Neutral safety for H

Has anyone seen a neutral or clutch safety start switch for an H. My kids will be using this soon.

(quoted from post at 11:14:54 09/16/11) Has anyone seen a neutral or clutch safety start switch for an H. My kids will be using this soon.

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I've never seen one, but I don't know why one could not be adapted from a newer tractor or truck.

The switch would be on the deck and vulnerable if done in a reasonable method. If the deck is removed, and a linked oil proof micro switch setup was placed on each shift rail, that would work, but be way involved.
A far better approach (opinion) is to put a battery shutoff switch on the Bat Wire. This would be a Key switch, not just a lever.
Then there would be no operating the tractor at all without adult supervision.
The rod starter mechanism is going to work even with an ignition cutoff, thus running others over with un intended consequences is not prevented by a Neutral Safety switch. If a relay start system with a Key switch was used. That would also be able to be interlocked with great difficulty (as above) but would prevent all movement Very non stock.
In my opinion the Battery shutoff solves all issues without being difficult or perverrting the originality of the tractor.
Kids should never "play" on them anyway.
Very careful education and caution information will make the most impact, and be strategic in the long run. Jim

clutch switch like 56 series could work. You would have to wire tractor to use starter relay like Ford cars and trucks.

karl f

I am doing a bad thing by starting it on the ground. I just make sure it is in neutral, and it only takes one wrong "I am sure" to kill me.

Times change -- I grew up cranking tractors and it was ingrained in my head that I make sure it is in neutral. Never heard of anyone getting run over in those days because they were trained otherwise. I still start tractors from the ground, but I don't recommend it. Now tractors, cars, lawn mowers, etc are made "foolproof for fools".

(quoted from post at 11:43:46 09/16/11) The switch would be on the deck and vulnerable if done in a reasonable method. If the deck is removed, and a linked oil proof micro switch setup was placed on each shift rail, that would work, but be way involved.
A far better approach (opinion) is to put a battery shutoff switch on the Bat Wire. This would be a Key switch, not just a lever.
Then there would be no operating the tractor at all without adult supervision.
The rod starter mechanism is going to work even with an ignition cutoff, thus running others over with un intended consequences is not prevented by a Neutral Safety switch. If a relay start system with a Key switch was used. That would also be able to be interlocked with great difficulty (as above) but would prevent all movement Very non stock.
In my opinion the Battery shutoff solves all issues without being difficult or perverrting the originality of the tractor.
Kids should never "play" on them anyway.
Very careful education and caution information will make the most impact, and be strategic in the long run. Jim

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I was thinking of building a bracket so the switch would work off the clutch lever where it goes into the bell housing, but have the switch mounted on the outside. When the clutch is depressed, it would close the switch and enable a solenoid mounted on the starter.

The switch for a I-444 would probably be made to work off the clutch pedal. It is a rotary switch, normally open, with a spring loaded arm that contacts the pedal. As the pedal is pushed down the spring moves the arm to rotate and close the contacts in the switch. I think that switch could be mounted below the platform so it would be out of the way.

The switch is the same that is used on a 58 Chevy C60 truck for a brake light switch.

I thought of the concept of a clutch switch, but it does not do much fro safety.
THe switch must be only active when the pedal is pushed all the way down, Or with a beed chain and spring to operate substantially after release. (difficult to do and hold when young!)
The tendency would be to then release the clutch (if it was in gear and the tractor started, the youngester might then let out the pedal and crash/runover someone.)
Education and proper procedures are the best answer. Demonstrate what happens, make it stick, and all is fine. Battery disconnect w/Key adds security in many ways!! Jim

Rusty,

That is a good idea, I will look at fabbing that up.

Teach them the RIGHT way!that they will not need the "idiotproof"safgards.Kinda like the best gun safty program is EDUCATION.-not triggerlocks.Yes,I have young(who are now grown) children,and they were taught......

I agree with Delta red ,TEACH THEM the right wy and tell them the concequences of wht will happen if they dont. Death and dismemberment sur scares the daylights out of alot of people. Good Luck, Kenny.

Your best safety bet is to make sure they leave their iPod and cell phone in the house!

Seriously though, nothing can be made foolproof. Training and serious discussion before letting them drive is a must. However, I do see a lot of younger drivers at the shows, and most of them are safe and VERY conscious of what they are doing. There is always the exception, and it only takes 1 time for a disaster to occur.

Nothing is "Foolproof" to a sufficiently talented fool

(quoted from post at 14:37:38 09/16/11)
I was thinking of building a bracket so the switch would work off the clutch lever where it goes into the bell housing, but have the switch mounted on the outside. When the clutch is depressed, it would close the switch and enable a solenoid mounted on the starter.

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Couldn't you go the other way and attatch it to the underside of the deck where the clutch pedal sits normally?

(quoted from post at 06:48:46 09/19/11)

(quoted from post at 14:37:38 09/16/11)
I was thinking of building a bracket so the switch would work off the clutch lever where it goes into the bell housing, but have the switch mounted on the outside. When the clutch is depressed, it would close the switch and enable a solenoid mounted on the starter.

Click to expand...

Couldn't you go the other way and attatch it to the underside of the deck where the clutch pedal sits normally?

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Yes, that might work also, but with the brake cover and brake linkage it might get a little crowded? Maybe not.

thinking out loud here...........
two stage safety switch

in the heavy cable to the starter
wire in a cut-off relay
mount the relay activation wire up
by the steering wheel, so you can only reach it from the seat.
connect this wire to a button you have to hold in.
power is now available at the starter with button held in

to activate starter, wire in a Ford "8N" starter solenoid which
uses a ground wire to activate.
make a insulated bracket for the ground wire,
and mount it to the steering post, exactly inline with the shifter
when it is in neutral.

to start, hold down steering wheel button to supply power to
the starter, push shift lever all the way to the right when in neutral.
When the shifter makes contact with the bracket, it will supply the
ground and the tractor will turn over.
When the tractor starts, let go of the push down button on
the steering wheel. Then the shifter setup will not be 'live' and you won't engage the starter accidentally when shifting

I'm going to rig up the shift lever/Ford N solenoid setup only
on a Super H that I never used the high gears on,
so it won't start unless in neutral and I don't have to bend over so far to reach the stock 'pull' rod

for the 2 stage setup, you will need to connect the tractors normal wiring to the battery side of the relay of course

David,

I'm sure it can be done. We had a older guy around my area that was nearly killed by his H.. I was YOUNG when it happened (as he's now been passed away for quite some time) but I can still recall my grandpa and uncles talk about it.. I don't know exactly what happened, or how, but I recall grandpa saying the tractor was going in circles, and he had ahold of the drawbar and it was dragging him around.. it finally hit something and stalled.

After the accident, he did something to all of his tractors, I believe it was a clutch switch (which leads one to believe he was starting from the ground).. I know who bought the tractor, but the tractor has been restored, and all the add-on's he did were removed..

I will however, side with the others who say EDUCATE the kids.. I have a 2 year old who likes to "help".. Before we ride, he will "help" pull the dipstick, stick the gas tank, and like myself, wiggle the shifter from side to side to insure it's in the neutral position.. I know he don't understand what we're doing at that age, but I'm trying to show him the right things to do. (he knows on our cub ya wiggle the shifter, pull the silver button, choke, and pull the starter.. If he could reach the pedals he'd be gone.. LOL) He has watched me do it so many times he just knows I guess..

Nothing wrong with added safety, but nothing seems to work as good as education.. Like was said, show them right and wrong things, and make them stick. We watched a farm safety video in FFA, and most of that seemed to stick pretty well for me..

Brad