Answers
There are 4 wires on the John Deere mower seat switches.
I want a way to permanently by pass the switch, if anyone knows where I could obtain a wiring diagram for 2007 L series, that would answer my question.
Under the seat there should be two wires attached to the seat. Cut and strip both wires and twist them together and try to start the mower. If it starts, use a wire nut and electrical tape on the connection and forget about it. If it doesn't start, cut both wires and insulate them with tape separately and the mower should now start.
Myself, uxwbill and bizzarefurhead all get together to replace the seat on the old John Deere 316 mower. Hilarity ensues, the first seat doesn#39 ...
Don't go all crazy on me yet, there is a valid reason for this.
I'm a tiny woman (5'3'', 100 lbs) and its pretty much impossible for me to start my new John Deere 100 series riding lawn mower because of the switch in the seat that shuts the mower off if a certain amount of weight isn't on the seat. Because of how far the brake needs to be pushed in to get it started even with the seat in full forward position in order for me to push it in, my butt ends up lifting slightly off the seat thus reducing the pressure on the switch enough so the mower won't start. Luckily, I have a 6'3'' husband to mow the lawn for me. As a 23 year old non-physically disabled adult I should be able to use a lawnmower though.
Basically the only way around this is to simply disable the switch. What's the point of installing them on all mowers if people disable them anyway? They're not like trigger locks on guns because any adult, regardless of weight or stature has the ability to unlock one. You can still use the gun provided you have the key for the lock. I can't use my lawnmower period unless I can figure out how to disable the switch without voiding the manufacturer warranty.
I'm from a family of very small Eastern European people (I'm one of the tallest) and pretty much all of my biological relatives have had similar problems with mowers of various brands with this switch installed. Even my dad who is about my height and weighs about 140 lbs but has shorter legs had so much trouble with his Husqvarna right after he bought it that he ripped out the switch in a fit of frustration. The guy across the street from me even says has the same problem with his zero-turn too.
I know its to protect children (and brainless, litigious adults) but I know people who have kids and have still disabled the switches on their mowers because of the same problem I have; they can't use the mower if they don't disable it. What good is a child safety feature if it blocks out the adult in the house from using the product because of simple physics anyway? Manufacturers need to either make brake pedals adjustable or adjust the sensitivity of the switches. I'd recommend the latter.
It doesn't seem right that lawnmower designers are forgetting a large segment of the population when they build these safety features. I'm not saying eliminate them, just think a little harder about who exactly will be using the product. This is one idea that NEEDS to be taken back to the drawing board ASAP!
U ARE NOT ALONE. I am a 250lb 5 ft 8 man that has both hips replaced and that infernal switch on the foot peddle has to go. I cannot seem to be able to press hard enough to engage it. I have a 2 year old Yardman 36 inch rider and have only been able to mow my yard 3 times since i got that machine.
I will leave the seat switch alone but that foot switch will be disconnected
John Deere Lawn Mower Introduces The Zero Turn
No one would disagree that the biggest responsibility of owning your own home is the upkeep. Maybe no task defines this better than cutting the grass. It’s never been a welcomed chore, but there has been an epiphany for some and it’s come in the form of the zero turn John Deere lawn mower. With a complete handling system, it makes cropping the yard more like a playing Nintendo game.
This mower offers a system of controls that are very intuitive, although the lack of a steering wheel may throw the driver off at first. On each side of the seat, which sits on top of the mower decks, is a large lever. Push to move forward, pull to go back and switch between the two to make turns, even in reverse. It is that easy and when mastered offers the rider much more control than the average mower. In fact, it has the ability to twirl 360 degrees without shifting backwards and forwards.
...News
Tractor-van crash claims Avondale manPueblo Chieftain - Mar 04, 2010
CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/BRYAN KELSEN -- A Pueblo Rural Fire Department firefighter looks over a John Deere tractor that was struck from behind by a minivan on and morenbsp;raquo;
The State Journal-Register - Mar 04, 2010
Brooks died of head injuries when the car driven by his grandmother, Linda Butler of rural Pawnee, struck the back of a grain wagon attached to a John Deere and morenbsp;raquo;Elmira Star-Gazette - Mar 05, 2010
On this day, her chores included a batch of scratch-made soup for son Brian, who stopped by to work in the woods with one of the farm#39;s two John DeereBoone Mountain Times - Mar 04, 2010
In the money race, Burr is a Lamborghini to the rest of the pack#39;s John Deere mowers. As of the end of February, Burr had raised $6.7 million.St. Joseph News-Press - Feb 27, 2010
21. Officials confirmed they seized evidence from the farm and confiscated a Chevy Silverado pickup and a John Deere tractor.and morenbsp;raquo;Philadelphia Inquirer - Feb 14, 2010
The big storm#39;s winners and losersquot;Normally we would have been servicing lawn mowers for spring,quot; he said. To understand the economic effect of the storms, one has to realize something about and morenbsp;raquo;AFP - Feb 24, 2010
Humphries, Moyse lead after heat 2 of women#39;s bobI try to drive the sled more like a Ferrari and less like a John Deere tractor!quot; Kiriasis and Senkel dropped back to fifth after struggling to negotiate a and morenbsp;raquo;