One hand operation of tractor ?

[Pops15]

One of my customers only has one hand. He rides a motorcycle and was able to find controls for one hand operation. My nephew is paralized from the waist down. He got hand throttle and brake controls for his van. If they make this kind of stuff for motorcycles and cars, they just might make left hand loader controls for tractors.

As for the suicide knobs. My Dad operated an end loader every day for about 15 years in the 50's and 60's. It had a suicide knob. He never had any hand or wrist injuries because of it. He did catch something with the bucket while clearing snow and it slammed him ribs first into the suicide knob.

 

[Reg]

for the steering rams to be shoved around, a rod would have to bend, or a line would have to blow, or a spool would have to fail, or any other relief or check that might be inthat line.

in any of those cases.. it's likely you have an orbital or some other from on non direct coupling from steering mechanism to wheel.. which is why I said that a articulated or hydrostatically steered machine wouldn't be an issue.

On a mahcine with some form of direct like from a wheel to hand.. then I'd keep arms, hands and thumbs out of the spokes...

I guess I'm used to stiff steering having a bunch of 2wd mahcines with mechanical steering boxes, and front end loaders. between the various hyd controls, gear shifts, and other controlls, being able to use one of those machines virtualy demands use of a spinner. so far I havn't had a problem palming a spinner while moving at medium speeds or better.. at any lower speeds.. like creeper gears where it's harder to steer.. then better contact is needed.. but then wheel slap is pretty much a non issue then too.. so it all seems to work out in the ballance.

soundguy

I don't think it is even that complex.
Fact o' the matter is; Any mechanism that is less than 50% efficient doesn't work when driven backwards (driven from it's output to it's input).

 

[Soundguy]

in a purely mechanical setup..you can get a recirculating balnut to ride a wormshaft when driven byt he sector gears.. it can happen.. it's just easy to mitigate the downsides to it. Add in hyds and the problem issues start dwindling..

soundguy

 

[deepNdirt]

I suppose I started this thing by suggesting the steering knob, so I'll clarify some things, I don't know if the aftermarket ones are any less or more risky then the built on kind but I have purchased one of them and have attempt to use it on the tractor I have now, and it will not stay in place, it seems as though I cannot get the clamps tight enough it was more problems to re-alighn it, so I removed it I'm thinking it was designed for a larger diameter steering wheel,
The one I had on my Kubota was a factory knob wheel, I took the wheel from a fork lift that had rear steering, and sure to have only been used on concreted floors, it did work well with my tractor monuvering it through wooded area when brush cutting and yes I'd hit stumps several times and yes the wheel would jerk but I'm a strong person with big arms and can hold onto it and a few times I'm amazed the plastic knob did'nt break off in my hand
I guess its just one of them things some folks need to stay away from, while thier are others find them very useful, especially 1 handed people

 

[RoyBrooks]

Could you make a loader control rod that you could use your right knee to operate?

 

[tugboat-2]

Well I don't think the idea is totally impossible, but the work and cost involved for the time you will use it may not be worth it?

I'm thinking back many years to a time when we converted, or should I say "added" right hand drive to a regular left hand drive truck, for special operations where both were needed at different times.

We bent and twisted (probably 3/8") rod from one side to the other. The clutch, the brake and the accelerator all had the rods from each running across the floor through various brackets to keep them in place, up over the tranny hump and back down to the floor and up to each pedal on the right. Its the brackets at each bend that are important to keep the rod from twisting. The steering wheel was bolted under the dash with pulleys to each and a fan belt between the two.

I was just trying to think how you could make up a rod (or two) to control the loader "joystick". It would take some "on the scene" ingenuity and you'd likely have to install a solid bar across the top of the dash area to bolt all the brackets too. Providing this is "open-station"? a cab will be more intricate.

I'm sure a little time and study of the scene up close and it can be worked out, BUT,...for how long will it be needed? Is it worth the trouble/expense?

BUT,.. YES,.. by all means it is possible,...if you "really" want it!! Then again it might be a whole lot easier to do a temporary hydraulics conversion?

I know this gobble-dee-gook is not much help to you,....but I thought you should at least know its not an impossible task. Best of luck to you up there in the cold Wawa land!

CHEERS!
. . tug

PS: ...I have always had a spinner on my tractors and have one on my 3520. I have never had a problem with one and cannot imagine a tractor without, and I always had them on my road vehicles prior to power steering.

 

[Reg]

I still think a simple bracket on the left fender and longer cables would do it.

a_NOTHER and perhaps more interesting "conversion" would be solenoid operated loader valves, then you could run a mini joystick switch to just about anywhere.
SOME (maybe Prince ?) are not much more than a solenoid added to the back of the regular valve, but whether or not you could just add the solenoids yourself would take some parts research.

Anyway, even if you couldn't add solenoids onto the existing valves it might be worth pricing out a pair of solenoid valves ...who knows, you just MIGHT find a use for the existing manual valves in a_NOTHER PROJECT (-:

 

[jenkinsph]

I don't think the time investment to modify the tractor is worthwhile for a temporary problem. Much better to get out their early and take your time, bet with a little seat time you will be able to better than you think.
Hope you have a cab.