Whoa baby!

bugstruck · Jan 30, 2005

Had a stupid idea yesterday morning. Decided I should start my L3130 in neutral as the manual states. Usually start it in gear. Warmed it up good, went to put it in low range and it stuck and wouldn't engage like it usually does. Touched the treadle a few times with a little hand pressure on the range lever and it poped into low range, or so it seemed. Left the garage, started down my driveway about 90 feet and it popped into neutral. First I noticed the engine rpm's jumped up and in a flash it was off to the races. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Luckilly I was on my game and jumped the brakes pretty quick. That is an unnerving feeling on a really steep grade.

Is anyone else having issues with their range selector not staying engaged in the selected range? When mine dropped into low it was all the way back in the normal low range position. I eyeballed it. Never gave any indication of not being fully in. It's the first time that happened but in the wrong situtation it could get serious quick on my slopes.

My dash indicator/ range selector is out of calibration, so I can be in gear and reading neutral or reading neutral and in gear. Figured that range indicator calibration could wait till the 50 hr. service and I knew from the time I had 2 hours on it not to trust the dash indicator. I was sure it was a sensor adjustment which is probably reading off the range linkage position. Not exactly certain now what to think except to be on alert. BTW the range selector feels right going in and out and the label indictors by the lever are accurate.

I know the prudent thing would be to get it in for service early.
Any advice? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Lesson learned was that if you parked it in a selected non-neutral range, maybe it's best to leave it and start it there too; assuming you move right to slopes as I do. Another lesson was to always have the brake pedals tied together on slopes as I fortunately did. I overshot the left pedal when I panicked.

Side note: Those seemingly lousy brakes worked rather good when I went hard on them.

RoyJackson · Jan 31, 2005

Your tractor will start in gear? Even with the clutch depressed?
I thought there was a safety switch to prevent it from starting unless it's in neutral.

I leave my 790 in gear when parked (tend to forget the parking brake...plus, it the winter, leaving it in gear means no frozen parking brake). I have to put it in neutral, otherwise the starter will not engage.

I'd sure get that tractor back to the dealer. It sounds like something isn't right.

ronjhall · Jan 31, 2005

My B2910 manual says to start with range selector in neutral. If I remember correctly I tired and had the same problem with getting tractor back into gear.
Since there is not a switch on the range selector I just make sure PTO is in neutral, push in the clutch pedal and start engine after glow plug warm up.
I have never had a problem with range selector staying in gear. But I'm sure the L3130 is different.

Freds · Jan 31, 2005

There's a manual that comes with these /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Mine is always in a range when I start it and all implements are down for drag purposes. I never really use the parking brake much. I will heed your warning about it possibly popping out and going into neutral.
Wonder how your LED display got out of whack? Let us know if the dealer knows why.

Moon · Jan 31, 2005

I have the older version of the L3130 (L3010). Last fall I had a similar experience.
I was going up a hill in M but I couldn't make it. I backed down the hill to change to Low gear. It was a little persnickity going into low, but it finally went. I got about half way up the hill and it popped out of gear. WHOA! I was able to brake and coast backwards down the hill.
I"ve had the tractor 2 1/2 years now, and that is the only time anything like that happened. Ofcourse the majority of the time I just stay in Med gear and don't have to change alot.
By the way, I can start in gear with the clutch in, no problem. I'm also glad my model does not have that seat saftey switch, where you can't get off the seat without the tractor stalling.

Moon of Ohio

_RaT_ · Jan 31, 2005

Roy, a HST will start in any range L, M, H as long as A: the clutch is depressed. B: the HST pedal is not depressed, and C: the PTO is not engaged. All safety issues quite adequately covered in my book. On the JD 790 manual transmission, you must be in neutral to start the engine. If you are on the tractor and kill the engine, you have to go to neutral again and if on a hill, you must also engage the brake, so in the end, really very little difference in the way the safety interlocks work. Either way, your not going anywhere unless that is your intention.

bugstruck · Jan 31, 2005

Moon, Good to see I'm not the only one to have that pleasure /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Backwards though? Forward was scary enough. Rat has it right on the operation of my HST. The seat switch on mine doesn't shut the tractor off if you simply get up but if you get up while on the treadle or with the PTO on it shuts off after a 1 second delay.

I'm going to run it a bit more just to be 110 % sure the poping out of gear wasn't a fluke or Operator error. Of course the OE thing has never happened to any of us here /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'm somewhat certain the pop out and the dash indicator issues are unrelated. I can get it to register (indicate) neutral or M range when in neutral between L and M or register neutral or H when in neutral between M and H range. Likewise I sometimes see the N on the indicator when fully in a drive range. I think that's just a sensor position thing. Been thru that with the boat trim indicator many years ago and could probably fix it myself if it's all external as I suspect. NAH /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif that's what the new tractor warranty is for.

Thanks for the input from those who do start in gear. Always nice to have some company.

Hey Roy... Finally found something that had you slightly crossed up. Imagine that!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Regards

Thanks for the replys guys!!