I am a new owner with a D4 7U with factory 24V electric start. Aside from removing the batteries is there an easy solution to keeping the tractor from being started/stolen from a worksite if moving it back and forth everyday is not practical?

master switch in a locked compartment, hidden valve on the fuel line

turn off the fuel,pull the decompression lever install a keyed master switch. and by the way--- there aint nobody under 60 who knows how to start a 7U anyway.

Buy a little alarm clock, some small coiled up electrical wire, a square block of gray putty, put it all in a metal box and set it on the seat cushion, run some wires from the box to the seat cushion. I think they will get the message, lol.

Or hang this on it. lol

Hi, PassTheSpanner.
Make up a locking arrangement to lock the throttle lever where it goes into the governor to keep it in the shut-off position. Trot out summa that mid-Western ingenuity. Think of all the ways you can in which it might be circumvented and design it to counter all of them - or at least as many as you can.

Might be a good way to get out of some 'hunny-doos', spending some time in the 'man-cave' working on thief-proofing your D4. LOL.

That said though, if somebody REALLY wants to steal your D4, you might need a Seal teem to stop them.

Just my 0.02.

You’re going to have to lock more than just the throttle if you don’t want to loose batteries, have it vandalized etc. I’ve never seen one that can be locked up like a modern machine can be.

Just for the starting system, the battery disconnect with a removable key is a good way to slow them down. Caterpillar installed those on a lot of direct electric start machines. It’s a good practice to turn the disconnect off at the end of the day anyway.

aaaaaaah......That is why some of us keep the old pony motor start. Like Bursitis said, no one under 60 knows how to start one.

Vandals most often don't know how to operate a machine but they can sure play heck by dumping something in the fuel and hydro system. Amazing how much damage can be done to a piece of equipment with a hammer and a screwdriver.

Chain a mean dog to it! lol

Do people really steal these tractors? I would think the fact that even if someone knew how to start and drive the thing, it just wouldn't be worth the hassle to steal it. You have a top speed of like, what, 10mph? You won't be getting away too fast. The cops basically could catch you by power walking. The tractors are also so heavy and of very little value that anyone with the equipment to haul it out would have no reason to steal it because their hauling equipment would be worth more than the tractor. They would have to have stolen the hauling equipment too in order for there to be any value in stealing the tractor.

I will say that if the pony motor is how you get starting heat, you probably are good just removing the batteries. If a potential thief brings 100+ lbs of batteries to hook up to the starter, the batteries likely would be drained before the tractor starts if they don't know to add heat.

I think most people that aren't familiar with these tractors likely see all the levers and have no clue what any of them does, so it isn't exactly something some random kid is going to try to steal. However, I was thinking that you could adjust the flywheel clutch so that it doesn't snap into place. Nobody is going to want to drive off in one of these tractors if they have to hold the clutch lever the whole time if they want the tractor to move.