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Tracotor for a bad back and knees

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ONLYTONY

12-01-2003 17:29:51

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My father is in his 80's and cant get on a tractor
any more. He knows how to drive a tractor, it is
just that getting on and getting off part he has
trouble with. I have a Farmall H and a Kuboda, one day he said that he may try to get on the
kuboda if I put an extra step on it. I dont think
it will be that easy because of the gear shift and
the pto lever that is just like a second gear shifter coming out of that transmition hump.

Has anyone seen a tractor modified so that someone
with back and knee problems can get on and off of
it easily ? It looks like a Farmall H has alot of
room for modifications. It would be OK to get another tractor like a farmall cub or something that would keep its value.

A modified tractor would be mostly used for my
father to drive around the ranch and the land is
mostly flat, flat enough to drive a narrow front
end Farmall on. The most I would hope he would
do with it would be to mow or pull a trailer.
I would be thankful for any ideas or information
Tony

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Dave in Mo

12-03-2003 04:19:50

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

Try this site..... .....got lots of good stuff...

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Grandpa

12-02-2003 11:47:03

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

This isn't a tractor fix, but it worked for my 87-year-old father-in-law just for getting around. After a lifetime of farming and riding many tractors, he just hasn't any knees left at all. We got him a golf cart and modified the fenders so we could get ATV balloon tires on it. He can't mow or pull a trailer with it, but he can literally go anywhere on his place that is mostly flat but has some hills. It is real easy for him to get in and out of.

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Fred OH

12-02-2003 09:15:50

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

Theres an electric hoist made that will lift 440 lbs. at places like Harbor Freight or Northern Tool and Equipment. Hook it up in the barn on a trolley...that way it can lift and roll him right to the tractor seat (with some side ropes to pull this way or that). You will extend his life span by several years. You wouldn't have to worry about any steps...or him falling trying to get on because of a health condition. It would create one problem though...the tractor would have to have the correct implement already hooked up. That could be remedied by getting him a pair of those small radio transceivers to call someone to come and put the pin in the draw bar. If I had a dad and he wanted to drive the tractor...he would do it even if he was 90. To give someone the ability to drive a tractor all his adult life and take it away toward the end is a disgrace. You know the peace of mind that comes with sitting in that tractor seat. As long as he still has a clear mind...make it happen! This could also be made from a 12 volt winch and installed on the tractor so he could get on and off at will...not a real big engineering feat. I'm sure that if you decided on this method...there would be several on the board here who would volunteer to help design it. Dads are priceless!...and I feel that they go downhill quicker sitting around the house feeling worthless. I'm probably biased, mine died when I was a month old. Fred OH

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tlak

12-02-2003 07:25:51

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

If its mainly for getting around why not a gator or the like? It's like getting in a car, flat and low and has a cargo bed with towing capacity so he's still helpful.

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DuaneWKKC

12-02-2003 05:40:53

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

Everybody has overlooked a very open platform and easy to drive tractor, the oliver super77 or super88. You could easily mount some steps and widen the platform for a kind of stairs access from the front. The clutch and brakes on these tractors are very easily operated, plus you have live pto.

Good luck. DuaneW

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Nolan

12-02-2003 05:20:56

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

We modified my grandfathers old Allis B with some extra steps so he could more easily get on and off. Not hard to do. Think we also made a sort of floorboard on the one side for him to stand on. Gave him another 10-15 years of use.

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Bob M

12-02-2003 05:08:06

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

Tony - In addition to the ideas offered below you might look at a Minne Mo "U" (or "G") series tractor. They have a generous platform located close to the ground - easy to climb on/off - and they are hand clutched. They are easily (and more importantly safely) operated while standing or seated.

Punch below for a rear view of my '47 UTU...

MM U rear view

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Mr. Green

12-02-2003 03:57:11

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

What he needs is a nice John Deere AR. Nice and low to get on, and a very good seat.

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Puller504

12-02-2003 03:31:37

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

If getting on/off the tractor is the only problem, an International 574 and 674 have the shifter levers on the left side, not on the deck. I mowed the farm lawn for my parents when they were alive. One summer I found cinder blocks strewn about the yard where Dad parked his Farmall 656. I welded up a drop-step for him that mounted on the same location as the original step. This gave him 2 steps to get on the tractor and worked well for him. Also cleaned up the yard!

