What the Heck???

[yooperdave]

I went to look at a 2002 John Deere GX 345 garden tractor.

I tried out the mower and was happy cutting some grass UNTIL I BACKED UP. When I backed up, the mower turned off, and would not turn back on again until I manually turned the mower back on. This seems like a design flaw more than a safety issue. I feel the mower is going to wear out quicker if I have to turn it on numerous times per each mowing.

Why have a hydro transmission if the mower turns off everytime I deceide not to go forward?

How hard is it to disconnect this feature?

Are all newer mowers like this?

Thanks for your input.

Yooper Dave

 

[beenthere]

I believe all are like that. Deere has an override on the RIO (I think that is what it is called) which means when you step the reverse pedal down AND pull up on the mower on/off switch, you can mow in reverse. No doubt it is a pain, and it's a reaction to some big lawsuits (originally against CubCadet) for a time when some idiot backed over a child with the mower running (ugly).
I disconnected mine. If you trace yours down, you might do the same. However, the dealers are being required (I understand) to re-connect these switches when servicing, or be in trouble with a lawsuit and being enforced by their insurance carriers. I know none of this for sure, but only what I have been told.
Same with the safety switch in the seat. If you fall off the tractor shuts down.

 

[Birdman]

My JD 425 did the same thing. The override button helped but you had to make sure you pulled up on it before you started to go in reverse. I finally disconnected it and then used a lable maker and put a warning on the dash, near the override, and also on the rear of the mower, between the tail lights.
WARNING! This mower cuts in reverse.
Just in case I ever need it worked on so the mechanic will be aware of it.

 

[Spiffy]

The best factory solution I can think of is a ZTR. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif [though I think even one brand of those is anti-reversemow - talk about an oxymoron /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif ].

A similar discussion got a little hot [I think in the CC forum] a while back, but I'll second beenthere's proposal. Just do what you want to do, some dealers will be don't ask don't tell, others might reconnect it, so you may need to "fix" it again upon returning from a dealer trip.

Pesonally I think the distraction is more dangerous than safe. Mower mfgs: instead of the on/off thing, how about a nasty strobing beacon or an anoying BEEP-BEEP-BEEP if you back up while mowing.

Of course, that'd be the next lawsuit, "I would have only ran over Fifi's tail, but the BEEPing drowned out the barking while I shaved Fifi clean....now my hairless Fifi is too assamed to breed with the $1M no-fee-returned poodle I'd arranged. $1M or see you in court!" Sorry about the humor dog lovers, but it was the tamest fictional example that I could conjur demonstrating that someone will always find a way to overcome common sense! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[DmansPadge]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( someone will always find a way to overcome common sense! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif )</font>

Well said.

 

[KentT]

Deere lawn/garden tractorss have reverse safety switches, as do Cubs.

Simplicity machines do not. Not sure about Toro.

 

[timb]

Some brands have implemented this 'saftey' feature in less obtrusive ways. Example - I believe it's Husqvarna that simply has two 'run' positions on the key, one allows reversing without stalling, one does not. The key stays in either position chosen for as long as the operator wants. Of course the owner's manual desribes it's use as 'only to be used in the override position when backing up'.

I've found on our new Deere LT160 - that the tractor doesn't realize you're 'backing up' if you only use a very slow creep speed. Give it too much reverse pedal though, and it will try to shut down. Probably not adjusted quite right.

I've left it alone for now, I find it annoying but the better half is doing most of the mowing with that tractor and she's not an experienced machine operator. I think for now it does help her think about what she's doing.

 

[Freds]

My Kubota mower, G2160, has a push button on the dash that allows you to mow in reverse. It needs to be pushed whenever the PTO is engaged/re-engaged. They call it a K.R.A. system override switch, so I guess it's a big deal. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif