mowing in reverse

[Chuck Fabman]

Got a riding mower but it doesn"t mow in reverse. I read some where in here
one knew how to fix this. I thought all mow in reverse. Never had a rider.
Troy-Bilt Pony

 

[zkling]

A make and model would probably help.

 

[Chuck Fabman]

Troy-Bilt Pony

 

[OccupantRJ]

There is usually a small switch device that shuts down the engine if mowing in reverse is tried. It will be activated by the shifting mechanism. Find this and disconnect the wires, or it may be necessary to connect the wires directly together, depending on how the system is wired. Simple experimentation will tell you which way to do the wiring. Sometimes the switches are open, simple contacts that you can see what they do upon activation.

 

[zkling]

 

[Chuck Fabman]

Thanks Guys
Not good with computers. Everone has always solved my problems.
Thanks zkling. youtube was great.
Hope i get it right.

 

[ken w.]

I bought a Craftsman rider at an Estate sale and it wont cut in reverse either.It drives mt nuts because I back my other rider into spots to mow. I've been wanting to bypass that switch.It will happen soon.

 

[CNGsaves]

I bought a Craftsman rider at an Estate sale and it wont cut in reverse either.It drives mt nuts because I back my other rider into spots to mow. I've been wanting to bypass that switch.It will happen soon.

Mower is designed that way for SAFETY feature. All newer riding mowers will have same safety feature as it is required.

Older riding mowers have caused harm while mowing in reverse chopping up objects that drivers didn't see which included people. Thus, lawsuits occurred and most manufacturers were quick to adapt. Couple brands were slow to adapt (Craftsman included) so there might be some older mowers without the safety feature.

IF you go ahead with bypass switch, make sure it's a deliberate short-term action that turns it off (ie normal setting to be NOT allowing mowing in reverse). In general it's a good practice not to be mowing while in reverse.

 

[p_mori7]

My Craftsman has 2 key settings...after you start the engine, you bring the key back one step from the "run" icon...and it will mow in reverse.

 

[CNGsaves]

This YouTube "solution" to just permanently disable the Reverse Mowing safety feature for Troy Bilt Pony isn't so great.

All video did was show where to unplug the safety feature. Would have been much better to wire in On/Off toggle switch that would normally have the safety feature turned on (ie not allow reverse mowing), unless the operator temporarily flipped switch for special mowing situation where mowing in reverse was safe and necessary.

 

[Hootbro]

Mower is designed that way for SAFETY feature. All newer riding mowers will have same safety feature as it is required.

Older riding mowers have caused harm while mowing in reverse chopping up objects that drivers didn't see which included people. Thus, lawsuits occurred and most manufacturers were quick to adapt. Couple brands were slow to adapt (Craftsman included) so there might be some older mowers without the safety feature.

IF you go ahead with bypass switch, make sure it's a deliberate short-term action that turns it off (ie normal setting to be NOT allowing mowing in reverse). In general it's a good practice not to be mowing while in reverse.

Reverse disable mowing is not a "required" safety feature. Many current manufactured lawn tractors of various brands built by AYP/Husqvarna have a reverse enabled mowing feature. It is just a separate switch selection on the mower key switch that the operator has to select to enable it.

Mowing in reverse is not some Voodoo science or cataclysmic ordeal if common sense is used.

 

[gsmornot]

Some people are just as bad forward as they are in reverse.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Some people are just as bad forward as they are in reverse.

And are probably the same people who couldn't back up without hitting something, and then sued because the manufacturer didn't predict and prevent their stupidity. Kinda like how most people who **** at driving while on their phone... also **** at driving without distractions.

I somehow manage to mow with a tractor with no safety features just fine, hell, I have to pull a cord to kill the engine because the shutoff solenoid died. Haven't killed anything yet.

 

[CNGsaves]

Reverse disable mowing is not a "required" safety feature. Many current manufactured lawn tractors of various brands built by AYP/Husqvarna have a reverse enabled mowing feature. It is just a separate switch selection on the mower key switch that the operator has to select to enable it.

Mowing in reverse is not some Voodoo science or cataclysmic ordeal if common sense is used.

Agree . . . just saying that manufacturers now have to deal with safety feature in some way.

Common sense would cure a lot of problems that bulk of people have to endure because of idiocy of a few that forced safety feature. Worst examples are the new gas cans.

I've mowed plenty with Ford 9N tractor with 5 ft bushhog driven by PTO and have yet to chop up anything backing up. . . just have to be careful.

 

[BobKovacs]

My new Ariens riding mower has a separate key setting if you want to mow in reverse, so you have to make a conscious effort to set it up to do so. If you try backing up with the blades engaged without being in that position, it shuts down. Not sure if it's just because they're afraid people are too stupid to be able to back up without running over something, or what, but it's something they've instituted recently.

 

[tjmonsen5]

My 1985 ingersoll 226 mows in reverse, and I love it. I can't imagine how frustrating that would be. I probably reverse at least 30 times while cutting my grass!

 

[Ridebutter]

My JD has a momentary push switch to allow mow in reverse, its only slightly annoying. I'm considering removing it too.

 

[firebox40dash5]

My new Ariens riding mower has a separate key setting if you want to mow in reverse, so you have to make a conscious effort to set it up to do so. If you try backing up with the blades engaged without being in that position, it shuts down. Not sure if it's just because they're afraid people are too stupid to be able to back up without running over something, or what, but it's something they've instituted recently.

