Kubota Safety Switches Help?

bookemdano

Member

Equipment
L3800, FEL LA524, ROTARY CUTTER RCR1260, LP QUICK HITCH QH15, A&B BOX SCRAPPER,
Oct 1, 2012
48
2
8
Wartburg, Tennessee
I have a Kubota L3800 HST, 2011 model. In the last year it's been giving me fits with one problem.
It sometimes, won't start. Battery reading at 13.7. Turn the key and all the little lights in the dash
come on, but nothing. No clicking, no sound whatsoever. I changed out the Seat Safety switch and
the Clutch Safety switch and it seemed to work for a while, but it sometimes would do that anyway.
Work fine for a couple months then start the same crap over again.
Today, it wouldn't start. I banged the seat, Popped the clutch a few times and that had worked in
the past, not today. Then I was turning around to get to the toolbox with my foot on the brake
and that slipped off, banging the brake pedal. I sat back down and mashed the clutch, held the
brake and it started.
My question, is there a Safety Switch for the Brake too? I searched the net and the parts list and
can't find one. If someone can help me out and send me in the right direction if there is one,
I'd sure appreciate it. The nearest dealer in 70 miles away and if I can fix it myself, it'll save me
a bunch of money and headache.
Dano
 

loggin

Active member

Equipment
MX4700
Sep 4, 2021
103
36
28
canada
I have a Kubota L3800 HST, 2011 model. In the last year it's been giving me fits with one problem.
It sometimes, won't start. Battery reading at 13.7. Turn the key and all the little lights in the dash
come on, but nothing. No clicking, no sound whatsoever. I changed out the Seat Safety switch and
the Clutch Safety switch and it seemed to work for a while, but it sometimes would do that anyway.
Work fine for a couple months then start the same crap over again.
Today, it wouldn't start. I banged the seat, Popped the clutch a few times and that had worked in
the past, not today. Then I was turning around to get to the toolbox with my foot on the brake
and that slipped off, banging the brake pedal. I sat back down and mashed the clutch, held the
brake and it started.
My question, is there a Safety Switch for the Brake too? I searched the net and the parts list and
can't find one. If someone can help me out and send me in the right direction if there is one,
I'd sure appreciate it. The nearest dealer in 70 miles away and if I can fix it myself, it'll save me
a bunch of money and headache.
Dano
Best way to determine if the safety switch is at fault is to bypass them one at a time. You might have to bypass all of them if there are more than one at fault.

I am not certain if you have a brake safety switch or not because I don't know your machine well enough. You would likely be able to see it if it did.

I hope this helps!!
 

MOOTS

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
MX6000
Jun 27, 2019
1,921
2,201
113
Canton, Georgia
Could the “banging of the brake pedal” moved the HST switch to neutral? I’d start with that switch.
 

old and tired

Well-known member

Equipment
L2800 HST; 2005; R4
This is how I do it... If it doesn't start, hold the key in the "ON" position while you rock the HST petal back and forth... That about 70 % of the time, If that doesn't make it work, I reach down to the seat safety switch, you can reach down and play with it, that's rest of the time.

Others have had problems with the PTO switch, make sure it's adjusted correctly. As for the clutch, I jumped mine with a wire a long time ago, and it's never been a problem :)

If it's the HST petal, greese the 3 zerks under the tractor!!!
 

lmichael

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota G2160
Apr 23, 2021
605
254
63
Rockford IL area
I took them all off except the brake pedal switch. I lived with an old 1961 Allis Chalmer for over 20 years than didn't even have belt guards let alone switches. Taught both my kids and my grandson on that old machine. Explained how badly they could get hurt, showed them the things to avoid.
 
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Dave_eng

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
M7040, Nuffield 465
Oct 6, 2012
5,235
1,017
113
Williamstown Ontario Canada
Here is the starting circuit description:
Can start: Battery current through three safety switches to starter relay and starter.

So there are three safety switches involved.

Forum L3800 HST start circuit.jpg

What I see is two circuits flowing through the HST pedal switch.
Two pto switches. Rear and mid perhaps.

