Thinking about disabling the seat switch

Express · Jun 4, 2013

I can see both sides of the discussion. As for myself I'm a newbie to tractors and I think it be wise for me to live with the inconvience of the switch. We have to remember we assume liabilty for our actions.
Liability is how that switch got there in the first place and the price of everything is influenced by liability

kkirt1 · Jun 4, 2013

I'm still of the opinion that a seat switch on a HST tractor is pointless. Makes sense on a geared tractor to prevent a runaway. I think the seat switch came before HST and no one really gave it a second thought. I have - check one for disabled seat switch!

Wagtail · Jun 4, 2013

kkirt1 said:
I'm still of the opinion that a seat switch on a HST tractor is pointless. Makes sense on a geared tractor to prevent a runaway. I think the seat switch came before HST and no one really gave it a second thought. I have - check one for disabled seat switch!

I understand what you're saying regarding your (and my) tractor... We don't have cruise control. A lot of tractors today have this option and, however you were to come off the seat, the tractor would continue on its merry mindless way.

When my seat interlock activates I just assume that I'm about to do something dumb and re-assess the situation.

JerryK · Jun 5, 2013

My 4+ ton Mahindra 5035 HST has no seat switch, never did. In close quarters, when doing intricate loader work... I stand upright and work the pedals with my toes. In low gear of course. Gives me full view of the tips of my forks when positioning stuff. My 2.5 ton JD 2240 has no seat switch... never did either. The seat switch is a safety device, and part of the manufactures idiot proofing of the machines for libility purposes. Like the engine shut off on a lawn tractor if you try to back up whilst mowing. Why McDonalds has to have warnings on its coffee that it is hot. Why when I grew up we had real M80's, and now we have Lady Fingers and sparklers. No seat switches on my old Harley, either.... in case I fall off.

dave1949 · Jun 5, 2013

Real M80's, them were the days. :laughing:

I disabled my seat switch early on, I am the only person who operates my tractor. I stand up once in a while too while driving just to see better. Sure it is an added risk, but there has to be a reasonable balance between safety and usability sometimes.

I think my riding mower is more dangerous than my tractor, so that switch is still enabled, even though it can be a big pain sometimes. Fortunately, the mower has a "mow in reverse" ignition switch position. If you set the switch there and then push a button, it will mow in reverse. Has to be reset every time the blade clutch is disengaged.

scobrado · Jun 5, 2013

I like having the safety switch for field work even though my 3038E is HST. In addition to having an seat switch override for running the PTO when I'm not in the seat, the other real plus is when I have the forks on the bucket and I'm loading/unloading the pickup. I need to stand up a couple of times to get the alignment right. The seat switch is a real PITA for that scenario.

kevin37b · Jun 5, 2013

Ido not agree with all the safety switches at all . If you back up and someone is behind you , I dont understand how they would get under the deck . Then you have 10 miles of wire on a mower , and it won't start ? None of the machinery I run has all these safetys . They have a large BU alarm which everybody ignores .

Dr_Zinj · Jun 5, 2013

Here's my take on the seat switch.
If it works, don't mess with it.
If it breaks, don't sweat it; but modify your behavior to minimize the danger.
If it bothers you to have it broken, then buy a new one.

nitroxn · Jun 5, 2013

Overall I love this site. It has some great people and advice. However the legal and safety ****'s bring unnecessary bickering to the table by insinuating anyone who doesnt follow protocall to the letter is an idiot. With that said I have a temporary fix for my seat switch, I use a spring clamp to bypass or hold it in the closed position when I am using my backhoe. Sometimes I even forget to remove it for normal use. I am the only operator and would have NO problem removing mine if it ever gave me problems of shutting off on bumpy areas.

Curtis

Dan Hunter · Jun 6, 2013

Nitroxn, you are considerably more clever than I.

JerryK · Jun 6, 2013

dave1949 said:
Real M80's, them were the days. :laughing:

Forgot, Cracker Balls... about 1960. They were powder and a BB wrapped in tin foil.. about 1/4" or so in diameter.. You shot them with a sling shot and when they hit they exploded.. LOTS OF FUN.... !!!!!!

PILOON · Jun 6, 2013

Gee, my Mitsu has no seat switch, but when in neutral with the park brakes set it never runs away.
But it had a switch to prevent me from starting in gear.

murphy1244 · Jun 6, 2013

Well, whats it going to be?

Dan Hunter · Jun 7, 2013

Murph,

You talkin' to me? If so...jumped already. I'm dragging it to the ranch tomorrow with the grapple hanging on the FEL. This may be my last post.

Dan Hunter · Jun 8, 2013

Dan Hunter said:
This may be my last post.

I managed to survive.

murphy1244 · Jun 9, 2013

Dan Hunter said:
I managed to survive.

Good on you!:cool2::dance1::cool2::drink::thumbsup:

crazyal · Jun 9, 2013

My riding mower came with an override switch so you could back up and have the mower deck running. You have to push a button on the dash and a light comes on. If you don't and try to back up without disengaging the mower the engine will die. The button connects to a contactor that once the button is pressed it stays in on it's own. However after a few minutes it would turn itself off. That was the first "safety" switch to go. For someone who never had to back up that wouldn't be an issue. Because of some steep slopes and a seat that doesn't have a lot of side support the operator in place switch was also defeated. But for someone else they could leave it in place and never have an issue.

So far I haven't disabled any on my Kubota. But the operator in place would be the one that I would do. Since Kubota replaced the PTO lever with an electric switch I have thought about adding a second switch at the rear of the tractor with a guard around it so if needed you could disengage the PTO from the rear of the tractor easily. It would need to be in a location that wouldn't get bumped but was easy to reach. I expect newer tractors will start to come with them.

The bottom line is what works for one person may not work for someone else. Some of the safety devices are generic. You can find them on everything from a riding mower all the way up to 100hp (and more) tractors. IMO mfgs are quick to blindly put the same switches on everything to just to be safe from law suits.

Baby Grand · Jun 9, 2013

avc8130 said:
I removed mine. I got completely sick of the machine shutting off every time I went to enter a pallet or do something precise with the loader and moved around for a clear view.

ac

I'm thinking of at least putting a toggle switch in the circuit so I can bypass the blame thing when I'm doing anything that requires watching a TPH implement for exactly the same reason. There are times when I want the switch enabled and times when it's just a royal pain in my backsides.