Mornin' AD:
I should be a bit clearer. First, I would never, ever advise or show someone how to bypass the under-seat driver presence switch, nor do I do it. My former barber did that and lost the entire bottom of his foot when his mower flipped while on a steep ditch (he was also pretty well liquored up). I understand Deere's liability position on safety and also that it may void the warranty if reverse kill is bypassed.
Still, in my situation, wherein I must mow back and forth, over and over many times, on my home lot and an adjacent 1-acre field - which has many rocks and other obstacles - it makes no sense to leave that switch operational. I never drink and mow, am very careful, hear well, have no kids at home, no pets and live in a wide-open space with excellent vision of my surroundings. Put simply, I can't even imagine mowing my property and having to stop and press a button each time I wanted to mow backwards. In fact, for me, that would be more dangerous because there are routinely times when I must act QUICKLY to reverse on pretty steep hills and go back and forth. Also, the sheer distraction involved would pose a certain element of risk.
I'm not advocating that EVERYONE does this bypass, but for me and some others (like the guy who posted), it's a weighted choice!
Cheers!
That's awful beyond imagining! But, with all due reverence, Dad shouldn't need a reverse switch to "remind" him to clear the area first - especially if he has small kids running about. Tragic . . .As a shop owner I can't risk the liability issue. I personally went through a recent problem where a customer's insurance company tried suing me for a problem that I found after the fact.
The customer brought in his wreck mower for me to find what caused the mower to keep on mowing even he was knock off the seat and it took out his wife's new car. A previous repair shop or DIYer had installed the wrong safety switch. It cause the mower to act as if someone was in the seat while the deck was engaged. IE the seat safety was effective bypassed. I did not do the work and the first I saw the mower was after the crash and my records proved that. So glad I keep records of anything that has been bypassed by others to cover my behind.
If the customer does the bypassing and accident happens related to the bypass it is on them not their mechanic; unless, mechanic likes taking the risks involved. Besides we as shops can be fine too for doing it so I will not explain how to disable a safety switch.
And yes they can inconvenient at times but they are there to remind you to take time and be safe, not sorry later.
I know of one case in my area from about 12 years where a guy back over his son while the deck was engaged. A burial no one should half to attend. All because the reverse switch was disabled and didn't remind him to clear the rear area first.
Spray some WD down around the button then check under hood to make sure the connector is on tightlyThe button won't let back up with blades engaged