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JMS/MN

12-01-2003 22:24:31

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

Go to the U of Wisc site----- www.agrability.org for ideas on assisting handicapped farmers with tractor modifications. And remember, there comes a time when for the sake of your loved one, it is simply time to say it will not happen anymore,,,,, ,,,,,and you can enjoy his company for many more years, rather than remember the sad funeral.

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Greywolf

12-02-2003 06:24:04

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Re: Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to JMS/MN, 12-01-2003 22:24:31

Thanks JMS for mentioning it might just be time to say NO!!!!! !!!!

My dad is 82, gets around with a walker now (broken ankle this fall, healed), but for the last 5 yrs he was adimant about having the ability to do tractor work. It almost came to the point of taking the coil wire off the JD so he couldn't get on anymore.

One day i went to get on the 70 and he had gone through the junk pile and "made" a couple of "steps" to get on easier. Sad to say though he made them out a single piece of pipe for the step, now this is a person that had difficulty just getting out of the car. Needless to say I bit the bullet of a good a$$ chewing and they came off faster than they went on.

It is satisfying knowing the drive is still there to help, but at that age one quits becoming the child and becomes the parent and sometimes "tough love" is a difficult task to do.

Even harder when the "kid" is 80!!!!! !!!!! !!!!!

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Jeff

12-01-2003 21:29:02

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

By bad knees do you mean that he can't climb anymore or that he might have trouble with a clutch and brake as well. If that is the case you might look at maybe a Standard JD with hand cluch. it will act like a brake also in light braking conditions.

If he is just having trouble getting on and off you might look at maybe one of the small Branson tractors or maybe a Long as they don't have a large hump to step over and most are usually short to the ground.

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cliff

12-01-2003 21:18:54

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

Tony

I would recommend you try to get him on something with power steering. Regarding the shifters, I have seen some of the Zetors with a flat deck on them. I am sure some of the other makes have a flat deck in front of the seat.

With your dad in his 80�s it is still real important for him to feel needed, of which I am sure he is greatly needed. If you can help him get onto something that is easier to drive and get on and off easy it will make it less tiring on him. And he will spend more time diving and smiling.

I would not have wanted my elderly dad running an older tractor that would not be as comfortable as a newer one with a back support and so forth. And at 52 I don�t jump down off of them like I did when I was in my 20�s .

I am very happy for you that your father still wants to get on that tractor and work . That is commendable. Some of us on this forum would probably like hire him out from under you . Many of us can�t find tractor drivers when we need them :>) Tell him the guys here are wanting to hire him!

God Bless

Cliff

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Roy

12-01-2003 21:04:03

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

How about a 1000 series Ford.. I.e. 1720 or 1920 . these tractors have no shifters on the hump. They have shifters on the dashboard..If you need to go much older a JD 1010 also has shifters on the dash..

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HoneyRancher

12-01-2003 20:17:09

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

I have a Kubota L2950 with a loader. That first step up to the operator's platform has been getting higher each year. This past summer I took a look under the tractor and found two braces for the loader that had two 1/2" holes directly below the platform where I step up. I got two pieces of 4x4 angle iron, drilled holes in both sides of the angle, bolted one to each side in those holes I found and bolted up a 2x12 plank under the tractor. It sticks out about to the outside of the rear wheels and makes a very easy intermediate step up to the main platform. The only thing I haven't taken care of is some rubber flaps so the rear wheel doesn't drop dirt or mud on the step. It was real easy and real cheap - about $5.00 for the angle and I had the plank in the barn.

Hope this helps.

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SB in AR

12-01-2003 19:16:03

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

How about a "W" series McCormick (i.e. W4, W6, W9)? I know the step-up onto the rear is very low; and if were still too tall, it wouldn't be real difficult to rig up a step on the drawbar. I can't remember what the area between the feet is like on those tractors though (gearshifts, etc.). Just an idea. Good Luck.

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rustyfarmall

12-01-2003 18:16:35

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Re: Tracotor for a bad back and knees in reply to ONLYTONY, 12-01-2003 17:29:51

I know of a couple of farmers who are confined to wheelchairs, and still operate the tractors and get the farming done, so it is possible to do something. I do not know these farmers personally, so I cannot give you any details. I also noticed a few tractors this summer which had been jerry-rigged with hand clutches and hand brakes. apparently so the elderly owners could still participate in the tractor rides. I am sure someone on these forums will come up with a good idea.

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