patrickg
Veteran Member
I have a neighbor who is paraplegic and has expresed an interest in getting a compact tractor, mostly for brush hogging but it will see other use as well. I was wondering if anyone on TBN had any experience or had seen a paraplegic tractor operator and any mods they may have on their machine. I solicit any input regarding transmission style and so forth. I would think that it would be best to recommend a tranny that did not require clutching to go between forward and reverse. Shuttle shift will do this, yes? I have only driven one tractor more than 1 min and it is hydrostat. This guy doesnt have good use of his legs so I anticipate that he would have to modify some of the controls. His van has hand controls and he drives his 4 wheeler (with no modifications, I think) like a maniac with a NEED FOR SPEED.
At first glance I thought a hydrostat could be easily converted to hand control since it seems to be just a mechanical pedal working the tranny through a mechanical linkage. The tranny shouldn't care how its linkage gets positioned, just where it gets positioned. My Kubota has a lock to hold the hydrostat in one position for you (sorta like cruise control but not directly speed controlling) It releases when you use the brake or hit a big bump.
Anyway, I would appreciate any input or leads to where I could get good input as I would like to steer him in a good direction. He went to a Kubota dealer (not where I trade) and they didn't treat him very well, probably didn't think he was a serious buyer. He told them he needed more detailed information before he could buy and they weren't forthcoming. Some folks think he isn't a serious hunter but he comes back out of the woods on his 4 wheeler wtih a deer wrapped around it. Not bad considering he literally can't stand up.
Anyway, I would like to try to help him make a good choice, given the expense of a new tractor. He is thinking he wants a compact tractor of about 40 HP. Any recommendations? I only know one tractor, mine, and it is a Kuboth L4610HSTC, too much tractor for him.
Thanks in advance for any assistance,
Patrick
At first glance I thought a hydrostat could be easily converted to hand control since it seems to be just a mechanical pedal working the tranny through a mechanical linkage. The tranny shouldn't care how its linkage gets positioned, just where it gets positioned. My Kubota has a lock to hold the hydrostat in one position for you (sorta like cruise control but not directly speed controlling) It releases when you use the brake or hit a big bump.
Anyway, I would appreciate any input or leads to where I could get good input as I would like to steer him in a good direction. He went to a Kubota dealer (not where I trade) and they didn't treat him very well, probably didn't think he was a serious buyer. He told them he needed more detailed information before he could buy and they weren't forthcoming. Some folks think he isn't a serious hunter but he comes back out of the woods on his 4 wheeler wtih a deer wrapped around it. Not bad considering he literally can't stand up.
Anyway, I would like to try to help him make a good choice, given the expense of a new tractor. He is thinking he wants a compact tractor of about 40 HP. Any recommendations? I only know one tractor, mine, and it is a Kuboth L4610HSTC, too much tractor for him.
Thanks in advance for any assistance,
Patrick