Tractor control modifications

[scootr]

Post here if you have modified a tractor control lever. I saw a farmer on You Tube that had extended and repositioned many of his tractor controls to better fit him.
I'm currently wanting to do this to my MX5200 Kubota that was made for a man half my 6ft size. lol
Currently my knees are in the draft control when working (looking) behind the machine. Rear remotes are too short, positioned too low, and too close together.

 

[MF243RedTop]

Don't have any solutions for you but feel the pain... Being 6'4" when operating my MF 243 with the seat all the way back.. my knees still constantly bang into the dash..
They say I'm all legs anyway

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Following!

I want to do this to my FEL control lever and 3 point lift arm lever.
The FEL lever is too short, I could stay in a more comfortable position if it was about 3 inches longer. This seems pretty easy to do, all I need is a piece of round stock 3 inches longer with the right thread on either side.

My 3 point arm control lever is too short as well, it is down next to the right side of the seat and it is kind of a pain to squeeze your hand down in there to control it. Neither seem like a big job just taking the time to do it.

I think it is a worthy cause though, every minuscule improvement to the tractor increases the enjoyment 2 fold.

 

[scootr]

I think the Asian people these tractors were originally engineered for as much smaller than we are. I did a seat suspension upgrade which resulted in the seat being 1.5 inch higher. That was much better for my legs and access the the reverse part of the truddle pedal. Here some pics of what I got to start with. I ordered 4 threaded ball knobs ( $2 each from Zoro) to play with. The Big draw lever is first... it bolts on in 2 places so I have options for mods that can be easily undone... my favorite kind in case I'm unhappy with them down the road.

 

[scootr]

Following!

I want to do this to my FEL control lever and 3 point lift arm lever.
The FEL lever is too short, I could stay in a more comfortable position if it was about 3 inches longer. This seems pretty easy to do, all I need is a piece of round stock 3 inches longer with the right thread on either side.

My 3 point arm control lever is too short as well, it is down next to the right side of the seat and it is kind of a pain to squeeze your hand down in there to control it. Neither seem like a big job just taking the time to do it.

I think it is a worthy cause though, every minuscule improvement to the tractor increases the enjoyment 2 fold.

Yes. The FEL lever is in my sights as well. I agree it is too short. If it is threaded the fix is simple.
Does anybody know how the OEM know attaches? I gave it a twist with no luck.

 

[ptsg]

Following!

I want to do this to my FEL control lever and 3 point lift arm lever.
The FEL lever is too short, I could stay in a more comfortable position if it was about 3 inches longer. This seems pretty easy to do, all I need is a piece of round stock 3 inches longer with the right thread on either side.

My 3 point arm control lever is too short as well, it is down next to the right side of the seat and it is kind of a pain to squeeze your hand down in there to control it. Neither seem like a big job just taking the time to do it.

I think it is a worthy cause though, every minuscule improvement to the tractor increases the enjoyment 2 fold.

My tractor is essentially the European version of the 3515R and I did make an extension for the 3 pt lever. I can't remember exactly the length but it's somewhere around 4". I also put a little bit of an angle to the front and to the right side. At the same time, I made a rear control lever for the 3 pt that makes adjusting the 3 pt when connecting implements very easy.

I didn't bother with the draft control lever though as I don't use it anymore.

A little bit hard to see but if you notice the third picture, you can compare the height with the draft control lever which was more or less the original height for the 3 pt lever.

 

[5030]

My only beef is with the mainshift lever on my M9 open station. It's very difficult to mount and dismount with the maishift lever always in the way and I've torn (and replaced the mainshift boot more than once).

 

[BackRoad]

I raised the seat on the MX6000.

Bit of aluminum, eight holes and a few bolts later...much more comfortable to operate.

