Just a Warning

[workinonit]

Everytime I park my 140 I let it sit an idle for a bit before i shut it off. I went out in the cold the other day to start it so I could do some bedding. This tractor starts almost before you turn the key. Apparently, when I used it last I didn't let it idle for a bit because when I hit the key it fired up in gear. Luckily at that particular moment I had mongoose relexes and knocked it out of gear. Scared the crap out of me. Right in front of it sits a $80K tractor but at the moment I was more worried about the 140. Just thought I would share. Don't take things you think you do for granted.

[staninlowerAL]

Good advise and glad you and the tractors are none the worse for the experience. BTDT, bought the T-shirt, and wore it out.

[SamsFarm]

Best habit to get into, is always do the gear shift wobble before hitting the key or starter button!

[ricky racer]

Thanks for posting this. It's so easy to take things for granted.

[Stanton]

It’s always good to be reminded to “shake hands” with the gear shifter before starting.

Neutral is a good place to be, not in all matters of life, but in this case it is.

[Ken (48 Cub)]

I did this one time with the wife standing right in front...wow, she can sure move when she needs too. Handshake that gear shift, think safety first!

[Barnyard]

I backed Harley Cub outside the garage while I tinkered with a few things on him. Rosie came out to watch and she pulled up a bar stool and sat in the shop where Harley was parked. When I finished, I went to start Harley while standing in front of the right rear tire. Harley starts with a key and the starter spins the pto shaft from the rear to crank over, meaning the pto has to be engaged to start it. I reached over to engage the pto and turned the key. Harley's ignition system allows him to start instantly. What did I do or not do? In putting the pto in gear from the position I was in I inadverently assumed I shook hands with a standard Cub, when I actually had only engaged the pto.

With a turn of the key Harley roared to life and lunged forward with the tire pushing me forward. I hung onto him and tried to push in the stop switch. Well go figure, this is not a regular Cub, it has no on/off switch. Not thinking fast enough to remember there is a key switch, I hung on to the steering wheel with one hand to keep my feet off the ground and grabbed for the shifter with the other, all the while the right rear tire cleat is grabbing at my back pocket. I got it stopped after it moved about six to eight feet (you could see where my feet moved gravel as they slid along). It came to reat with the front tires back inside the shop where Rosie had been sitting. When I looked up to see Rosie I noticed she had jumped up and ran. She even took her bar stool with her to keep it safe. Thinking, I'm surprised I didn't produce a stool myself during this short lived bit of excitement.

[CharlieK]

cubs can be very dangerous--hope you are ok

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Bill, I sure wish you had security cameras in your shop that recorded that.

[coppersmythe]

Even a cub , with less than 10 HP. , will command respect . i guess sooner or later we all have had our " moments" . i certainly have had my share . coppersmythe............................................PS: take extra care .