BX24 Removing HST Safety Switch

woodchopper

New member

Equipment
Kubota BX24, John Deere 318
Oct 7, 2017
15
3
3
NW New Jersey
My BX24 will not crank. I checked the 4 easy to access safety switches which were OK. Battery is good. I ran 12v to the solenoid and the engine cranked so I assume the starter is good. It makes all the right ticking and lights in pre-start key postion. Last safety switch is HST foot pedal switch. Manual says remove right wheel and remove HST switch... It is buried with no room to get a finger behind to hold the small backing plate for the two adjusting and which also fasten screws to the mount. I even cut the wire harness plastic cover to give a tiny bit more room. I'm afraid if I remove the second screw the backing plate will fall into the deep depths of tubes and plates never to be found again. Plus if I get the plate off how do I get back together without losing the backing plate or screws. Has anyone done this before? Are there any tricks? Yikes!!
 

johnjk

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B3200 w/loader, Woods RC5 brush hog, 4' box blade, tooth bar, B1700 MMM,
Apr 13, 2017
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West Mansfield, OH
Is it bad or just out of adjustment? I got tired of fighting the 3 on my B1800 and ran a relay off that circuit. Fires up every time now and all switches still in use
 

Henro

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B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex., Beer fridge
May 24, 2019
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Is it bad or just out of adjustment? I got tired of fighting the 3 on my B1800 and ran a relay off that circuit. Fires up every time now and all switches still in use
Does the starter solenoid make a clicking sound when you try to start? If so, the use of a relay like johnjk proposed is a proven solution.

No click, click and you may have a failed switch.

Can't give any pointers on accessing that switch. Hopefully someone else can...
 

woodchopper

New member

Equipment
Kubota BX24, John Deere 318
Oct 7, 2017
15
3
3
NW New Jersey
Thank you for the responses. I did not remove the switch for fear of not being able to get it back or worse losing screws and backing plate into the machine. I did re-adjust switch to suppress the pin all the way in when foot pedal is in neutral position. Put wheel back on and it fired right up! I was so happy until I turned the key off and the engine kept running.... I never saw anything like that before, I thought it was possessed! I'm thinking what the heck I can't leave it like this. Then the engine started shaking, sputtering and then stopped. I spoke with my son who said diesel engines will run as long as fuel is going to it, so I'm guessing the fuel shut off valve did not shut off completely. I did have the valve out before this and have to see tomorrow if there is supposed to be a clip or something holding the plunger rod onto the lever. I've had the machine 3 years and never had to do anything except grease and change oil. I just bought a PDF Kubota Manual from my dealer for $25. It's great because now at least I can check the wiring diagrams and see photos of the parts and locations. I made a short video of the safety switch location on the machine but have to figure out how to post.
 
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johnjk

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B3200 w/loader, Woods RC5 brush hog, 4' box blade, tooth bar, B1700 MMM,
Apr 13, 2017
1,461
1,265
113
West Mansfield, OH
The WSM is a great resource to help figure out what is going on when it starts acting up. Through that safety switch circuit, you need 12V at the starter solenoid to get it to engage and spin. In my case, all 3 safety switches (HST, PTO, Brake) checked good with an ohm meter but I was getting a voltage drop across one of the switches so I was getting 6-12V to the starter. Not enough to do more than click. I attempted to clean it with contact cleaner spray, but it didn't resolve my issue. I ended up adding a relay since the relay needs substantially less voltage to trigger and send that 12V off to the starter. The safety circuit feeds the relay trigger now. Cost me around $3 for the relay and pigtail kit plus I learned a lot about the safety circuit on my B1800. Eventually I will need to replace that faulty HST switch when it fully fails.

Check that fuel shutoff. A misplaced component or a part put in 180 degrees out or just not aligned may causing that component not to work properly. Frustrating part is it work fine before you messed with it. No reason it shouldn't work fine now. (story of my life)
 
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lugbolt

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Equipment
ZG127S-54
Oct 15, 2015
5,205
1,889
113
Mid, South, USA
welcome to bx repairs

full featured tractor with all of the features that bigger tractors have but in a FOURTH (or less) of the size....no way to work on them unless you have coon hands. That's raccoons for the politically correctors.

