How to start HST

Waffles · Oct 30, 2020

My manual says to shift high low range to neutral before starting.

If the HST is working correctly and the swash plate is in neutral is there any harm in leaving range selector in gear?

Is this in the manual for human safety or tractor protection?

ptsg · Oct 30, 2020

There is no harm in leaving it in gear but keep in mind that it may have a switch on the Range lever that may prevent you from starting the tractor with it still in gear.

Waffles · Oct 30, 2020

There is no safety switch, as I often forget to shift back to neutral since I like to park in gear.

Roadworthy · Oct 30, 2020

My Kubota manual says to put the range selector into neutral before starting. It doesn't seem to matter whether I do or not. As long as I have the clutch depressed it will start.

Tinhack · Oct 30, 2020

It's most likely for safety. Many will start the tractor then get off and do something else while it warms up. What's to keep the tractor from taking off if someone (child or whoever) presses a pedal? That could mean instant death of serious injury. Manuals typically don't state procedures without having a reason. More often than not, it's a safety reason.

Best to get into the habit of following the manual.

hube2 · Oct 30, 2020

I don't have the same type of tractor, but mine will not start if not in neutral. It will also not start unless the parking break is on if my butt is not in the seat. Also having a pto on or engaged will prevent starting. If everything is off, in neutral and the parking break on I can start it standing next to it, which is generally where I am when I start it since I'm going to leave it run at least 10 minutes to warm up before I do anything with it anyway, no sense getting on just to get back off again.

Yes, until you get used to it some of the safety features can seam like a PITA, but once you get used to them you don't even think about it and it all becomes natural. I used to have a small JD lawn tractor, there was a little yellow button on in that you had to press if the PTO was on to go in reverse. Took me all summer to stop mashing my thumb into the dash of the new one every time I went in reverse.

Wagtail · Oct 30, 2020

My 4105 (HST) will definitely not start unless they range selector is in neutral and the parking brake is engaged.

On mine, there is a 'sweet spot' for neutral... on either side of that selector position (High/Low) there are positions where it seems like it's in neutral but it's not. My tractor will not start until I've put it in the correct position.

This is to prevent the tractor moving in case the HST pedal has not returned to it's neutral position.

neilkingent · Oct 30, 2020

my xr4150h will start in gear, without the brake on, and while I'm standing on the ground beside it.

LS Tractor Owner · Oct 30, 2020

When I had my MT125, I never shifted the range to neutral. Put 220 hard hours on it, never a problem at all!

Thomas · Oct 31, 2020

My Kubota booklet also say's to leave in neutral when setting for period (days) of time keep pressure off.

JCoastie · Nov 4, 2020

neilkingent said:
my xr4150h will start in gear, without the brake on, and while I'm standing on the ground beside it.

same with my MT240HE

Bearsixty7 · Nov 4, 2020

JCoastie said:
same with my MT240HE

I did a little test on my MT240He this past weekend. In gear, parking brake not set and no weight on the seat and it started right up. Of course the parking brake not on caused the beeper to start beeping.

I'll have to read the manual again as I was thinking it wouldn't start without the parking brake on.

LS Tractor Owner · Nov 5, 2020

I have the gear / shuttle shift version of the MT225E. No seat switch is present at all, confirmed by the dealer. No switch on the brake, so no warning bells. The transmission can be in gear, along with the range selector (the range selector actually does not have a neutral spot). The shuttle shift MUST be in neutral, and the clutch must be depressed (there is a lever to keep the clutch pedal locked down). Those 2 things done, and you can start it standing along side. I was surprised that there are no bells, buzzers, or audible warnings at all!

Avenger · Nov 5, 2020

LS mt125 owner said:
I have the gear / shuttle shift version of the MT225E. No seat switch is present at all, confirmed by the dealer. No switch on the brake, so no warning bells. The transmission can be in gear, along with the range selector (the range selector actually does not have a neutral spot). The shuttle shift MUST be in neutral, and the clutch must be depressed (there is a lever to keep the clutch pedal locked down). Those 2 things done, and you can start it standing along side. I was surprised that there are no bells, buzzers, or audible warnings at all!

This is how mine is too. Only, I disabled my beeper... I mean, what beeper?

Oh, and my range selector does have neutral. And when I park, I typically make sure everything is in neutral.

mred2 · Nov 5, 2020

My XR4150 shuttle must have the clutch depressed and shuttle in neutral. Hard to press in the clutch without being in the seat.

bnold · Nov 5, 2020

L6060 HST doesn’t have to be started in neutral range.
Long as the pedal isn’t being depressed forward or rear (neutral pedal) and PTO is off, it will start.

Waffles · Nov 5, 2020

If forward pedal is engaged but sensor is not, will it be too much load on the starter?

LS Tractor Owner · Nov 5, 2020

mred2 said:
My XR4150 shuttle must have the clutch depressed and shuttle in neutral. Hard to press in the clutch without being in the seat.

Not pertaining to this thread, but there is a very simple solution to the 'hard' clutch pedal. There is a single large spring that pulls the pedal up. You are fighting the spring. I have a very bad left knee (bone on bone) and can barely push in the clutch. I was ready to trade the tractor in on an HST and actually was trying to make a deal.

My son (a certified master mechanic and a mechanical engineer) came walking over, looked underneath and said "push in the clutch". He then went to his tool box and brought back a similar sized, but 'softer' spring. He put that one on and again told me to push the clutch....WOW! What a difference! I can actually use the tractor again! You can also easily push in the clutch by hand.

He said as long as the pedal returned fully and was not resting against the linkage, all is good. Try it.....