Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Tractor for maintaining small places

There's no way to absolutely foolproof something, as there will always be a more determined class of fools eagerly awaiting graduation. For any safety device to work, there needs to be a willingness on the part of the operator to utilize the equipment properly. Manufacturers know this, and recognize that there will be attempts to bypass safety switches by those who claim they impede upon their ability to use the equipment, or trample their rights under the constitution, it's always something. You're never going to reach that group, no matter what you do. So you focus on reaching the vast majority who want to be safe, but still need to be able to utilize the tractor in as large a variety of conditions as possible. Yes, there will need to be compromises. If your gripe has to do with being unable to crawl out on the hood while pulling a bush hog and steering with your feet, well, maybe things happen for a reason. My advice would be sure your insurance policy will still pay off, after it's discovered you jumped out the seat switch.

A seat switch is usually a set of normally open contacts, which close when you sit down, completing the circuit and supplying power to enable the engine to run. Come off the seat and the switch opens and shuts off the power, stopping the engine. Easy. What if we added another switch with normally open contacts, wired in parallel with the seat switch? Either switch closed will provide a complete circuit to the engine run command, but it will take BOTH switches to come open to shut off the power. If we take that second switch and mount it like an old Ford tractor starter button, down on the floorboards, then we can step on it, AND rise off the seat. The seat switch will open, but the foot switch will close and maintain the run circuit. Fall off, and both switches will be open, killing the engine. No lanyards, no added measures need be taken by the operator, just as long as one of the switches is closed, the tractor will run. This should allow sitting operation, and standing operation, but still provide protection in the event you fall off.