Dave
 

bookemdano

Member

Equipment
L3800, FEL LA524, ROTARY CUTTER RCR1260, LP QUICK HITCH QH15, A&B BOX SCRAPPER,
Oct 1, 2012
48
2
8
Wartburg, Tennessee
Could the “banging of the brake pedal” moved the HST switch to neutral? I’d start with that switch.
Yep, I greased everything this Spring but it's been a wet muddy year and it could very
well be the HST switch sticking. Thanks
Dano
 

bookemdano

Member

Equipment
L3800, FEL LA524, ROTARY CUTTER RCR1260, LP QUICK HITCH QH15, A&B BOX SCRAPPER,
Oct 1, 2012
48
2
8
Wartburg, Tennessee
Here is the starting circuit description:
Can start: Battery current through three safety switches to starter relay and starter.

So there are three safety switches involved.

View attachment 85865
What I see is two circuits flowing through the HST pedal switch.
Two pto switches. Rear and mid perhaps.

Dave
Thanks for this. Helps to have a guide to go by.
Dano
 

bookemdano

Member

Equipment
L3800, FEL LA524, ROTARY CUTTER RCR1260, LP QUICK HITCH QH15, A&B BOX SCRAPPER,
Oct 1, 2012
48
2
8
Wartburg, Tennessee
This is how I do it... If it doesn't start, hold the key in the "ON" position while you rock the HST petal back and forth... That about 70 % of the time, If that doesn't make it work, I reach down to the seat safety switch, you can reach down and play with it, that's rest of the time.

Others have had problems with the PTO switch, make sure it's adjusted correctly. As for the clutch, I jumped mine with a wire a long time ago, and it's never been a problem :)

If it's the HST petal, greese the 3 zerks under the tractor!!!
PTO switch? I'll have to look for that one.
Thanks
Dano
 
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bookemdano

Member

Equipment
L3800, FEL LA524, ROTARY CUTTER RCR1260, LP QUICK HITCH QH15, A&B BOX SCRAPPER,
Oct 1, 2012
48
2
8
Wartburg, Tennessee
Could the “banging of the brake pedal” moved the HST switch to neutral? I’d start with that switch.
I greased this petal and spray lubed the springs and connections. Now, only time will
tell. Appreciate all the advice given. I know one thing, I'm too old to go crawling
around under the tractor anymore. From now on, I'm driving it up town to NAPA
and supervise them greasing it. ;)
Dano
 

motorhead

Active member

Equipment
2009 B3200, 2007 Dodge/Cummins powered Ram 2500 395hp
May 17, 2012
441
34
28
Atascadero
I have a 2009 B3200 and I have had the PTO switch give me a "NO crank" issue. It must be adjusted okay because I had accidentally moved the lever part way toward engagement. Pulled it back and it started.
 

jiggseob

Member

Equipment
B6200 HST with Allied loader, Muratori 48" hyd side shift tiller
Nov 12, 2023
51
43
18
Round Hill, Alberta, Canada
I have a Kubota L3130, safety switches are driving me nuts. Mine starts fine, but when in gear and hst pedal moved off neutral more than a smidgen, it cuts the fuel and engine stops. Pto-on or off does not matter. Move HST pedal quickly back to neutral as its starting to die and it kicks back in and stays running.

I have the WSM, have tested clutch and parking brake and cruise and hst-neutral and pto switches. Main-key switch. I have no idea whats fudged. None of that relevant to your situation.

What is relevant is the removal of four bolts and two nuts on a piece of body-pan that the seat bolts to, and that seat and body panel lift up and out of the way, giving access to top of transmission, pto switch, cruise switch, and HST neutral switch. Also a good time to clean-and-lube the fore-aft seat sliders.

Good luck finding your eclectrical gremlin.
 

Nyquil Junkie

New member
Jan 10, 2014
11
2
3
Pennsylvania USA
I have an L3130 too. None of the safeties work...they never did. Everything is nice and clean. It'll start run and drive fine. I better never need the safeties. But we used a 63 ford loader for years and the only safety on that was your brain.
 
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lugbolt

Well-known member

Equipment
ZG127S-54
Oct 15, 2015
5,205
1,889
113
Mid, South, USA
more than likely a failing hst switch. Or perhaps just out of adjustment. Next time it don't start, wiggle the forward-reverse pedal back and forth slowly while holding the key to start, and clutch held down.

Those were kind of a known issue for a bunch of L3200/L3800 tractors.