PTO Engine Cutoff Switch

[whirly]

With the PTO running you are suppose to be able to exit the driver station and have the engine continue to run by lifting the seat. Yesterday it worked just fine but this morning when I lifted the seat the engine stopped. I checked both micro switches and can hear them click on and off. Is there some other place to look for a fault?

I can and will do the work around with the seat switch but I'd like to make sure it's the switch at the PTO lever before I start changing things.

Any help is appreciated!

PS - This is on my MX5100HST

 

[85Hokie]

I would say you are on the right track - I would temporarily bypass each till the problem is solved. Then diagnose the switch.
Unhook a lead on the switch and do a continuity test on the switch - see if it went out.

 

[whirly]

I would say you are on the right track - I would temporarily bypass each till the problem is solved. Then diagnose the switch.
Unhook a lead on the switch and do a continuity test on the switch - see if it went out.

Great suggestion! I should have thought of it!o(

 

[UpNorthMI]

Not sitting on my tractor at the moment but if I remember correctly:
1- start tractor
2- shift lever in N and park brake on
3- Lift seat forward
4- engage pto switch to on

best done at a low idle, then adjust engine speed to required level

good luck with it

 

[NCL4701]

Not sitting on my tractor at the moment but if I remember correctly:
1- start tractor
2- shift lever in N and park brake on
3- Lift seat forward
4- engage pto switch to on

best done at a low idle, then adjust engine speed to required level

good luck with it

Yeah, we both have L’s and the OP has a MX so maybe they’re different in the procedure for running the PTO stationary, but when I first read the post I was thinking I’ve never been able to have the PTO engaged while I’m on the seat and get off the seat for half a second without killing the engine. Engine is dead before there’s time to flip the seat forward. To get off if PTO is engaged it’s:

Disengage PTO
Set brake
Get off
Neutral
Flip seat up
Re-engage PTO

Maybe the MX let’s you get off with the PTO engaged?

Anyway, as I was typing this it reminded me with mine, locking the brakes is also required for stationary operation and that wasn’t mentioned in the OP’s process. I’ve had a couple of times I had the grapple stuck in the ground on one end and the 800lb chipper on the ground on the other end so didn’t think to lock the brakes and engaging the PTO with the seat flipped forward killed the engine until I remembered to lock the brakes. If you’re not locking the brakes you might try that before you start working on it.

Edit: I now notice you also have a MX, so I imagine you DO know how they work!

 

[UpNorthMI]

Yeah, we both have L’s and the OP has a MX so maybe they’re different in the procedure for running the PTO stationary, but when I first read the post I was thinking I’ve never been able to have the PTO engaged while I’m on the seat and get off the seat for half a second without killing the engine. Engine is dead before there’s time to flip the seat forward. To get off if PTO is engaged it’s:

Disengage PTO
Set brake
Get off
Neutral
Flip seat up
Re-engage PTO

Maybe the MX let’s you get off with the PTO engaged?

Anyway, as I was typing this it reminded me with mine, locking the brakes is also required for stationary operation and that wasn’t mentioned in the OP’s process. I’ve had a couple of times I had the grapple stuck in the ground on one end and the 800lb chipper on the ground on the other end so didn’t think to lock the brakes and engaging the PTO with the seat flipped forward killed the engine until I remembered to lock the brakes. If you’re not locking the brakes you might try that before you start working on it.

Edit: I now notice you also have a MX, so I imagine you DO know how they work!

The instructions I listed are for stationary pto running for a MX for a logging winch, pump or chipper.

What OP is describing is correct operation of the seat safety switch if you have engaged the pto while sitting on the seat and then try to stand up or exit the tractor. The tractor will shut down, this is the basis of the safety system for both L or MX series HST models. OP does not have a switch issue.

The question is can you get off the seat and lift it forward and keep the engine / pto running. If this does not work for you then you need to disengage the pto, restart tractor, lift seat then engage the pto.

remember the general safety rule of not being around any live running pto shaft, I only run a logging winch or chipper in stationary pto mode, for any other attachments I think the pto should be off if you are not in the seat.

 

[Old_Paint]

LX models have a nifty bypass button, and you don't have to move the seat. The only time I flip my seat up is when I'm covering it up with a tarp. Pull into position, set the brake, shift to N, push the button and hold for 10 seconds, engage PTO as desired. You can stop and start the PTO at will with the bypass on. So far, the only way I've cancelled the bypass is by shutting down the tractor completely. I can't see this being a problem because of the whole safety sequence. I'd rather be sitting in the seat to make sure that if the tractor moved I could stop it. The stationary equipment is ready to run and you've verified the tractor isn't going to move before you get off the machine, or even before you unbuckle the seat belt.

 

[SDT]

LX models have a nifty bypass button, and you don't have to move the seat. The only time I flip my seat up is when I'm covering it up with a tarp. Pull into position, set the brake, shift to N, push the button and hold for 10 seconds, engage PTO as desired. You can stop and start the PTO at will with the bypass on. So far, the only way I've cancelled the bypass is by shutting down the tractor completely. I can't see this being a problem because of the whole safety sequence. I'd rather be sitting in the seat to make sure that if the tractor moved I could stop it. The stationary equipment is ready to run and you've verified the tractor isn't going to move before you get off the machine, or even before you unbuckle the seat belt.

Nice feature although 10 seconds seems excessive.

I've been looking at an LX3310 to replace my B3350 (bypassed OP switch). The LX series has a new seat system with what look to be magnetic seat switches.

Have you bypassed your OP switch and, if so, how did you do it.

I cannot tolerate a tractor that shuts down when I choose to dismount for whatever reason while the PTO is running. I have bypassed the OP switch on all of my Kubota tractors.

SDT

 

[07wingnut]

Nice feature although 10 seconds seems excessive.

I've been looking at an LX3310 to replace my B3350 (bypassed OP switch). The LX series has a new seat system with what look to be magnetic seat switches.

Have you bypassed your OP switch and, if so, how did you do it.

I cannot tolerate a tractor that shuts down when I choose to dismount for whatever reason while the PTO is running. I have bypassed the OP switch on all of my Kubota tractors.

SDT

Having farmed for over 40 years using older tractor models, all this safety stuff seems like overkill. I guess it makes sense for the manufacturers to add this stuff for all the new people entering the tractor market with no previous experience, and for fending off liability claims.
Like SDT, I have the provision to bypass all the safety switches with just one switch, but normally I leave all the safety stuff engaged. One last point, when there is a problem, it almost always involves the safety switches. These things should be bullet proof if you don't want to piss people off to the point where bypass becomes an option.

 

[Old_Paint]

Having farmed for over 40 years using older tractor models, all this safety stuff seems like overkill. I guess it makes sense for the manufacturers to add this stuff for all the new people entering the tractor market with no previous experience, and for fending off liability claims.
Like SDT, I have the provision to bypass all the safety switches with just one switch, but normally I leave all the safety stuff engaged. One last point, when there is a problem, it almost always involves the safety switches. These things should be bullet proof if you don't want to piss people off to the point where bypass becomes an option.

You are correct, they should be bullet proof, and that they are there to protect companies from product liability cases generated by newcomers or more sadly, candidates for the Darwin Award. But they should also be fail-safe. How bullet proof can you make something?

I probably have less problem with a temporary bypass than I do a permanent jumper. Maybe a bypass that stops you from re-starting the tractor until you turn the bypass off, so that you have a constant reminder that you have something that needs fixing. Just design it so that it makes you disable the bypass to restart the tractor after you turn it off, meaning you'll have to disengage the PTO, put the seat down and sit in it, etc, etc, whatever function you bypassed, before the starter will engage. That will give incentive to fix the problem, but not let the problem disable the tractor until you get the parts to do so. Does that make sense?