switches are either open or closed, that is non-conducting (unplugged) or conducting (shorted). A volt meter will let you know which each is. A wire loop in the connector would put it into a permanently conductive state. Same as a tie wrap ("zip tie") holding the sensor in the down state.

Let your own needs drive your decisions and guide your actions, for they are that --> yours.

FWIW, my L3410 HST did not have a factory installed butt sensor. My 1963 fords didn't either.

 

[Lewiston]

You could put a latching relay with a push button to activate the relay. The relay would override the safety switch. Once you start the tractor you would need to push the button to override the safety switch to stand up. The push button would override the safety till you turn off the tractor. When you turn the tractor off the safety switch would be back to normal.

I would worry about someone using your tractor or if someone services it. They may not know about a regular switch. Using a latching relay would be activated only when you need it. It could not be left in the on position like a switch.

Cary

This is an excellent idea! I would additionally recommend it be placed in an out-of-place location and painted red. You may even create a warning label for it. Some of the steps we are forced to take in today's lawsuit happy environment.
Rik

 

[megaboz]

If you only want to disable momentarily, I would recomend a switch that has to be depressed to close the circuit and when you let go would re-engage.

Toggles are grand devices, but they can often be forgotten and left on. And to answer the issue of someone else using the tractor, when they would push it, nothing would appear to happen, and the same when they release it. Also these switches are small and can be easily mounted in a convenient position. However, it would tie up one of your hands.

I've bypassed many safety devices for the sake of convienece, but you need to be prepared for someone else that might use it. Don't put in a bypass that you will forget to enable or that someone might flip because it could be a switch to some cool add-on you have for the tractor. If they would get hurt because you had some bypass that was left on, you would be liable.

Everyone thinks that only "I use/drive that". No one drives my truck, it is my baby, but when my father died, someone had to drive me home. So "Never" is not never, more like eventually.

Just my two cents.

 

[have_blue]

This is an excellent idea! I would additionally recommend it be placed in an out-of-place location and painted red. You may even create a warning label for it. Some of the steps we are forced to take in today's lawsuit happy environment.
Rik

It is a good idea, isn't it? Default is all interlock devices working. Pressing the button deactivates the seat switch and PTO interlock. I think tractor manufacturers should treat that like the auto manufacturers treat air bags. The button could only be activated by the tractor key.

The whole interlock thing is ludicrous anyway. You're going to trust/allow someone to drive a 3000# tractor that can plow through a house without slowing down, run over someone and flatten them, or cut them to shreds with equipment. Yet you aren't going to trust/allow them to stand up on their tractor to prevent blood clots in their legs? The whole idea is just silly. Obviously it has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with greedy liability lawyers.

EDIT: Megaboz has a great idea too. A deadman switch would immediately stop the tractor if the operator took his finger or foot off the deadman switch. A nice heavy bush button switch on the floor in the right place would allow standing, yet be hard to step on accidentally.

 

[Yankee Clipper]

Guys,

What do you want your headstone to have on it? "He figured out how to bypass the safety swtiches on his tractor"?

Seriously, the operator's presence system was put on to keep the operator safe. If the switch is too sensitive, there is a kit for the L39 that slightly changes the seat geometry for light weight operators. See your dealer. Also the new Grand L 40s have a dampner (block of foam) that allows the seat switch to sense but not as fast.

I would be very reluctant to bypass any of the switches as you can get hurt or killed before you can react.

Safety first and always.

 

[Redbug]

Many times I have needed to crouch up to be able to see the bucket, (such as hooking up the quick attach), and the engine would quit when my rear end leaves the seat. Pretty frustrating at times. Finally, I tie wrapped the safety lever down. I am pretty careful about what I do and take care safety wise. I also think the switch should have an override like an airbag. However, I am happy without the seat safety switch. I guess if I ever have to take it in for some sort of repair, I will cut the tie wrap off. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[zeuspaul]

I feel VERY UNSAFE when my tractor shuts off when I don't want it to! It is UNSAFE when my tractor shuts off when I am working on a slope with a bucket full of material and I am heading downhill and there is steeper land ahead of me. It's not always a matter of convenience. Sometimes it is a matter of safety.

Zeuspaul

 

[megaboz]

I feel VERY UNSAFE when my tractor shuts off when I don't want it to! It is UNSAFE when my tractor shuts off when I am working on a slope with a bucket full of material and I am heading downhill and there is steeper land ahead of me. It's not always a matter of convenience. Sometimes it is a matter of safety.

Zeuspaul

I agree with you. I don't know how many times when backing up a steep hill (it is recommended you do that) that the tractor shuts off because I tip a little bit too forward in the seat. The safety switches weren't put there for the consumer, they were put there to keep the morons that do have an accident from being able to sue successfully. BTW before I get flamed, I am not calling anyone on here a moron. But we know or heard of the types, why is there a warning on the hair dryer to not be used in the shower?

Only having had my tractor for about a year with 50 or so hours, I am not real tractor keen yet. And some of the switched I wouldn't bypass, but the seat one is getting pretty old on my BX 24. Not to mention the one for the PTO that sometimes shuts the tractor down when it isn't engaged. I think I will leave that one a lone, I came into this world with 10 fingers, and I am leaving this world with them.

 

[john_bud]

Why don't they put the same sensor interlock into cars and trucks? Lots of people have been run over when the vehicle rolled or was flipped from N into R or D. Lot's of accidents when people reach around to the back seat. passenger seat or even when they switch drivers while driving.

Would save a lot of fuel as unattended idling would be stopped. Keep a lot of CO2 out of the air...

If you don't think it's a good idea for a car, why is it such an excellent idea for a tractor?

 

[Redbug]

Good point- John Bud! Why didn't I think of that? Or how about a deactivation sensor for when driving and you are talking on a cell phone and smoking at the same time...