Letting tractor idle safely

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 24, 2002

I raised this point in another thread, but it seems worth, perhaps, exploring in a bit more depth.

Say you need to be away from your tractor for 5 or 10 minutes, and you want to let it idle. You also don't want anyone to be able to jump on and take off, or engage the PTO, or do anything else dangerous.

What would be the best approach? Might it be possible to wire in a locking ignition type key switch that would tap into the safety override circuits to prevent such things? Or, perhaps, a way to put a padlock on the clutch so that it can't be depressed?

I know it's sounds trivial.. but I can see this being a problem unless one wants to shut down the engine every time one has to take a "comfort break" or walk around and pick up rocks, or whatever.

Any ideas? Machine is a JD 4300. I have to admit I'm drawing a blank at the moment, and don't really think it can be done. At least not by anyone but Mark. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Open to suggestions....

Thanks,
Bob

p.s. I'm assuming no cab on this tractor. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Egon · Jan 24, 2002

Bob:

Install a motion sensor that will shut off the tractor. Have it controlled by a remote so you can get back to it.
Could also get a big ugly guard dog to sit on it!

Egon

bky · Jan 24, 2002

well 1 idea would to be put a n.c. switch on the seat and wire it into the safyt circuit like you suggested and add a override key switch paralled with the normaly closed seat switch.that way you could take the key with you.
and nobody gets hurt /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

MChalkley · Jan 24, 2002

Bob - My Kubotas had a hook that you could use to hold the clutch depressed. It would've been easy to put a lock on that. Maybe you could do something like that with your JD. You probably wouldn't want to leave it running like that for a long time, because the throwout bearing would be spinning the whole time, but it would be a way to prevent the tractor from going anywhere and the PTO from operating. Somebody could still raise and lower the loader, of course, so if you were trying to prevent kids from killing one another, that wouldn't be sufficient...

Of course, you could also just put a cab with locking doors on it. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif And I guess that's the reason for your smart-aleck remark... /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

TresCrows · Jan 25, 2002

Even though I am beginning to age I am absolutely positive that should some one attempt to ride away on my tractors I can out run either. I am pretty sure I can out run a JD4300 also! Do you really think your neighbor is that envious that he would heist your tractor?!
Really, if it is going to be more than a few minutes and you are going to be out of sight of the tractor then I think you should turn it off.
J

njrqs · Jan 25, 2002

Yep I agree.

It's not like they will get very far and by the time they worked out how to start and stop it I reckon you'd notice !!

Cheers

RobS · Jan 25, 2002

If you're worried about theft/vandalism I'd agree with the others and basically not worry about it. In my case, I'd worry more about my boys climbing aboard and injuring themselves/me. In those cases where they are around I'll just shut it off if I need to leave it. Not worth that risk for a little more life out of the battery/starter /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

butzkeg · Jan 25, 2002

I haven't tried it on my 4300, but here's an idea. Pick up the from end with the loader, then lock the dual-select control valve. I don't believe you can use the control valve in the locked position. Sure, somebody could unlock it, but it wouldn't hurt.

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 25, 2002

Okay, the more I think about this the more I feel it's not workable. I want to just keep kids safe.. but I really can't think of any way to do it. I mean, they could pop open the hood and put their hand in the fan!

Mark: Yeah, just being a wiseguy.. sorry! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Egon: <font color=blue>Could also get a big ugly guard dog to sit on it!</font color=blue>

I think you may have hit on it! Except the kids would say "Nice doggie" and offer him a hamburger and that would be that. But you gave me an idea. A small pond, with a little island in the middle, and a drawbridge. Fill the pond with crocs, and have a remote to lower the drawbridge. Anyone think it might be easier to just shut down the tractor? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I'll just get my wife to stand guard if she's available, or shut her down, or tow a porta-potty behind me.

Thanks for helping to confirm what I suspected!

Bob

Bird · Jan 25, 2002

<font color=blue>I'll just get my wife to stand guard if she's available, or shut her down</font color=blue>

You're going to shut your wife down? How do you do that?/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif