Why no seat belt interlock on tractors?

[Henro]

I do not think this question has been asked...do not remember any comments on it either. BUT I am sure some have been made.

Newer tractors have operator presence switches on the seat.

My car and even my 19 year old van requires that my seat belt be fastened, or I am bombarded by a sound that will not go away until I fasten the seat belt. I always wear my seat belt so not an issue for me.

Would be easy to make a seat belt a requirement for starting the tractor, or to at least make it mimic whatever a seat switch does...

Why don't the manufactures do this? Perhaps because they realize operators would just plug the seat belt in and sit on it? I always thought the seat switch was there for legal reasons. Seems like not having a seat belt interlock could offer similar legal dangers.

Just seems like if manufacturers are concerned enough to require operator presence in the seat for whatever reason, they should also require the seat belt be fastened, like in my vehicles. It would not have to limit functionality any more than a seat switch does, or so it seems.

NO I do not want a seat switch OR a seat belt switch on either of my tractors!

Just wondering what I am missing...

 

[MOOTS]

If ROPS is down, you shouldn't wear seat belt. Would another switch be used to tell the ROPS is folded?

It's bad enough we have all the switches now. Don't need anymore.

 

[mcmxi]

If ROPS is down, you shouldn't wear seat belt. Would another switch be used to tell the ROPS is folded?

It's bad enough we have all the switches now. Don't need anymore.

Amen to that. I was pleased to see a feature (button) on my MX that allows me to keep the PTO running when I'm not in the driver's seat.

 

[William1]

My 2005 PU has a light, no alarm. Wife's 2018 Infinity Q50, no alarm, just a light.
I've seen many people that refuse to belt up and they run the belt behind the seat to clip it.

No ROPs down /inop tractor function?

 

[Old_Paint]

What Matt said, plus 1.

There's all kinds of issues with a seatbelt alarm on a tractor. It would make the wiring harness much more complex and thus, the tractor would become that much more expensive and less reliable. While manufacturers are required to put these devices on tractors, there is NO LAW saying you have to have them on an old machine or leave them on a new machine. This includes the ROPS. You'll note it's bolted on, not welded, and is fairly easy to remove. It'll be a lesson in Selectivity if someone does, more than likely.

I certainly wear the belt when I'm on uneven ground, pushing/pulling on stumps, digging with the FEL, or doing anything that can make the tractor make an unexpected/uncontrollable change in direction or speed. If I'm just puttin' around in the yard with my trailer while moving leaves or cutting grass, no I don't put it on, probably because I'm constantly up and down on it, and rarely on it more than 5 minutes. Most of my time is on the rider. Nothing irregular or dangerous about my route when I'm doing yard work. My riding mower doesn't have a belt or ROPS, and depends on me using common sense and being aware of where I am. I was just a little bit lax once on the latter requirement and got too close to the edge of a drainage ditch between me and a neighbor (should have been using the string trimmer), and rolled a 500 pound mower over on top of me in the ditch. I realized when I was past the point of no return, and quickly turned off the switch as it was rolling, which of course stopped the blades pretty quick and saved running the engine upside down (loss of oil). Fortunately, most of the corners were rounded, and I only got some minor brusing on my forearms and shins while pushing it off me so I could get it back out. It humiliated me a lot more than it hurt me, but it could just as well have been a deadly incident had I not kept my cool and reacted quickly. When I was a kid, bushhogging around the pastures, etc, I ran an 8N with a 6' Bushhog off the creekbank more times than I care to remember, and every time was one more than I wanted to. The first time, I nearly rolled it, but from that point on, I always managed to get the nose pointed down the bank so that the cutter would dig into the bank, stall the tractor, and slow it down. My stepfather and his dad were NEVER happy about it when they had to come help me get the tractor back out of the creek. It was shallow, so never did any water damage, but like the mower, it sure hurt my pride a few times. The 8N never had ROPS or belts on it, either. Thankfully, a good Bushhog brand cutter puts the center of gravity about 8 inches off the ground on an 8N, and makes it pretty hard to roll.

 

[NCL4701]

Sometimes it’s a great safety feature. Sometimes it’s just in the way. Sometimes (such as running a saw and grapple working up trees) I’m cycling off and on it sawing, then moving stuff, then more sawing, repeat. Working around the pond I’m a bit conflicted on use as I would want it if it rolled and stayed dry but wouldn’t want to be belted to an upside down 6,000lb machine stuck up in the mud under water. BTW, I avoid working around the pond whenever possible.

Having a seatbelt warning/alarm/ignition interlock would do nothing but create another “workaround” similar to the seat switch workarounds many have to allow operation while standing (helpful with forking pallets). While safety is paramount in tractor operation, thankfully we haven’t progressed to the point of severely hampering function (as in the case of many lawnmowers that won’t mow in reverse until the automatic blade disengagement/kill switch is bypassed). As others have said, adding complexity and cost which is not demanded by the market to an already complex expensive machine is not desirable and if the operator wishes to use it 100% of the time, there’s nothing stopping them from doing so. Bottom line, it hasn’t been legislated and it isn’t demanded by the market so it isn’t a feature.

Like many others, coming from a long history with older machines with no cab, no ROPS, and no seatbelt (wouldn’t want one on them) I’m quite happy with the ROPS and seatbelt so long as it’s optional to be used only when appropriate.

 

[skeets]

Please please please dont give the lawyers any more ideas

 

[Henro]

If ROPS is down, you shouldn't wear seat belt. Would another switch be used to tell the ROPS is folded?

It's bad enough we have all the switches now. Don't need anymore.

Good point! Glad I asked. Sometimes it is easy to miss things. The ROPS on both my tractors do not fold, so I never thought of that possibility.

Now I wonder if a folding ROPS offers a greater danger than what a seat switch may counter...

I certainly agree about all the interlocks on new tractors. The seat switch would be soon gone in my case if I ever bought a new tractor.

It might even get worse. The Subaru Forester I bought in 2020 has a system that stops the engine when you stop the car, and restarts it every time when you lift your foot off the brake. AND you cannot disable it by simply keeping the switch closed all the time, by holding it in with a piece of tape or similar. You HAVE to push the button after the engine is started to disable this feature. There are ways to build an electric circuit that energizes the system with a one shot of voltage, similar to what the push button does when you push it, after the engine starts, but that is a bit of a pain to build and install. I just learned to push the button, but doing that is a pain too.

Point being, perhaps in the future tractor manufacturers will incorporate something similar in tractors, which will make eliminating seat switches and other interlocks more difficult than presently. I can only imagine and hate the thought!

 

[ranger danger]

Good God don't give them any more crappy ideas!!!

 

[ranger danger]

Good point! Glad I asked. Sometimes it is easy to miss things. The ROPS on both my tractors do not fold, so I never thought of that possibility.

Now I wonder if a folding ROPS offers a greater danger than what a seat switch may counter...

I certainly agree about all the interlocks on new tractors. The seat switch would be soon gone in my case if I ever bought a new tractor.

It might even get worse. The Subaru Forester I bought in 2020 has a system that stops the engine when you stop the car, and restarts it every time when you lift your foot off the brake. AND you cannot disable it by simply keeping the switch closed all the time, by holding it in with a piece of tape or similar. You HAVE to push the button after the engine is started to disable this feature. There are ways to build an electric circuit that energizes the system with a one shot of voltage, similar to what the push button does when you push it, after the engine starts, but that is a bit of a pain to build and install. I just learned to push the button, but doing that is a pain too.

Point being, perhaps in the future tractor manufacturers will incorporate something similar in tractors, which will make eliminating seat switches and other interlocks more difficult than presently. I can only imagine and hate the thought!

My wife and I bought a 2021 Subaru outback onyx edition in May. We are negotiating with Subaru to take the damn thing back! The bells and buzzer and lights and all the other over controlling b.s. is beyond annoying. I have not been this disappointed in a new car purchase since I bought a 1993 Ford F250 in March of 93'. I sold that one for a $13,000 loss 11 months later.

 

[SDT]

I do not think this question has been asked...do not remember any comments on it either. BUT I am sure some have been made.

Newer tractors have operator presence switches on the seat.

My car and even my 19 year old van requires that my seat belt be fastened, or I am bombarded by a sound that will not go away until I fasten the seat belt. I always wear my seat belt so not an issue for me.

Would be easy to make a seat belt a requirement for starting the tractor, or to at least make it mimic whatever a seat switch does...

Why don't the manufactures do this? Perhaps because they realize operators would just plug the seat belt in and sit on it? I always thought the seat switch was there for legal reasons. Seems like not having a seat belt interlock could offer similar legal dangers.

Just seems like if manufacturers are concerned enough to require operator presence in the seat for whatever reason, they should also require the seat belt be fastened, like in my vehicles. It would not have to limit functionality any more than a seat switch does, or so it seems.

NO I do not want a seat switch OR a seat belt switch on either of my tractors!

Just wondering what I am missing...

Thank goodness there is not.

Please do not give the federales any ideas.

SDT

 

[NCL4701]

My wife and I bought a 2021 Subaru outback onyx edition in May. We are negotiating with Subaru to take the damn thing back! The bells and buzzer and lights and all the other over controlling b.s. is beyond annoying. I have not been this disappointed in a new car purchase since I bought a 1993 Ford F250 in March of 93'. I sold that one for a $13,000 loss 11 months later.

Nice to know someone else understands.

A few years ago I had a two month out of town work assignment that required renting a large SUV but I was given a Dodge Neon budget for it. I knew a regional manager at a large rental car agency and she very sweetly hooked me up with a new Excursion with 100 miles on it and every option imaginable. Climate control, sound system, etc. was all controlled by a big touchscreen in the dash so I had to LOOK at it to do anything with it, no way to feel what you were doing so couldn’t adjust anything while driving. The 4WD had settings for sand, mud, snow. If I crossed a line (or what it thought was a line) in the road without a turn signal it would try to steer back, active cruise control, etc.. The option and “safety” list went on forever. About a month in she called and asked if I was ready to finally get rid of my old POS Frontier after driving a luxury 4WD. Told her I knew she really did me a serious favor with the champagne ride on a beer budget and I was missing my wife, but almost as much I was missing my 6 speed manual truck with the old school knobs, 4WD that didn’t need to know whether it was in sand or snow, and a steering system that didn’t fight me if there was a stray line in a construction zone. I HATED that Excursion. When I got home the reunion with my wife was very nice. The reunion with my old school, no frills Frontier was almost as emotional.

 

[ranger danger]

Nice to know someone else understands.

A few years ago I had a two month out of town work assignment that required renting a large SUV but I was given a Dodge Neon budget for it. I knew a regional manager at a large rental car agency and she very sweetly hooked me up with a new Excursion with 100 miles on it and every option imaginable. Climate control, sound system, etc. was all controlled by a big touchscreen in the dash so I had to LOOK at it to do anything with it, no way to feel what you were doing so couldn’t adjust anything while driving. The 4WD had settings for sand, mud, snow. If I crossed a line (or what it thought was a line) in the road without a turn signal it would try to steer back, active cruise control, etc.. The option and “safety” list went on forever. About a month in she called and asked if I was ready to finally get rid of my old POS Frontier after driving a luxury 4WD. Told her I knew she really did me a serious favor with the champagne ride on a beer budget and I was missing my wife, but almost as much I was missing my 6 speed manual truck with the old school knobs, 4WD that didn’t need to know whether it was in sand or snow, and a steering system that didn’t fight me if there was a stray line in a construction zone. I HATED that Excursion. When I got home the reunion with my wife was very nice. The reunion with my old school, no frills Frontier was almost as emotional.

