Lost Key

B

B. White

Active member
My string of luck is continuing. New-to-me 68 Lo-boy I'm mowing with while the zero turn is OOS had the key fell out somewhere today while mowing. Walked all over hoping it would jump out in the sun light, but no luck. Ordered equivalent of 131313C1 and hope it works, but will take a few days to get here. Needed to finish the front so about a 3/8 flat blade fit good enough to work hopefully without causing any damage. Lesson learned, ordered a couple of bright orange key chains like old style hotel keys.
 
I use the very thin keychain cable...usually have to link a couple together to make them long enough but they work. Also, I bought a HF metal detector for finding metal things from PTO drive yokes to bolts.
 
ajhbike said:
I use the very thin keychain cable...usually have to link a couple together to make them long enough but they work. Also, I bought a HF metal detector for finding metal things from PTO drive yokes to bolts.
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Yep, my wife suggested our cheap metal detector, but this house was built in the 1870s so no telling how many nuts and bolts have fell off over the years. I'd expect constant beeping.
 
B. White said:
New-to-me 68 Lo-boy I'm mowing with while the zero turn is OOS had the key fell out somewhere today while mowing.
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Hi,
If the key fell out of the switch while the switch was turned to on, it could be that the switch is worn.
I don't have one of them to look at, I would think it is supposed to hold the key in when at on, and the key only comes out when turned to off. That is how cars and trucks are.
Maybe Jim B. will say if that is how the LoBoy switch is made.
If that is how it should be, you could replace the switch before losing the new key.
Below is a listing for a new switch at TM Tractor Parts, you can look at the pictures.
 
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Yep, I thought about replacing the switch, but just ordered a cheap key for now to keep from messing it up further using the screwdriver regularly. When I get my mower back I may decide to strip this down some if I get bored in the colder months and clean it up put some paint on it and replace then.

I'm still trying to decide how I feel about this one. It starts and runs and sounds as good as any gas tractor I've been around. Rear main drips when shut first shut down, but not a lot, so not too concerned. Oil pressure on gauge drops awfully low after it runs about an hour, but have read old posts on here where that seems to be common. Keeping an eye on it and deciding how much time I want to put into it.
 
A suggestion for the future: I use key chains for boats with good-sized, bright-colored floats.

I have tried metal detectors and the shop-floor magnet brooms with limited success in finding something in the grass.
 
inairam said:
A suggestion for the future: I use key chains for boats with good-sized, bright-colored floats.
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I use a piece of brightly colored plastic cut to the desired size from a plastic container like antifreeze, etc to make a fob. It's highly visible, lasts a long time and IT'S FREE!! Which suits me 100%! :cool: JMHO Stan
 
I checked several switches around here. The only one I could not remove the key when in the ON position is one in my '79 Cub. All the earlier ones could be removed. I assume there was a change in the switch sometime late in Cub production. I would not interpret a removable key as a sign of a worn-out switch.
 
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