Treadle to hand control conversion on 1430

[SpringHollow]

I wonder if he is confused about the width of the implements - for the 1430, 60" would be standard.

PT's come standard with Ag style hydraulic quick connects.

The fill port for the hydraulic tank is below the seat so there is not much room, at least on my PT1430.

I was quite impressed with the wheel chair one farmer had. It was made for doing things like working on equipment - it could extend up quite a bit such that your arms would be higher than if you were standing on a single step. If I remember correctly, it would also extend forward a bit. He strapped himself in and did all of his own maintenance on combines, tractors etc.

Ken

 

[jfischer]

Ken, I thought the same thing, and thought most things were at least 60", but he didn't have pictures of a few things, and has been snowing too much to make it down there and check things out.

I saw that the cap for the filler on the tank was right under the seat, and wondered how much up and down it might have, but thought with a solid pin, or bolt, didn't see how it would have much twist up and down to it, mainly just side to side.

Yes, there are standing style chairs and such, but I am hurt too high to make them work. Do know of a few that have tried them over the years, and unless your mobility is from the waist down, many don't have that much luck with them.
Jeff

 

[MossRoad]

I've had very good success with powering off the engine, operating the quick attach lever (aux PTO lever) a couple times both ways to release pressure in both directions, then connecting or disconnecting the hydraulic hoses as needed. I've never not been able to disconnect them. I have a couple times, maybe three in 14 years, not been able to connect them. Bird (if you hang around here long enough you'll meet him) suggested a sharp rap with a punch and hammer on the tip of the pressurized hose connector. That works great. Just a couple drops of fluid will come out and that's all it takes to relieve the pressure. I wrap the punch with a rag to lessen the chance of dinging the connector tip. It beats finding a wrench and cracking the fitting open.

 

[SpringHollow]

I need to start eating my spinach every day like MossRoad does! To be clear, I have never had a problem with disconnecting and I always cycle the lever multiple times before disconnecting and connecting. Where the problems mainly happen is when there is a big change in temperature of the hydraulic oil in the implement between when it was taken off and then later put on. I would say about 2 - 3 times a year I needed to crack the fitting. I have not had to do it since my modification but that may be a coincidence but I doubt it. It is so much easier now when I hold the valve open versus before. It must be the difference between my joystick valve now and the auxiliary valve mounted below.

Ken

 

[jfischer]

I understand what both of you are talking about here. I seem to find that if you cut the engine off, and let as much pressure off whatever the attachment is before you go to store it, or let it sit, that seems to help the next time you put it on. I put new Parker fittings on some old equipment I had, and that seems to help also. Seems if you can keep caps on them, and keep them clean is another thing that makes it a bit easier, but I do know what you both are talking about, and have had to get 2 extra hands to connect things in the past. Seems that the male ends just kind of get seated more with he centers of them after time gets on them, and only way to get them connected is to release the pressure.
I was asking about the "O" rings on the female, as I have some that don't ever seem to leak when they are running, but do when they are sitting, even if you seem to take the pressure off of them. I have tried replacing the "O" rings, but in the end end up putting new connectors on them, seems to be the only way to get them to stop leaking. Guess the balls in them end up getting worn also.

 

[joshlee]

Hi Jeff, I fell at work and am in a wheelchair too. I just bought a PT-425. I remember the seat height on the PT-1430 is 33". I'm putting hand controls on mine inside the panel on the steering wheel stem.

I know this is a question that might not be asked very much, but thinking of buying a 2005 (or there about) 1430.

Problem is, I am in a wheelchair, so can't use the treadle control on it, and wondering of what, or how hard it might be to convert it over to a hand control. I have some ideas on how I would like to make it, and would like to make is so others could use the treadle if they needed to drive it. I would like to keep it on the left side of the steering wheel, so I could use my right hand for the controls of the bucket, and other things on the right.

Also, I know it has 26x12x12 tires on it, but can't get a judge on just how high the seat is.
If anyone has one, could they measure how high the seat is off the ground, and how far the side panels might be, in order to get an idea of how close I can get the wheelchair to it.

Hope to be a New owner (well new to me) of a PT soon.
Thanks, Jeff

 

[joshlee]

Then I'm having the shaft come out the right side of the steering wheel stem. The forward-reverse lever will then be inbetween the steering wheel and the hydraulic lift shifter. I'll be done with it here in a couple of weeks, so I'll send you some pictures of it.

I know this is a question that might not be asked very much, but thinking of buying a 2005 (or there about) 1430.

Problem is, I am in a wheelchair, so can't use the treadle control on it, and wondering of what, or how hard it might be to convert it over to a hand control. I have some ideas on how I would like to make it, and would like to make is so others could use the treadle if they needed to drive it. I would like to keep it on the left side of the steering wheel, so I could use my right hand for the controls of the bucket, and other things on the right.

Also, I know it has 26x12x12 tires on it, but can't get a judge on just how high the seat is.
If anyone has one, could they measure how high the seat is off the ground, and how far the side panels might be, in order to get an idea of how close I can get the wheelchair to it.

Hope to be a New owner (well new to me) of a PT soon.
Thanks, Jeff

 

[jfischer]

Hi Jeff, I fell at work and am in a wheelchair too. I just bought a PT-425. I remember the seat height on the PT-1430 is 33". I'm putting hand controls on mine inside the panel on the steering wheel stem.

Joshlee, you say you have a 425?

Can you measure to the TOP of the seat, and tell me how high it is. I get different measurements, and it looks different in all the pictures I seem to find from machine, to machine, and when a person is standing next to it, I can't always tell how tall they are.

Would help me out a lot, since I am a T-5 para, and have had to make something to jump over to first on my Tractor, and Zero Turn mower.
Jeff

 

[jfischer]

Then I'm having the shaft come out the right side of the steering wheel stem. The forward-reverse lever will then be inbetween the steering wheel and the hydraulic lift shifter. I'll be done with it here in a couple of weeks, so I'll send you some pictures of it.

Is there any reason you are coming out on the right, rather then on the left. My Tractor now has the forward/reverse control on the right side, but my controls for the up and down, bucket and such are on the left. Sure you have to take your hands off the wheel, but is good when you are at the end of something you are plowing, or trying to raise with the bucket, as you can slow things down with your right hand, and lift and roll a bucket with your left.

Just a thought. I would like to see what you come up with, and when I get my machine set up I will put some pics out here for others to see, so maybe it will give them some ideas.
Jeff

 

[joshlee]

I'm a T-5/ T-6 para too for 8 years. Yeah, the seat height on the 425 is 31". With that treadle on the machine and where its located, makes it somewhat easy to retro-fit hand controls to that treadle. That treadle also has a gas spring that returns the controls to neutral, unlike my Steiner that has a gas damper that just stays where its at, which would be super simple to convert to a gas spring if I wanted too. Yeah, I'm going to run a piece of 3/8" round stock down through that steering column to attach to that treadle so you won't even be able to see it with the panels on. I'm going to be away from the internet for a few days but will get back to ya.

Take care,
Josh

Joshlee, you say you have a 425?

Can you measure to the TOP of the seat, and tell me how high it is. I get different measurements, and it looks different in all the pictures I seem to find from machine, to machine, and when a person is standing next to it, I can't always tell how tall they are.

Would help me out a lot, since I am a T-5 para, and have had to make something to jump over to first on my Tractor, and Zero Turn mower.
Jeff