Handicapped modifications for tractors

armand tatro · Jan 14, 2013

Ron Grother had a question on the Oliver forum (now on page 5) that I replied to and it got me to thinking (again) about modifications to allow handicapped farmers to continue farming. These modifications (factory or retrofitted) are part of our farming history and would be interesting to see at shows. Does anybody have any pictures or recollections of these modifications that They would care to share? Armand

oldtanker · Jan 14, 2013

I saw pictures of a JD tractor that had been fitted with and electric drive screw jack elevator so an older gent could get in and out of the cab.

Rick

samn40 · Jan 14, 2013

Here is a simple hand clutch arrangement on a MF135. I saw this at the Missouri river valley show in Booneville MO this past year. We have a contractor(custom worker) here in Northern Ireland that has lost both his legs. He has a specially adapted tractor that hoists him and his wheelchair up into the cab. He does quite a lot of round baling with that outfit.
Sam

pete black · Jan 14, 2013

i am 66 and recovering from a stroke that left me with a weakened left arm and leg but i still can function nicely with my tractor. i'm aware that everyone can't or want to; but i sold all my older gear driven tractors and purchased a new kubota, hyrostatic drive with open station platform which allows for easy on and off. comfortable seat, tilt wheel, hand and feet controls correctly positioned and numerous safety features that i once thought of as a nusiance now serves to better protect me. i also added a front end loader which further enables to continue with tractor activies.

Mo 1032D · Jan 14, 2013

We have a local repair shop that made a lift for an old farmer on a 986 IH cab loader tractor with an electric winch and small chair. He had to use a whelchair to get around with, they also made hand controlls for him for clutch and brakes. He was able to work a couple more years till his kids made him stop, it was for the better as he started having health issues. I think it was featured in Farm Show once. Sorry dont have any pics. Scott

kswillie · Jan 14, 2013

I know that Kansas State University has a program that helps handicapped farmers with equipment modifications as well as some grant money. I think it is a spin off of a USDA grant program. If you know a guy that could use that kind of help at least pass it along. A good program to use my tax money.

Tony in Mass. · Jan 14, 2013

I had a great uncle with a 'polio brace' on his right leg. OK, I bought AC's cause he and other relatives had old Allises, but, same reason I got sick of them over time, he couldn't get in or out of his C without a great effort and modifications- steps, grabirons, strong backrest and arms on that extra wide seat. And like the hand clutch, this 'medical device'? had a custom made high lace army boot/work shoe that was part of this brace, and there was a shiny steel hinge at the knee, solid bar from the heel of the shoe, so if he need more pressure on the brake than the strength of his upper leg muscle, he would just reach down and push on this hinge, so he had it all figured out...

Lazy WP · Jan 14, 2013

We modified a 7045 Allis, so Dad could run it. He broke his back in '83. For the clutch, I made a handle that would hook over the bottom of the pedal, and was tarp strapped on. May not have been the safest, but made it so I could put it on and off, so I could keep using the tractor myself.
We also built a "diving board", or so it looked to get him into the tractor. Later on we tried the electric winch, but never really got it ironed out.
Most states have some kind of help, to get farmers and ranchers back into the day to day operation of the business. Some of their ideas were good, others.... not so much.

Bill in Colo · Jan 14, 2013

I've seen some pic's of Ih Hydro's retrofitted for handicapped use. I believe there was a young fellow from the Grand Junction area that had a couple of Ih Hydro's that were fitted for his use .
Check were Agrability at local extention office.

calf · Jan 14, 2013

http://fyi.uwex.edu/agrability/

http://www.agrability.org/

http://www.abilitiescouncil.sk.ca/html/life/farmers_with_disabilities/index.cfm

I am not sure if it is related, but I believe Purdue Univ had some sort of program also.

http://www.abilitiescouncil.sk.ca/html/life/farmers_with_disabilities/index.cfm

Traditional Farmer · Jan 14, 2013

I heard Ford offered the reverse seat option
on the 8N as most of the buyers were a$$ backwards
(LOL)

JMS/.MN · Jan 14, 2013

My hand clutch modification for JD 30, 40, 50 series tractors is on Agrability.........a number of Midwest Land Grant Universities are members of that group. My mod cost about $5 to make, doesn't interfere with operation by a non-handicapped driver.

rustred · Jan 14, 2013

isn't that what gps is for?

Handicapped modifications for tractors

armand tatro

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oldtanker

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samn40

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pete black

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Mo 1032D

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kswillie

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Tony in Mass.

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Lazy WP

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Bill in Colo

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calf

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Traditional Farmer

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JMS/.MN

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rustred

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