Fool Me Once....

[Lycomech96]

I was out on my B2601 yesterday (4.0 hours on it so far) and as I was getting out of the seat to use the backhoe, it quit. I sat back down, turned on the key to start and all I got was the lights on the panel. I went for some tools to start trouble shooting the switches and have a look at the wiring underneath, since I was in some rough terrain. Everything looked fine and then I noticed I must have moved the PTO control when unhooking my seat belt. As soon as I moved it back where it belonged, everything was fine. I don't plan on ever using the PTO since I don't have any use for either the front or rear one. I'm thinking to make a plate to lock the levers from moving again. Or, just bypassing the switch.
After reading a lot of the old posts and seeing the troubles the various safety switches cause from time to time, I may either bypass them all or make up a wiring diagram and add switches to bypass each one for trouble shooting purposes and having a way to limp back to the workshop instead of fooling around on the ground in 20 degree weather.

The only other complaint I have is I find the reverse pedal hard to operate. I put a larger rubber pedal on it that raises it up and is wider but I wish the spring had a bit less resistance. Just the ergonomics are a bit off for size 9 1/2 feet. Where they located the pivot point gives much more leverage to the forward pedal and half as much for the rear one. What were they thinking?

 

[Jim L.]

I like your idea of a mechanical lock-out for the PTO control.

Bypassing the safety switches not so good. There are all sorts of situations, foreseen and unforeseen, where this could be dangerous. While many of us are single operators of our machines, there are times when a neighbor, firefighter, technician, etc., might have a need to move the machine. The potential for liability and injury is there when normal safety mechanisms are bypassed.

I agree that troubleshooting in the snow is no fun. Troubleshooting packages can be put together in a warm room so that the procedure is already spelled out to get back to the barn.

Happy tractoring.

 

[Freeheeler]

If I'm backing up looking forward I'll use my heel to push down on the reverse portion of the pedal. If I'm backing up looking rearward, I rotate in the seat to my left, then use my foot to lift up on the toe portion of the pedal instead of trying to push down on the heel part. Much easier for me. If I rotate in the seat to my right, I have to use my heel. Play with it to see what works for you.

 

[PaulL]

My safety switches are often annoying, because they stop me doing what I want to do. But about 1 time in 10, they stop me from hurting myself by accident, by starting the machine with the mower going, or jumping off the tractor when the mower is still running or it's just slightly creeping forward and I hadn't noticed.

They're annoying, but I'll take the annoying instead of hurt. You'll get used to them and the trouble shooting will become quick. If you start from the assumption that Kubotas infrequently break, so if it's not going it's usually going to be some sort of operator error, you'll save a lot of messing around.

 

[Lycomech96]

My point was, I think it would be useful to wire up a set of four switches. They would be labeled indicating which switch was being bypassed. In the event of trouble with one switch, you would throw all the bypasses, start the tractor, then turn off the switches one by one. Then you would know in a matter of seconds where the trouble was. Continue operating until you have finished your job, put the tractor back where you can work on it and change the switch.

 

[RCW]

Lyco - for what it’s worth, I hit my PTO lever all the time just like you did. Bet it’s once a month, even after 5 years.
It’s the first thing I check if I get a shut down or no-start.
My only point is maybe try to wire or lock the handle it to it’s off position instead of bypassing or switching the safety switches. Lot less hassle, and easily reversed.
As you said, it’s not needed now anyway.
Just a thought.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cre73]

Had the exact thing happen on Saturday when prepping to plow snow. Had me scratching my head for a few minutes.
Also when reversing and turning around to watch the back blade I am having an issue with my leg hitting the bucket control and activating the curl function.

 

[Rdrett]

I plan on bypassing at least the seat safety switch.
When the warranty ends I will bypass all of them.

1/2 the time I get off the tractor it dies because of that stupid safety switch in the HST pedal.

I hate all the stupid safety switches that are not there to keep you safe, they are there to keep the manufacture from getting sued by idiots.
The number one safety device is your brain. Use it and you will be safe. Don’t depend on a mechanical safety switch for your safety, depending your safety on a switch is ridiculous.

 

[ipz2222]

?Wireing in a switch to bypass a safety switch is a good thing. I have one on my seat switch. I mow on a bank and leaning to the high side causes the eng to shut off. Very aggravating.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

My point was, I think it would be useful to wire up a set of four switches. They would be labeled indicating which switch was being bypassed. In the event of trouble with one switch, you would throw all the bypasses, start the tractor, then turn off the switches one by one. Then you would know in a matter of seconds where the trouble was. Continue operating until you have finished your job, put the tractor back where you can work on it and change the switch.

The safeties are not that problematic that I think you need to go to all that effort.

It also could cause issues as it would be another set of switches and connections that could fail, thus causing more problems then you first started out with!

 

[Lycomech96]

The safeties are not that problematic that I think you need to go to all that effort.

It also could cause issues as it would be another set of switches and connections that could fail, thus causing more problems then you first started out with!

The test switches would be redundant if all those switches were functioning properly. They would just supply an additional ground up at the little brain box they all go through (or +12 volts if that was what is required.)

I also heated up and gently pulled off 90% of those ugly "safety warning" stickers the factory plastered all over the machine. I did this before my wife saw them. If she read them she would never let me get on the damned thing.
Don't worry Kubota~San, I'm not going to stick the front bucket into any power lines.