I’ve been using a brush hog, and at first, everything works as expected: the PTO is set to rear only, and the RPMs are at 540. But after about 30 minutes, the situation changes, with the display suddenly showing 2100 RPMs. Somehow, both the mid and rear PTOs get activated without me doing anything. I usually notice this when I’m reversing with the brush hog running, and from then on, I just have to deal with it for the rest of the day.
This pattern repeats every time I use the equipment. I always make sure the PTO is set to “rear only” and check it frequently, and I have never intentionally activated the mid PTO.
Today, a new issue cropped up: the dashboard started switching back and forth between 540 and 2100 RPMs. I shut everything down and restarted the machine, which seemed to reset things to normal. Now, I’m confused. I feel like I need to contact the dealer, but I worry they’ll just run a few tests over the course of a month and tell me everything is fine, without trying to replicate the issue by running the brush hog for an hour. I’m starting to think there might be an electrical problem at play?
The issues you’re experiencing with the brush hog seem to stem from a malfunctioning switch, likely the MBR switch located on the transaxle. Initially, everything operates normally with the PTO set to “rear only” and RPMs at 540.
However, after about 30 minutes, the display switches to 2100 RPMs, and both the mid and rear PTOs engage without any input from you. This issue is consistently observed when reversing with the brush hog running.Your recent experience of the dashboard fluctuating between 540 and 2100 RPMs suggests an electrical problem rather than a mechanical failure.
When you shut down and restarted the machine, it returned to normal operation temporarily, reinforcing the idea that this is likely an electrical glitch.Several forum discussions indicate that if the PTO selector lever remains in “rear only” mode but the dashboard indicates both PTOs are engaged, it’s probable that the MBR switch is faulty.
This switch may be erroneously signaling that both PTOs are active while only the rear is functioning. Observations from others confirm that if the mid PTO were genuinely engaged, there would likely be grinding noises or other mechanical signs of failure, which you have not experienced.To resolve this issue, inspecting and potentially replacing the MBR switch is recommended. It’s accessible by removing the left rear tire and unplugging its wiring. This replacement should correct the erroneous dashboard readings without risking damage to your equipment.
Overall, it seems that addressing this electrical issue will restore normal functionality to your brush hog operations.
