Blade Runner
Active Member
I think the seat safety switch that causes the engine to shut off if you try to get off the mower with it running is a great ideal for teenagers and the accident prone....but its an aggrevation switch for me.:biggrin:
So, last night while in the garage drinking a beer and trying to figure out how to install side mirrors on the mower, I decided to modify the seat safety switch to allow the mower engine to remain running, while I get off of it to pick up a piece of trash or a rock or whatever, before I roll over it and shoot tiny bits of trash all over the yard or throw a high velocity projectile at the windows, etc.
It was easy. The switch is connected to a plate next to the seat pan. In between the plate and the seat pan are bolts with springs and sleeves. When you sit down, the plate sits onto the large springs on the mower and compresses and the safety switch "button" gets pushed in allowing the engine to start and remain running.
I just removed the existing sleeves and replaced them with shorter sleeves and tightened the nuts down until the safety switch button was pushed in. Now the mower engine remains running even if I get off of it. I can always put the original sleeves back on and activate the safety switch.
NOTE: I actually do know a person who allowed their teenager to use a riding mower without a seat safety switch. The teenager started getting off the mower to move something and left the blades engaged and the mower came out of neutral and the teen tripped and got 2 of her fingers almost cutt off. Emergency saved her fingers and somehow the teenager got a $10,000 insurance fund out of it. But she still has some nerve damage.
.....in other words, don't do the modification I just described, its too dangerous for you.:biggrin:
So, last night while in the garage drinking a beer and trying to figure out how to install side mirrors on the mower, I decided to modify the seat safety switch to allow the mower engine to remain running, while I get off of it to pick up a piece of trash or a rock or whatever, before I roll over it and shoot tiny bits of trash all over the yard or throw a high velocity projectile at the windows, etc.
It was easy. The switch is connected to a plate next to the seat pan. In between the plate and the seat pan are bolts with springs and sleeves. When you sit down, the plate sits onto the large springs on the mower and compresses and the safety switch "button" gets pushed in allowing the engine to start and remain running.
I just removed the existing sleeves and replaced them with shorter sleeves and tightened the nuts down until the safety switch button was pushed in. Now the mower engine remains running even if I get off of it. I can always put the original sleeves back on and activate the safety switch.
NOTE: I actually do know a person who allowed their teenager to use a riding mower without a seat safety switch. The teenager started getting off the mower to move something and left the blades engaged and the mower came out of neutral and the teen tripped and got 2 of her fingers almost cutt off. Emergency saved her fingers and somehow the teenager got a $10,000 insurance fund out of it. But she still has some nerve damage.
.....in other words, don't do the modification I just described, its too dangerous for you.:biggrin:
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