lx279 mow in reverse?

Ken Rozelle · Mar 14, 2011

I am considering buying an LZ279, but I heard that the mower stops while in reverse....True???

sparrowhawk · Mar 14, 2011

If you lift up on the yellow Electric PTO button and then depress the reverse pedal, you can mow in reverse. It's pretty easy to remember after you've done it a few times.

My next question is, why mow in reverse? It never seems to cut as well in my opinion.

radioman · Mar 14, 2011

to me, its aggravating to have mower engage/disengage everytime I go from forward to reverse while mowing. They put those idiot opps- i mean saftey switches in thee cheapo mowers since people keep getting hurt while backup when mowing. Now I have a subcut tractor and it doesnt have those switches.

I guess that they figure we are more safer tractor owners ?:confused2:

mjncad · Mar 15, 2011

I jumpered my Lawyer Switch to disable that "feature" to protect me from myself.

oldnslo · Mar 15, 2011

radioman said:
to me, its aggravating to have mower engage/disengage everytime I go from forward to reverse while mowing. They put those idiot opps- i mean saftey switches in thee cheapo mowers since people keep getting hurt while backup when mowing. Now I have a subcut tractor and it doesnt have those switches.

I guess that they figure we are more safer tractor owners ?:confused2:

I suspect it is because with the rear PTO you can pull implements that may or will require backing up.

The other idiot switch on the BX is the seat switch that will not allow you to stand or shift your weight with out shutting the tractor off. Safety police I know it is to keep idoits like me from getting off the tractor with the mower deck running but still a real PITA.

Deadman · Mar 23, 2011

I jumpered my 279, I don't need the belts smoked in 2 years from disengaging every time I back up 1 inch!

sparrowhawk · Mar 23, 2011

Deadman said:
I jumpered my 279, I don't need the belts smoked in 2 years from disengaging every time I back up 1 inch!

My 277 has been jumpered from day 1. key: look in the direction of travel. Drivers ed 101

Carl Bert · Mar 24, 2011

Very simple to run a jumper wire. Problem is, nobody (including myself) appreciates the safety features until something bad happens.

sparrowhawk · Mar 24, 2011

I think what some have been saying though is that some safety features come from the result of being lawyer-ized vs. something of a critical feature. IMO mowing in reverse is as dangerous as backing up without looking for all practical purposes... you back over your kid without looking on the tractor and theres a good chance it wont matter if the blades are spinning or not.

Most of the larger tractors do not have these safety features yet because I'm assuming usage and general liability risk is lower.

TractorTidy · Mar 24, 2011

I have a mother in my church that would beg to differ w/ all of you after she ACCIDENTLY ran over her son several years ago while backing up her mower.
Significantly injured him for life. That is why the reverse safety is on there and if you were to go through her horror, you would agree.

Don't act like people are stupid, things happen. I have the reverse safetyon my X475 and don't mind using it. I'd rather be inconvenienced a little than run over a person or pet.