I hated working on them.

if you have to replace the switch, order a new plate too. use some grease on your finger tip to kinda keep it from slipping away, and some grease on the plate too. Slide it down where it needs to go and hope for the best. A magnet sometimes helped me but usually was more hindrance than help. My coworker had a good idea. Take another screw that was longer and slide the plate down, put that long screw in one of the holes--without the switch. That screw will hold the plate on while you start the other one through the switch. Once it's started, remove the long screw and pivot the switch over where it needs to be and reach back there with a finger and wiggle the plate so it lines up if needed. I never tried it. I just had a system of a finger and grease that was less time consuming. Less time=less cost to the customer.
 
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woodchopper

New member

Equipment
Kubota BX24, John Deere 318
Oct 7, 2017
15
3
3
NW New Jersey
welcome to bx repairs

full featured tractor with all of the features that bigger tractors have but in a FOURTH (or less) of the size....no way to work on them unless you have coon hands. That's raccoons for the politically correctors.

I hated working on them.

if you have to replace the switch, order a new plate too. use some grease on your finger tip to kinda keep it from slipping away, and some grease on the plate too. Slide it down where it needs to go and hope for the best. A magnet sometimes helped me but usually was more hindrance than help. My coworker had a good idea. Take another screw that was longer and slide the plate down, put that long screw in one of the holes--without the switch. That screw will hold the plate on while you start the other one through the switch. Once it's started, remove the long screw and pivot the switch over where it needs to be and reach back there with a finger and wiggle the plate so it lines up if needed. I never tried it. I just had a system of a finger and grease that was less time consuming. Less time=less cost to the customer.
Excellent idea! I was only thinking of maybe double faced tape (I'm a woodworker and we use double faced tape to hold everything) but then it would not slide - Grease is a great idea and only learned from guys like yourself that work on machines and run into this stuff all the time. The longer bolt would also work. Thanks!
 

GeoHorn

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Equipment
M4700DT, LA1002FEL, Ferguson5-8B Compactor-Roller, 10KDumpTrailer, RTV-X900
May 18, 2018
6,040
3,316
113
Texas
When my ‘96 M4700 became intermittent on starting (rotating with the starter) I discovered a couple of things:
1: the key switch activates a relay inside the instrument clustter. That relay is larger than the typical 40A automotive relays...and Kubota and aftermarket mfr’s want a lot of money for it. I took the cover off it and discovered that it’s only a heavy-duty ”grounded” solenoid. (Turning the key sends 12V to the relay, which in-turn, sends high-amp battery 12V to the starter. This is different from the more-common “powered” solenoid, where the small terminal is seeking a “ground” to close the contacts.) I cleaned the contacts and put it back together and all was fine..... for a month.
2: the “range lever) (fwd-lo/hi, reverse lever) has a neutral safety-switch below the operator station that gets a lot of dirt and mud thrown at it. Spraying it with WD40 and working the lever woke it back up.

If that hard-to-find $100 Kubota instrument cluster start-relay ever quits on me..... I’m replacing it with a $24 universal normally-grounded canister solenoid Like this:
 

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Johnny Tractor

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Equipment
BX24 Bx25
Jul 13, 2021
8
2
3
AZ
Excellent idea! I was only thinking of maybe double faced tape (I'm a woodworker and we use double faced tape to hold everything) but then it would not slide - Grease is a great idea and only learned from guys like yourself that work on machines and run into this stuff all the time. The longer bolt would also work. Thanks!
Finally, a current thread on the switch issues. I just picked up a BX24 that is operational but someone hacked the crap out of it and I need to put it back to stock. The front seat switch is missing, the shut off solenoid was missing and Im finding lots of wires abandoned and replaced. SOmeone didn't know what to do and they just started winging it. Now I have to fix it correctly.

Can you give ma a link to your wsm? Does it have photos or just diagrams? I have purchased several manuals for other things and most of the time they are don't have what Im looking for. A simple diagram of the safety switch system would save me a LOT of grief :)

Thanks, John
 

eserv

Well-known member

Equipment
BX24, A1000 Kubota Generator
May 27, 2009
2,140
139
63
Hardisty, Alberta
Finally, a current thread on the switch issues. I just picked up a BX24 that is operational but someone hacked the crap out of it and I need to put it back to stock. The front seat switch is missing, the shut off solenoid was missing and Im finding lots of wires abandoned and replaced. SOmeone didn't know what to do and they just started winging it. Now I have to fix it correctly.

