OPC causing tractor shutoff

[Twinkieflyer]

I just got delivery of my L3540HSTC. Works fine, except, when my wife gets on the tractor, as soon as she starts to move, it shuts off. Finally, we figured if she pushes herself down in the seat against the steering wheel, it keeps running. You can hear a click, and I finally figured out it was probably the OPC.

Is there a way to adjust this. No dealers nearby, I was thinking of shorting out the wires that go into the seat, but the safety protection seems like a good idea, right up to where you can't use the tractor.

For info, my wife weighs in at about 115 pounds.

 

[Ductape]

Easiest might be to have her eat more twinkies ??

I'd speculte the easiest work around would be to remove the spring under the seat that causes it to lift slightly when the weight is taken off of it. Of course, the safety nazis won't approve, but..........................

 

[irvingj]

I hear ya-- at 135lbs, my GC will shut off if I shift in the seat to look around.... OOPS! Butt back down!:laughing:

I have a jumper for it but try not to use it unless it's so cold I can't squish the seat down at all. If yours has a spring, could you replace it with a milder one, or perhaps cut a section out to make it "weaker"?

 

[Couple of Achers]

You'll have to put some rocks in her pockets!:laughing:
Make sure she wears the seat belt. That may help keep her in the seat.

 

[picker77]

Don't know if rocks in the pocket will be enough. I like having the feature on my JD, but I'm 6'4" and 220 lb, and just twisting around and shifting my weight in the seat while I'm watching what an implement is doing can shut me down, which is a bit irritating. I don't want to disable it, but I wish it was a little less sensitive. Maybe I can figure out a way to adjust the position of the switch a little or something.

This situation reminds me of the lawyer-induced 10-lb trigger pull on modern handguns.

 

[Twinkieflyer]

Thanks all, no twinkies for the wife, other than the airplane Twinkie.

It looks like there are two switches and sets of wires. The switch external to the seat would be effected by the springs under the seat. The switch that appears to be set wrong is integral/inside the actual seat. The wires disappear under the upholstery base.

I suppose the only thing we can do is put in a short out switch. You would think that they would have an adjustment, or at least make it so even a 90 pounder would make it work. After all, in the brochures they show some nice thin model running the tractor. Obviously, they must have shorted out the switch for her as well.

My last thought is, what do you accomplish with a safety system that owners MUST bypass in order to use the tractor?

Overall, we are happy. This tractor won out over the Deere 3720 and others, primarily because of its stability on slopes and the fact that it was built much heavier, about 700 pounds total.

 

[radioman]

instead of messing around with wires, why not add weight to the back of the chair so whenever a lightweight person sits in chair, it has more leverage to make the opc click? Can you drape the 5 gallon bucket tool bag over seat and add weight like tools, rocks, whatever fits? I think what you really need is some sort of weight leverage to rear of seat so when a lightweight person sits in seat it depresses the safety seat so it still works.

 

[Twinkieflyer]

instead of messing around with wires, why not add weight to the back of the chair so whenever a lightweight person sits in chair, it has more leverage to make the opc click? Can you drape the 5 gallon bucket tool bag over seat and add weight like tools, rocks, whatever fits? I think what you really need is some sort of weight leverage to rear of seat so when a lightweight person sits in seat it depresses the safety seat so it still works.

Thanks Radioman, a simple solution, now I feel stupid for not thinking of it. I can just put some lead dive weights in the seat back compartment. I suppose I was over complicating the problem. Thanks for bringing me back to earth.