Treadle to hand control conversion on 1430

[jfischer]

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

 

[ponytug]

Should be do-able. The treadle control is a hydraulic line adjusting the swash plate on the drive pump. Since, Power-Trac has made a number of experimental, and custom machines over the years, I would ask them about doing it for you. Secondly, I would take photos of the PT to a good local hydraulic shop and ask them about modifying it to what you want.

You might consider having a hinged arm for the joystick built out from the console to give you something to rest your arm on. You might consider making a joystick that does L-R and FWD-REV. (If you are doing all this, I'd move the bucket control to another joy stick and another hinged arm.)

The standard seat is not bolted in a single position, enabling easy service of the hydraulic oil tank. You probably want to consider having it bolted down completely. For getting in/out, parking next to a berm, or ramp and then cranking the steering will push the seat out over the berm. You could put a handle on the ROPS, but if you do, I would recommend that you check to make sure that it won't hit your head as you use the 1430.

I hope this helps.

All the best,

Peter

 

[RegL]

Should be do-able. The treadle control is a hydraulic line adjusting the swash plate on the drive pump. Since, Power-Trac has made a number of experimental, and custom machines over the years, I would ask them about doing it for you. Secondly, I would take photos of the PT to a good local hydraulic shop and ask them about modifying it to what you want. You might consider having a hinged arm for the joystick built out from the console to give you something to rest your arm on. You might consider making a joystick that does L-R and FWD-REV. (If you are doing all this, I'd move the bucket control to another joy stick and another hinged arm.) The standard seat is not bolted in a single position, enabling easy service of the hydraulic oil tank. You probably want to consider having it bolted down completely. For getting in/out, parking next to a berm, or ramp and then cranking the steering will push the seat out over the berm. You could put a handle on the ROPS, but if you do, I would recommend that you check to make sure that it won't hit your head as you use the 1430. I hope this helps. All the best, Peter

Not sure when pt changed to hydraulic treadle. My 2003 is cable. Might be able to get a longer one and run it up to the console.

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[SpringHollow]

I would talk to PT about ways to modify it. They are great about helping people figure out how to do things. There is not a huge amount of room in the cab so I am not sure how easy getting in and out would be.

Ken

 

[jfischer]

Thanks Ken, I am sure that will make a difference on what kind of treadle control it has. I was not sure if it had a hydraulic control if you could tee off all the hoses and still be able to use the regular treadle or the hand control. When the time comes to going to see the machine I will call Terry and talk to him about that.
I think the model year I am looking at is a 2003, so will have to see it in person to see if is hydraulic, or cable.

I will give them a call when I find out more info on the machine I am looking at, as I am sure that will make a difference on what kind of conversion I will have to make on the machine.

I am just waiting for it to warm up a bit. before going down to look at the machine.

Peter, thanks for all of your suggestions, and I will try to get down to check it out to see if it is even possible to get on and off it without a lot of trouble. Seems they do make a lot of changes on the machines, depending on the year.

Looking forward to hearing from more on this, and to getting to see the machine in person. It looks simple, and that is what I like in todays world.
Jeff

 

[MossRoad]

I've thought about doing this many times to make a handicapped usable tractor.

First, it would be easier to get a model that has hydraulic treadle VS cable treadle.

Second, I'd use a 2 spool valve with a single joystick and make it able to do all four directions, as in forward, backward, left and right. That way you'd be able to control direction and speed with left hand and operate the FEL with the right and be able to keep both hands on the controls at all times. I think it would be a pain in the rear end to have to keep moving my right hand back and forth between the steering wheel and FEL controls.

As for keeping the original controls AND adding the new controls, it would be easy with the hydraulic treadle. Just tee them off and have parallel controls. Steering, we'd have to discuss more. As I recall, the pump sends fluid to the steering valve, then out through the steering valve power beyond port to supply pressure to the 3 spool FEL valve that controls raise/lower, dump/curl, and the AUX PTO. I would be worried about back feeding parallel steering valves while still trying to provide pressure to the 3 spool FEL valve....

Perhaps a manual dual selector valve that could switch between the existing steering valve and the new steering valve would work for this situation. You could use one, or the other, but never both at the same time.

Does that make sense?

 

[jfischer]

I've thought about doing this many times to make a handicapped usable tractor.

First, it would be easier to get a model that has hydraulic treadle VS cable treadle.

Second, I'd use a 2 spool valve with a single joystick and make it able to do all four directions, as in forward, backward, left and right. That way you'd be able to control direction and speed with left hand and operate the FEL with the right and be able to keep both hands on the controls at all times. I think it would be a pain in the rear end to have to keep moving my right hand back and forth between the steering wheel and FEL controls.

As for keeping the original controls AND adding the new controls, it would be easy with the hydraulic treadle. Just tee them off and have parallel controls. Steering, we'd have to discuss more. As I recall, the pump sends fluid to the steering valve, then out through the steering valve power beyond port to supply pressure to the 3 spool FEL valve that controls raise/lower, dump/curl, and the AUX PTO. I would be worried about back feeding parallel steering valves while still trying to provide pressure to the 3 spool FEL valve....

Perhaps a manual dual selector valve that could switch between the existing steering valve and the new steering valve would work for this situation. You could use one, or the other, but never both at the same time.

Does that make sense?

All the above makes perfect sense.

I am not to worried about making the steering work off a joystick. I have a John Deere now that I have a Snow plow with angle control on it and a Johnny Bucket, of which I have learned to operate pretty good. The right hand is used for the forward/backward control on it, and it has 2 spools on separate controls that I use to raise and lower, and curl the bucket. Not sure how fast the steering goes back to center, as most of the time I am coming into something when I am digging, or going to dump it, or during the snow season I end up raising the bucket at the end of where I am plowing in a straight line, or change directions of the angle on the blade.

I would want a control that will stay in the forward, or reverse position, that way I could steer, and use the right hand for the joystick, or slow down and be able to change how fast I am approaching something. Giving it some thought, and as I stated above, I will have to see what the machine I am going to look at has for the treadle control.
Jeff

 

[MossRoad]

You ever drive an articulated machine?

I ask, because I know my PT requires a bit of steering correction because once you tell it to turn at a certain angle, it will keep turning on that radius until you change course. It cannot straighten itself out. Not possible. There is no caster/camber/toe, etc... as on a vehicle with a front axle. Heck, there is NO front axle at all. :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

I would think with the correct valve, if you had a single joystick to control forward speed and turning direction, you could push forward as far as you want to obtain desired speed, and turn while maintaining that speed. But you'd have to hold that position to maintain that speed. You are talking about a cruise control (sort of) and I frown on that (don't take it personal, I'm smiling as I type! ). I'd want a dead-man control so that if my hand slipped off the joystick, it would return to center and stop the tractor and the turn.

The tricky part is going to be finding a valve that has just enough light spring pressure as to not fatigue your wrist and arm when operating. You wouldn't want a beast in there that you'd be fighting for hours at a time.

 

[PILOON]

My friend converted his B7000 to hand control as he can not flex his ankle.
Simple what he did.
He simply welded a pipe female fitting to the side of the rocker peddle and screw in about a 16" length of aluminum pipe.
Push for forward and pull for reverse.

He has been running this for about 5 years now.