Can you give ma a link to your wsm? Does it have photos or just diagrams? I have purchased several manuals for other things and most of the time they are don't have what Im looking for. A simple diagram of the safety switch system would save me a LOT of grief :)

Thanks, John
You can download a BX25d manual here http://kubotabooks.com/AutoIndex/index.php?dir=Tractor Owners Manuals/&file=BX25.pdf It is almost exactly the same as a BX24 except for the instrument panel and some changes to the HST. All the wiring for the switches is the same.
 

Johnny Tractor

New member

Equipment
BX24 Bx25
Jul 13, 2021
8
2
3
AZ
You can download a BX25d manual here http://kubotabooks.com/AutoIndex/index.php?dir=Tractor Owners Manuals/&file=BX25.pdf It is almost exactly the same as a BX24 except for the instrument panel and some changes to the HST. All the wiring for the switches is the same.
This is an owner's manual with tons of great information but I need a shop/repair manual. Im looking for a wiring digram that includes all the safety switches. Some clown stripped a lot of the components out and I'm working on restoring them. From what I can tell, the original problem was simply a blown fuse on the delay stop relay. They removed the stop solenoid (and threw it away along with the bolts) and tied a pull wire onto the stop mechanism.

They also removed all of the inline switches under the seat etc and added a couple of wires trying to "fix" it. I have it running with a new stop solenoid and seat switch but I want to get it put back to stock condition, just because. The most important thing now is the kill switch so it won't start in gear.

Im making progress but a good wiring diagram would be nice.

Thank you eserve !!
 

RCW

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Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
9,142
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113
Chenango County, NY
This is an owner's manual with tons of great information but I need a shop/repair manual.
Johnny - - - given the 19MB size of the file, I'm assuming that is the WSM....it's 448 pages....

eserv seldom sends someone in the wrong direction.
 

Johnny Tractor

New member

Equipment
BX24 Bx25
Jul 13, 2021
8
2
3
AZ
Johnny - - - given the 19MB size of the file, I'm assuming that is the WSM....it's 448 pages....

eserv seldom sends someone in the wrong direction.
I don't doubt for a second that it is my mistake or misunderstanding. I do the wrong thing on a daily basis. :)

I downloaded it and scrolled through the pages. The only electrical item I found was about the battery. Also it said "Owners manuals" in the link title. The title on the cover page was "Operators Manual" I scanned the table of contents and I scrolled through every page and found no electrical diagrams/schematics.

This was 113 pages (or 143 on the thumbnails) but like I said, it could be operator error.
 
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Jchonline

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Kubota L6060, KX040-4, M7060, RTV X1100C, M62 (sold)
Oct 28, 2018
1,389
602
113
Red Feather Lakes, CO
Johnny - - - given the 19MB size of the file, I'm assuming that is the WSM....it's 448 pages....

eserv seldom sends someone in the wrong direction.
yes it clearly has WSM in the header..I checked.
 
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RCW

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Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
9,142
5,215
113
Chenango County, NY
I don't doubt for a second that it is my mistake or misunderstanding. I do the wrong thing on a daily basis. :)
Ask my bride what my record is.....

Oh wait better yet....don't ask my bride...I'm almost hourly somedays....:oops:
 

Johnny Tractor

New member

Equipment
BX24 Bx25
Jul 13, 2021
8
2
3
AZ
yes it clearly has WSM in the header..I checked.
I called it!! Operator error.
I don't know where I went wrong but I have the 448 pages now.
Thanks again everyone!!! If it doesn't have what Im looking for I will come back and complain some more :)
 
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Jchonline

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Kubota L6060, KX040-4, M7060, RTV X1100C, M62 (sold)
Oct 28, 2018
1,389
602
113
Red Feather Lakes, CO
I called it!! Operator error.
I don't know where I went wrong but I have the 448 pages now.
Thanks again everyone!!! If it doesn't have what Im looking for I will come back and complain some more :)
Oh we will be eagerly waiting ;) Glad you found what you need.
 
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