Aren't they using an electronic PTO clutch by now? If so, why don't they just have it disengage the clutch if you reverse, rather than kill the engine?

If I bought a mower that died every time I back up without turning the PTO off, I'd probably douse it with a safety gas can full of gas and burn it to the ground before I finished the yard the first time. That sounds horribly obnoxious.

 

[Kevin54]

I don't know if you can bypass the new JD's or not. Even though they have that switch to allow you to mow in reverse, it's a damn pain.

My 345, or I should say, the wife's 345 JD, I was able to bypass everything. The seat just takes a jumper wire. The backup took a jumper wire. On my dads Toro, IIRC, I moved the switch so that it would not make contact in reverse.

IF you have small children around, I would suggest NOT bypassing the reverse mowing mode. No matter how careful one is, a small child can be behind you before you know it. I think it was two years ago, in Cincinnati I believe that a father backed over his 4 or 5 year old daughter and cut her feet off because she ran up behind the tractor when he thought she was in the house.

Me.....we don't have any kids around, so I unhook all of the safety stuff.

 

[cburnscrx]

I can say with 100% certainty that my father in laws zero turn goes in reverse...and in a hurry! "Damn these things are fast" - Crazy Eyes (Mr. Deeds)

 

[5lima30]

My JD lawn tractror ha a yellow button on the dash that allows you to mow in reverse... as long as you don't forget to push it LOL!

 

[blackz26]

If you cant mow in reverse without causing harm, you don't deserve to mow, drive, or breath. Its just that simple.

Are these people looking forward when mowing in reverse? And a safety switch is retarded anyways. My dads club cadet lt1050 doesn't have anything safety related on it. You can mow in reverse without throwing the key up, get off the seat with the blades on and it'll still run and whatever else they put on them. For reference its an 03 model with 975hrs. No, nothing has been disabled or bypassed. They've all just worn out and the mower keeps working.

When they wear out, couldn't imagine many people repairing them.

 

[wedge40]

This one of the most useless feature to be put on mowers. My '89 cub had it for the 1st 10 minutes I owned. Found the switch and jumpered it. If you back over someone while on a rider, you shouldn't be cutting grass.

Wedge

 

[padronanniversary]

The only good part of "mowing" in reverse is when you are in those tight corners and need to back up a foot and then go about your way rather than disengaging the pto or having the safety cut out. Of course its common sense to look behind you as you do this.

I got three kids, and they are not allowed outside when I mow or trim. You hear of cases where on a push mower kids loose limbs mowing. Not going to risk it.

Then of course when mowing you have the possibility of **** flying out the grass discharge as well.

 

[honcho]

Safety features are annoying, but this happened recently in Florida. It's all too easy to bypass a safety feature thinking we wouldn't do something so stupid but stupid just happens--even to smart people!

The parents of a 2-year-old Florida girl whose feet were severed when her father backed over her with a lawn mower said she will walk again.

http://news.consumerreports.org/hom...t-in-florida-underscores-mower-dangers-1.html

 

[Eslader]

Mowing in reverse is not some Voodoo science or cataclysmic ordeal if common sense is used.

Honestly, if you back over a kid, you're gonna hurt him pretty badly whether the blades are spinning or not. Lawn tractors aren't exactly light, and little kids aren't exactly crushproof.

The amazingly simple solution is to look behind you whenever you're backing up. Disabling the mower only somewhat mitigates an already bad situation caused entirely by operator stupidity.

 

[3putt]

I have a Craftsman LT 2000 (I think a 2013 model) that won't mow in reverse. Looked for the wire plug-in by the left rear tire. Does it have to have a black and a white/yellow wire together? This one only has a white/yellow wire.

 

[tomshep]

My JD has a momentary push switch to allow mow in reverse, its only slightly annoying. I'm considering removing it too.

My JD is a LT160 and it also has the push button for reverse. The thing barely runs, spits and sounds like **** when trying to reverse. Not that I would know, but the sensor is above the differential. You could probably just unplug it and it would disable the motor cutting out when backing up when the mower is engaged.

Tom

 

[aaronrkelly]

My JD has a momentary push switch to allow mow in reverse, its only slightly annoying. I'm considering removing it too.

My JD lawn tractror ha a yellow button on the dash that allows you to mow in reverse... as long as you don't forget to push it LOL!

My JD is a LT160 and it also has the push button for reverse. The thing barely runs, spits and sounds like **** when trying to reverse. Not that I would know, but the sensor is above the differential. You could probably just unplug it and it would disable the motor cutting out when backing up when the mower is engaged.

Tom

My John Deere X300 has a yellow momentary switch you have to pull UP on to mow in reverse.....otherwise it shuts off the blades.

First 5 minutes of owning the thing I put it in reverse and realize it DIDNT shut off, despite the fact I forgot to pull up on the switch.

......I look down and found my handy dandy free advertising for the John Deere dealer keychain had slid in behind the switch.....therefore holding it permanently up.

So thats how I "bypass" the switch.....start my mower then slide the keychain under the switch.

 

[finn]

My new Ariens riding mower has a separate key setting if you want to mow in reverse, so you have to make a conscious effort to set it up to do so. If you try backing up with the blades engaged without being in that position, it shuts down. Not sure if it's just because they're afraid people are too stupid to be able to back up without running over something, or what, but it's something they've instituted recently.

My Aerens and, I believe all the other mower brands manufactured by AYP (Husqvarna, Craftsman, and probably a few more) have the additional key position feature to allow mowing in reverse.