Abstract: Electric control circuitry is provided for preventing a tractor engine from being started with the tractor transmission or power take-off engaged and for preventing the tractor from being driven with the park brake engaged. The control circuitry includes normally open power take-off and transmission condition sensing switches connected in series with each other and a starting solenoid and thus defining a portion of a starting circuit. These two switches in the starting circuit are respectively held closed only when a power take-off control lever is in a clutch-disengage position and the transmission shift lever is in a neutral position. The control circuitry also includes a second normally open transmission condition sensing switch connected in parallel with a normally open park brake condition sensing switch, these two switches being in series with the ignition coil and thus defining a portion of an ignition circuit.

Abstract: An electric motor-powered linkage is provided for raising and lowering an implement mounted on a lawn and garden tractor. The energization of the motor and preselection of the position to which it is desired that the motor move the implement is accomplished through means of a control system including a pair of side-by-side arms pivotally mounted for swinging movement about a common axis. On one arm is mounted first and second normally open control switches forming part of a control circuit connected to a motor-reversing power circuit, and on the other arm is mounted a cam forming part of a follow-up linkage. To selectively actuate the motor to drive in forward and reverse, the arm on which the control switches are mounted is selectively manually swung in opposite first and second directions to cause the first and second switches to be respectively actuated to closed positions by first and second arcuate surfaces of the cam.