 

[scootr]

Backroad that seat mod looks good. The MX seat is definitely too low.
I was anxious to try a little something. I removed the draw stick and put a couple of bends in it to basically move it over some to see if I was going in the right direction.
Then I went and did some gannon work and I think even just this is an improvement for me. Any more change will have to wait for the Control knobs to arrive.
For all you adventurous modifiers there is a great machinery hardware supply store on the net here > WDS Components | Spare Parts | Machine Accessories
Modify. Make it yours and enjoy

 

[scootr]

I got some fab time today. I raised the 3 remote levers about 5 inches, added 1" ball knobs, and splayed the cluster out so it fills my hand. All three knobs fill my hand so I can easily play any one at anytime. THis is the way a 3 way gannon is supposed to operate.

 

[scootr]

Bent the rear position control away from the seat 1.5 inches and extended it about 3 inches. As it was originally it hit me in the knee if I was turned to look back as I do when operating the gannon.
1.5 inches over was all the room it had to the fender. Up 3 inches put the handle above my knee when turned in the seat and fully lowering the gannon (aka box blade) I used a little bigger 1.5 inch knob for this control so it easily distinguished from the other 3. Anyway here are starting with the original configuration and the mods :

 

[BackRoad]

Where did you source the extensions, and how are they fastened to the original lever?

Verrry nice!

 

[scootr]

Where did you source the extensions, and how are they fastened to the original lever?

Verrry nice!

Thank you BackRoad I bought knobs here > Knobs & Hand Screws | Control Knobs, Torque Screws, & More They sell machine parts knobs and stems. Some of the stem I used were just bolts we turned on a lathe to narrow them down. Then I cut a slot in them and welded them onto the flat stock Kubota used. You can see the fitment before the welding.
Find some more machine knobs at Zoro here > Innovative Components GN8C----B7-L-21 $1.97 Hand Knob, Blind Hole, 1/2"-13 | Zoro.com

 

[Gregster613]

Very well fitted and nice looking mods scootr!

 

[BackRoad]

Thanks Mr. Scootr. Very helpful.

 

[Smokeydog]

Very nice and professional looking modifications. Helps not only with operational ergonomics but also a significant increase in safety.

B26 parking brake

Welding on an extension to the parking brake lock lever improves user ergonomics but also improves visually the on/off position. The “on” lamp is a secondary reminder.

The backhoe thumb foot control has always been awkward for me. Love the the thumb function but always seems like I’m stepping on my dance partner’s feet when using. Big feet and little pedal part of the problem. Don’t have the natural fluidities compared to the other controls. Evaluating augmenting the pedal and adding a hand control lever too.

 

[scootr]

Very well fitted and nice looking mods scootr!

Thanks Mr. Scootr. Very helpful.

Thank you, Gentlemen.
Smokeydog, I love the warning light. Was shocked to realize I actually drove off with the brake on once... now I shy away from setting the brakes for fear of leaving it on and ruining them.
Another point I have thought about modifying was the 4 wd lever. It is way down low on the left. You can stomp the handle to engage 4wd but you have to reach nearly to the floor to select 2wd.
My last tractor had rocker switches on the dash for this and the differential lock. I guess the Kubota tractors are a bit crude. More refinement to come.

 

[Smokeydog]

B20 parking brake was an insult to engineering and hardly ever used. FEL bucket was the parking brake for 25 years. Upgraded to the B26. Caught wife and myself operating with the brake on. I tended to set the brake more firmly and more noticeably but it’s a powerful little tractor. Needed improving to take full advantage of the safety equipment without detrimental damage. Bracket with hole already factory mounted under the dash for a rear motorcycle type brake switch. Some countries may required brake lights? The added handle makes it easy to set and monitor. No more driving with the brake on.

She is good using the parking brake, seatbelt, differential lock and moving low and slow mowing our hillside dirt patch.

If you don’t make controls easy people will not use them correctly.

 

[scootr]

So Smokey if I'm reading you right your are saying those are her boots not yours?

 

[Smokeydog]

So Smokey if I'm reading you right your are saying those are her boots not yours?

Maybe…

Designing for yourself is easier than for all. As another poster explained, the smallest change can have the biggest affect of enjoyment.