Decided it was time to replace my 30 year old John Deere lawn tractor. Picked the Husqvarna TS345XD up today and of course had to test drive it.

Soon discovered it has that )#$(*%ing nanny-state reverse lockout function. If you don't turn the deck off before backing up, it shuts the engine off. I do a LOT of backing-and-filling around obstacles and turning the electric clutch for the deck on and off 30 times per mow is A) a pain in the ass, B) hard on belts and C) hard on the clutch.

So, as soon as I got done mowing, I set about figuring out a way to defeat the lockout. Printed out the PDF manual looking for a wiring diagram and as I was flipping through I noticed the key switch has a "ROS" position.

"Hmmm," sez I, "I wonder what that is for?"

Well, Dumbass [/redforeman] it's a "Reverse Operating System". A built in way to allow mowing in reverse.

Doh...

Yep, my Husky rider has that. Just turn the key back one notch after starting and you're good to go.

Yup. My 12-year old Husqvarna is the same.
It's become habit for me now to automatically click back to ROS every time after starting it.

345 ?
Or 354 ?
Xd

My Deere X500 had that "feature", along with a seat switch that would stall the motor if you weren't seated. Both were gone the day after I bought it. Who in their right mind would think it is somehow safer to look down on the dash and pull up the "keep the deck running lever" while backing up, rather than turning around and looking behind?

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
345 ?
Or 354 ?
Xd

354. Good catch.

It's my world all day every day,
Dyslexia sucks

Totally interpreted your title as "Reload the f*cking magazine."

quote:

Originally posted by Spiff_P239:
Totally interpreted your title as "Reload the f*cking magazine."

^^^^that made me laugh!!

 
RTFM is how I taught myself unix. In fact, I believe the phrase originated from the unix world.
 
I still refer to the manual pages.

quote:

Originally posted by Spiff_P239:
Totally interpreted your title as "Reload the f*cking magazine."

That works too!

Mowed for the second time with that new Husky mower.

I was starting to develop SERIOUS Buyer's Remorse for several reasons:

1. The damn thing would NOT turn, just plow the front end with massive understeer.
2. It was leaving a visible high spot on the right side.
3. It rides like a lumber wagon.

#1 appears to have had 3 causes:

a) The toe-in was visibly off. The tale of the tape had them set pretty much straight. Pulled the tie rods off and dialed in about a quarter-inch of toe in. That helped noticeably, but it still plowed.

b) The front tires had over 25psi of air (See #3) so I dropped that to 15.

c) The machine has a diff lock on it and the switch is snuggled right up to the blade clutch switch. It's VERY easy to bump the diff lock when turning the deck on and off. Turning the diff lock off made it steer MUCH better. I'll be disabling that fucking thing...

#2 caused me to crawl around on my belly like a snake and adjust the deck. Lowered the anti-scalp wheels a notch and lowered the rear of the deck nearly an inch to get the proper front-to back tilt on it. I don't think the assembly monkeys at TSC did anything but hang the deck on it and hook up the belt.

#3 was also attributable to the AM's...all four tires had between 25 and 30 pounds of air in them. Dropped that to 15psi and things improved considerably.

Now all I have to do is get used to the fact that the deck is a foot wider than my old one and quit running into shit...

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:

assembly monkeys at TSC

Tractor Supply? The employees at the local (Apopka, FL) store would have to improve a lot, before they could upgrade to the level of "useless."

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:

assembly monkeys at TSC

Tractor Supply? The employees at the local (Apopka, FL) store would have to improve a lot, before they could upgrade to the level of "useless."

Yes, Tractor Supply. They're the only ones that had the model I wanted in stock. Crew is personable and helpful enough, just lack experience.

My John Deere X720 has a RIO button/switch on the right side of the dash.
It's the same button/switch used for engaging the shaft driven deck.
But one more switch click further out,and spring loaded so it won't stay in the RIO defeat position.
You are required to lift and hold the paddle switch out in order to mow in reverse.
On the Green Tractor Forum, I found a post where someone said a wooden clothespin would fit under the RIO switch paddle, and hold in in the proper position for mowing in reverse.
As soon as the machine is started, it gets the clothespin.