My wife's Subaru has the big computer screen. It is flat out unsafe to adjust heat/ac or radio etc while driving. You have to take your eyes off the road to touch the screen in the right spot to wake it up then touch it in the right place to change the screen then touch it in the right place to get the fan speed then touch it in the right place to adjust it up or down. Each of these spots are about 3/4" so you must be looking at the screen to do it and, thats just to change the fan speed!!!!! Sucks! We talked with Subaru about it. They said "well you can do all of that with the controls on the steering wheel" . Ya right! There are 14 buttons with 2 to 3 functions each, and levers on the wheel. Who can remember all those functions and still drive!

 

[Crash277]

Good point! Glad I asked. Sometimes it is easy to miss things. The ROPS on both my tractors do not fold, so I never thought of that possibility.

Now I wonder if a folding ROPS offers a greater danger than what a seat switch may counter...

I certainly agree about all the interlocks on new tractors. The seat switch would be soon gone in my case if I ever bought a new tractor.

It might even get worse. The Subaru Forester I bought in 2020 has a system that stops the engine when you stop the car, and restarts it every time when you lift your foot off the brake. AND you cannot disable it by simply keeping the switch closed all the time, by holding it in with a piece of tape or similar. You HAVE to push the button after the engine is started to disable this feature. There are ways to build an electric circuit that energizes the system with a one shot of voltage, similar to what the push button does when you push it, after the engine starts, but that is a bit of a pain to build and install. I just learned to push the button, but doing that is a pain too.

Point being, perhaps in the future tractor manufacturers will incorporate something similar in tractors, which will make eliminating seat switches and other interlocks more difficult than presently. I can only imagine and hate the thought!

should be able to permanently disable it by popping out the switch and jumping it with a wire. Works on the fords. My silverado has it but it auto disables when my trailer is plugged in so I don’t mind it.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

With 'newer' seat switches ( riding mowers for sure..) , you can't just pull the plug and jumper. They have a clever switch built into the chassis side connector that shorts the mag, when seat connector is removed
so......

you have to CUT the chassis side connector OFF or 'modify' the seat switch into thinking you're always ON the seat, to keep the mag alive

 

[mikester]

My UTV has a seatbelt interlock...won't let you drive more than idle speeds and an alarm sounds off.

No thanks.

 

[FTG-05]

Please please please dont give the lawyers any more ideas

This. Just another "protect idiots" safety failure point.

 

[Borane4]

My wife and I bought a 2021 Subaru outback onyx edition in May. We are negotiating with Subaru to take the damn thing back! The bells and buzzer and lights and all the other over controlling b.s...

Subarus are the biggest Nanny cars on the planet. It's no wonder their primary market is WA state and CA...

 

[Borane4]

Personal responsibility for personal safety has become a foreign concept. Somewhere along the line preventing dangerous products (a good thing) became responsibility to eliminate every possible risk.

 

[Henro]

My wife and I bought a 2021 Subaru outback onyx edition in May. We are negotiating with Subaru to take the damn thing back! The bells and buzzer and lights and all the other over controlling b.s. is beyond annoying. I have not been this disappointed in a new car purchase since I bought a 1993 Ford F250 in March of 93'. I sold that one for a $13,000 loss 11 months later.

I still can't figure out how to put the parking brake on! I guess I could read the manual, but should one have to read the manual to learn how to put a parking brake on????

PLUS the car is automated enough to steer itself if the EYESIGHT system is turned on. So it ends up fighting you when on the highway and driving normally. I checked by taking my hands off the wheel, and it would drive around curves on the interstate...crazy in my opinion.

Trouble is these days if you want a car with any features, probably something as simple as heated seats for winter, you are stuck with technology you do not enjoy or even want...