How to rig an X595 to mow in reverse

AOW162435 · Jun 20, 2012

sklunk said:
Someone is mowing along in forward then suddenly moves his foot to the reverse pedal and starts going in reverse WITHOUT EVER LOOKING BEHIND HIM. Without RIO the deck will remain running and chop anything he backs over.

For what it's worth - at this point said equipment operator will have already run over/chopped/diced whatever it is that he's about to run over/chop/dice because of his snap decision to suddenly change course.

Andreas

Eric Barney · Jun 20, 2012

I would likt to point out that the very first mower I ever used had RIO. It was one of those manual 'reel' push mowers.... The blades would only spin while pushing the mower forward, then stop while pulling it back. No doubt, a safety feature!

P

AOW162435 · Jun 21, 2012

A YouTube link that address the subject at hand: How to disable RIO on your John Deere GT! - YouTube

Andreas

Carl Bert · Jun 23, 2012

sklunk said:
Carl,

But that was my previous point. If you try to go backwards and the deck stops, that should remind you to:
1) Look behind you to make sure it is safe.
2) Turn around to face forward.
2) Lift up on the RIO switch while starting to go in reverse.
3) Let go of the RIO switch and continue to mow in reverse. At this point you can turn around to look backward and the deck should stay engaged.

I can appreciate your trouble in reaching the switch if you are tall. But you shouldn't need to keep one hand on the switch while trying to turn around and look backwards (unless the RIO operation is different on the X-Series).!

I completely disagree. As I said my GX345 is rigged to mow in reverse (without hitting the switch). With that tractor I always turn around before reversing. It's a natural reaction, just as in a car. With the X595, I find myself mowing in reverse without ever turning around at all. Yes you could turn and look back, before hitting the switch, but to be honest, in the time it takes to turn forward reach for the switch and pull it, an animal or whatever could have easily run behind the machine. So once again, the RIO system makes it less safe.

Now I'm a guy that always did turn around, now with this ridiculous system, I don't or should I say can't.

I like the idea Jenkins had about using rear sensors that shut down the mower when something is behind you. There would be no reason to bypass a system like that.

BTW I still haven't figured out where to put the jumper wire.

AOW162435 · Jun 23, 2012

Carl Bert said:
BTW I still haven't figured out where to put the jumper wire.

Carl,
Did you check out the link I posted? It's pretty clear on which wires to bridge at the PTO switch. I'm doing this later today.

Andreas

Tommyadvanced · Jun 23, 2012

In the video he is adding a wire to the existing two wires by placing the stripped ends under the terminal ring that crimps the insulation, making the process reversable in less than five minutes.

Carl Bert · Jun 23, 2012

AOW162435 said:
Carl,
Did you check out the link I posted? It's pretty clear on which wires to bridge at the PTO switch. I'm doing this later today.

Andreas

No Andreas, don't know how but I missed it. Going to look right now!!!

I'm excited again, a possible solution!

AOW162435 · Jun 23, 2012

Carl,
I completed the mod this morning. Verdict? It works perfect.

Pull the right-side screen, set the brake (for access), and rock the PTO switch connector back & forth while pulling away from the switch. You'll see all of the spade connectors housed within - the two you need are the ones closest to the seat (the only two side by side).

I used a flat-bladed dental tool to extract the spade connectors and then soldered a jumper wire between the crimped ends of the spade connectors. Finished both off with a short piece of shrink tubing, re-inserted the spade ends and pushed the connector back in. Very clean install and does exactly what's needed.

Andreas

Tommyadvanced · Jun 23, 2012

I did mine last night. Took all of five minutes.
I find it is definetely safer without it. Now I can rotate my body to see directly behind me before I start to move backwards.

AOW162435 · Jun 23, 2012

Tommyadvanced said:
I did mine last night. Took all of five minutes.
I find it is definetely safer without it. Now I can rotate my body to see directly behind me before I start to move backwards.

Agree. No different that driving a car.

Andreas