It's a three position switch:

Right - All lights off.

Middle - Headlights and taillights on.

Left - Headlights, taillights and rear worklights on.

If I'm not mistaken the rear backup/work lights come on every time you go in reverse, excpet when in the far left (toward throttle) switch position where they are on all the time.

 

I'm not sure if it is the same as my 2007 X748 or not. My white backup lights come on when I go into reverse. I have read if the reverse indicator switch has been disabled, so the engine does not shutdown whe going in reverse, that the reverse lights will no longer work. Did you buy it new or used? If used the previous owner might have disabled this switch.

 

This is interesting theary!!!!!!!
:thanku:You may of hit on the answer

 

Yes I bought it used. I'm sure someone has disconnected the reverse switch because as I said, I can go in reverse and still have the mower deck operating as well as the blower. I'm just wondering if the lights can be hooked up to work in reverse automatically without having to reconnect the RIO switch. It would be nice to have the white work lights go on when you hit the reverse pedal so you don't have to turn them on with the switch all the time but I do think that having the pto shut down everytime you go into reverse and have to push the pto switch in and then engage it again , especially while blowing snow, would be the worse of the two things. I havn't even used it yet except for mowing a couple of times. I just got the thing about 1 and 1/2 months ago and I just got the blower 2 weeks ago. If anyone has anymore input on this , please let me know. thanks again
Jerry in wisconsin

 

On my X485 every time I back up the rear worklights come on, always. It shouldn't matter which position the switch is at, they are equipped to come on always while backing up.
Best regards, Deereman

 

:ditto:

 

The reverse lights operate off the RIO switch, your RIO switch is either disconnected, or adjusted so that it's not touching the pedal linkage, that is why you can mow in reverse and that is why your auto backup lights are not functioning. You can still operate the reverse lights manually via the dash switch, but it you want them to function automatically you must reconnect the RIO system, which means you will only be able to mow in reverse by pulling up on the PTO switch before backing up (and this must be done each time you back up).

 

Thanks for the info. Don't get me wrong, its not that I have to or even want to mow in reverse , as I bought a diesel tractor more for the torque for blowing snow then worring about mowing, but It would be easier to just leave the switch disconnected and not have to pull up on it each time you're backing up ,especially when you're blowing snow. I would really rather have the lights working though, as some blowing occures when its getting dark. Do you guys think that there is anyway I could get the lights working in reverse, but still be able to disable the rio switch so the blower would keep working in reverse??? I have only seen pictures of the switch and lt looks like there are more then a couple of wires coming to and from it. Maybe there is a way to disconnect that part that cuts the pto , but still keep the lights working properly. Any Ideas or are my brother JD lovers all leaning toward Safety First?? Nothing wrong with that but I don't have any kids or grand kids running around when i'm mowing or snow blowing and I can't remember anytime that i got off My other tractors when they were running in reverse and a mower or blower was running also so i could walk along with them. Suggestions please and thanks.
Jerry in wisconsin

 

I'd just turn the dash switch to turn the reverse lights on, and leave them on while I'm snow blowing. Problem solved and you don't even need to crawl under the machine.

 

I like you Brett!!! short , sweet and to the point. Your answer makes the most sense and unless someone comes up with an answer on how you can maintain the lights and leave the pto alone, i'll probably just deal with the switch. Its just that after having tractors that don't have any creature comforts on them, ( everything manual) and what we pay for the Green and Yello, It would be nice to just hit the reverse and have the lights come on, without killing the pto. I'm not really sure that is that much of a safety thing anyway. I would think that the seat switch alone would be enough. I just don't see how backing up with the blower or the mower deck running is not safe but Thats me, I guess anything can happen. anyone else??? thanks
Jerry in Wisconsin Ps, i'll post some pics of the semi new unit soon but we've all seen them before. Big Garden tractor, with a Big Blower attached. But if ya all like pics, I'll get ya some.

 

Jerry,

We LOVE pix!

Yeah I'm too lazy to rewire my RIO/Backup lights that why when my RIO switch, erm... "broke" I just lived with turning the backup lights on manually. I didn't want to have to redo or reroute any wiring for it. I can always "unbreak" my RIO by sliding it back into place.

 

You rascal you!!!!:thThumbsU

 

Gotcha but I tried to upload pics, nothing happened so can anyone give me the details of uploading?? unless they are somewhere else and I just can't figure out where. thanks for the help and Happy Thanksgiving to all the members of the forum.
Jerry in Wisconsin

 

Jerry,

I use a free account on www.photobucket.com to upload photos to, it makes it super easy to post them here, they even make it easy to copy the code with the photo in it.

The other way is to post in advanced mode and attach the photos to the post.

 

i'll post some pics of the semi new unit soon but we've all seen them before. Big Garden tractor, with a Big Blower attached. But if ya all like pics, I'll get ya some.

Yeah... we've all seen them before alright. But I bet if you get creative and shoot them pics through a blue filter with a starburst highlighter w/a smoke machine in the background, you'll get some cool comments!