Buying Advice special needs kid

[thebonepile]

I have a special needs kid, who I would like to get him interested in tractor operating.

I have him drive my hydro drive JD D160 lawn mower around, but he is not real coordinated with his feet, especially right foot

There are so many kubota models (I am a little more familiar with New Holland numbers and history)
Which models would have a gear drive with a left hand reverser with a neutral in the middle - like on the later CaseIH Maxxums

I am not wild about a true HST - hate the whine - and foot operated....... looking for just a drive around tractor - then teach him loader stuff, etc......

Thoughts, suggestions.....
Prob in the 30HP range.....I see kubota has GST models...is that the only ones that I am talking about?

 

[wagne223]

Please don't take anything I'm about to say as disrespectful. I'm just your average non politically correct country boy.
None of us know what level of "special needs" you are referring, so I will only go off what you said about his feet.
In order to safely operate any style tractor, the operator needs very good coordination with all extremities. While a person may be able to move the tractor around with limited use, they may not be able to quickly disengage the clutch, or apply the breaks in an emergency.
All this is assuming he has the mental ability to know how to avoid catastrophe.
Please remember tractors are not toys or for joyriding. They are tools that can be very dangerous.
I know you enjoy your tractor and want your son to feel the same enjoyment, just make sure he can do so safely. There are too many horror stories involving tractors, mowers and farm equipment.

 

[scdeerslayer]

From the literature on their website it looks like the standard L series is like my MX5200, you've got a H-L range selector and F-N-R selector on the left side, and 1-4 selector in the floorboard under the steering wheel. L2501 and L3301 would probably be the ones you want to look at.

Got to ask though, if his feet aren't very coordinated, will he be able to work the clutch and brake pedals?

 

[Sid Post]

Please don't take anything I'm about to say as disrespectful. I'm just your average non politically correct country boy.
None of us know what level of "special needs" you are referring, so I will only go off what you said about his feet.
In order to safely operate any style tractor, the operator needs very good coordination with all extremities. While a person may be able to move the tractor around with limited use, they may not be able to quickly disengage the clutch, or apply the breaks in an emergency.
All this is assuming he has the mental ability to know how to avoid catastrophe.
Please remember tractors are not toys or for joyriding. They are tools that can be very dangerous.
I know you enjoy your tractor and want your son to feel the same enjoyment, just make sure he can do so safely. There are too many horror stories involving tractors, mowers and farm equipment.

People without Special Needs die each year in tractor roll overs and other mishaps. 'Joy riding' a lawn tractor without the mower deck has its hazzards but, they are less than a 'real' tractor where speeds are greater, the CG is higher, and operator demands are higher.

 

[Rustyiron]

I commend you for what your doing. You know your boy and what he's capable of and from what I've seen, if they get interested in something they can/will put all they got into that. Any kid can and will get hurt, and you do what you can to prevent that. To me, sticking a kid in a room with a computer just because it's safe is not right. Converting a hydro to a left pedal operation would not seem to be that difficult if it would help him.:thumbsup:

 

[kthompson]

theboneyard, I agree fully with Rustyiron on all points. Understand the whine of the hydro and also the shuttle shift as I have both but hydro on a 27 hp Kubota. May I suggest ear muffs. With hydro you do not use your brakes near as much as any type of gear transmission. You will still need to use the clutch to shift into a range and possibly the pto.

 

[aczlan]

theboneyard, I agree fully with Rustyiron on all points. Understand the whine of the hydro and also the shuttle shift as I have both but hydro on a 27 hp Kubota. May I suggest ear muffs. With hydro you do not use your brakes near as much as any type of gear transmission. You will still need to use the clutch to shift into a range and possibly the pto.

We have both hydro and GST, I have also driven a gear tractor (the tractor I learned to drive a tractor with)
For someone who is just starting to drive a tractor and is special needs, I wouldn't go with anything but a hydro for the simple reason that if you take your foot off of the forward pedal, it stops. Can't say that about a gear or GST transmission.

Aaron Z

 

[JimP]

Every person with special needs has different skills and abilities, but a special needs child or adult can absolutely run equipment safely if he or she has the skill and training. My son has downs. When he was young he started riding with me when I cut the lawn. Later we put blocks on the John Deere lawn tractor so he could reach the pedals and cut grass. Today he was running the Kubota 5460 by himself picking up logs and branches with a grapple and moving them to a burn pile. He has no problem safely running the 5460 or a 9 ton excavator or a gator or a pickup truck. All of this is hydrostatic or automatic and to me this added a level of safety - let go of the controls and the equipment stops. Not sure how he would do with a standard shift and clutch setup or a clutch and reverser as we haven't tried. Start slow with lots of discussion beforehand and supervision at first and progress at his or her speed. Be patient and good luck. Jim.

 

[tcreeley]

When I learned to drive a tractor as a kid it was on an old ford. Set the throttle. Step on the clutch. Put it in gear. 1st. Let off the clutch. Go forward. Steer. Step on the clutch to stop. Get it out of gear. I went driving all over the pasture.

Take the mower deck off of an old lawn mower tractor and have him drive that around, or get an old go cart - gas, brake, steer.

He might do well with an old ztr minus the mower deck that only requires you to use your hands.

It all builds.

 

[Wagtail]

Is there a way to set up the FWD/REV as some sort of hand control?

Like a self-centring joystick or motorcycle twist-throttle?