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GT5000 safety switch problem??

16 years ago

'

Late '04 GT5000 with 25 hp Kohler command runs fine with brake pressed in, but dies when brake is released. Holding brake barely down allows engine to run, move forward and mow.

THis has got to be a safety switch problem on the brake switch, right? Comments or ideas as to exactly where the problem lies?

David

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Comments (7)

sadixon49
16 years ago
It could be the seat switch. Does it act the same with the deck disengaged? The fact that the brake switch changes state when you press the brake pedal leads me to think that it is not the brake switch, but I could be wrong.
steve
hortsense
16 years ago
Usually the brake switch only works to 1) start the engine 2)allow engine to remain running when there is no one on the seat by setting a parking brake. There are also interrelated links to other safety switches (reverse safety switch, PTO engage switch and perhaps a 'defeat' switch to allow mowing in reverse).

I'd give every wire except those involved with lights a careful going over (look for loose wires, worn insulation, bad connectors and even wires that the brake linkage might rub against when you depress the brake. Some times switches do go bad but more frequently the mount for the switch or the wire has worked loose.

Just last night thought I had a dead battery on my Rider. Turned out to be a loose wing nut on the battery.
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tjeffers
16 years ago
Sorry to interrupt, but is anyone else only getting parts of the messages.
The first post from davidld shows:

move forward and mow.
THis has got to be a safety switch problem on the brake switch, right? Comments or ideas as to exactly where the problem lies?

David

and that's all, the 2nd post is chopped at the start, too.
Tried both Slimbrowser and IE6
Terry
jimtnc
16 years ago
tjeffers - try IE Tools/Internet Options/then all the "delete" buttons to clear out temp storage. Sounds like you need to do some housecleaning on your PC, maybe defrag your harddrive some too, etc.

There's a nice little freeware app I use to clean out all the temp stuff that Windows won't release called CleanUp! (I have release 4.0). You run that, then reboot, and you'll be surprised at how much junk Windows keeps around clogging up your harddrive. IF you feel more comfortable backing up before running Cleanup, do so. I run it to keep all the trash off my PC at work so I don't hear any flack. he he
jimtnc
16 years ago
tjeffers - Or worse...you might have been infected with a virus or browser hijacked. If the above doesn't help, try updating and running your virus software.
tjeffers
16 years ago
jimtnc:
Cleaning out the temp files solved the troubles. I knew that it was something with my system after other sites were doing the same thing.

Thanks!
Terry
mowerharald
16 years ago
Don't know about the computer problems, but I do have a 2004 GT5000. In can tell you that the seat safety switch will kill the engine if it's disconnected. A defective switch could do this also. It's a simple matter to read out the seat switch with an ohm meter to check whether it's bad (Infinite ohms when depressed and 0 ohms with no weight on seat).

People used to bypass the seat safety switch by disconnecting the plug. Sears decided to stop this nonsense by putting a shorting clip inside the connector so that when you pull the plug it still has continuity. You can bypass this by removing the shorting clip from the plug if you choose. Then the switch will work like normal when connected or be disabled when disconnected.

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