adapting a tractor

Anonymous-0 · Jul 5, 2008

How hard is it to change a gear driven tractor to a hydrostatic?

I'm in a wheelchair, have been since age 2, and have farming in my blood.

I have a few head of dairy heifers on pasture and 23 acres to romp around on (tillable/pasture/timber).

I'm basically looking for something I can get around the farm on. The ol' wheelchair work ok, but is a bit rough riding and lacks in power.

If I could rig up a tractor I could run and maybe do a bit of feild work the smile on my mug would be priceless!

So I could possibly run a hydro tranny, but steering would be an issue. I'd need a low effort system. A joystick like I run my chair with would be the cats meow if possible.

Looking for ideas.
Jake

Anonymous-0 · Jul 5, 2008

I'm a para, don't farm, don't have an answer to your question but I thought one of these would be neat.
chair

Ron in AR · Jul 5, 2008

Just read an article within the last year about a group in either Louisiana or maybe Mississippi (just can't remember for sure) that was helping disabled farmers adapt thier tractors and so on to be able to work thier fields. I think I read about it in Ehay Weekly, a weekly email newsletter. I'll see if I can find the link and post back. If you could get in contact with that group, perhaps they can offer some insight into what can be done and how to do it. Maybe do a search on "disabled farmers" or something similar. It sure would be worth a try. I know if I was unable to work my present machinery, I sure would be trying to figure out a way to do it too! Good luck!

Ron in AR · Jul 5, 2008

Just found you a bunch of stuff to check out! It wasn't Ehay Weekly, but Delta Farm Press. Here's the link to a search I did on thier sight. Hope it helps!
Untitled URL Link

Lanse · Jul 5, 2008

Heres what we had last. Was a great machine. Runs a 5' tiller like nothing. Hydrostaic, with power steering. This thing was fun to drive!!!
Untitled URL Link

Anonymous-0 · Jul 5, 2008

I am a C7-C8 incomplete quad. I have farmed since 1982 (semi retired in 2006). I have adapted several tractors to suit me. However being able to steer was never an issue. Getting on the tractor was the main problem. Purdue Univ. in Indiana did a lot of work on various adaptations.

smurph72 · Jul 5, 2008

wow that's a cool piece of equipment

Anonymous-0 · Jul 5, 2008

Google AgriAbility. It is an organization that is tied to a number of midwestern universities that have programs to help handicapped farmers. My hand clutch adaptation for JD new generation tractors is one of the ideas on their site. They have multiple ideas for lifts, controls, etc., that allow people to operate their tractors and equipment.

jose bagge · Jul 6, 2008

i have seen where a lot of the stadium Monster Trucks are going to joy stick steering, and you see this a lot on rear steering of rock climbers...really, this shouldn't be that hard of a conversion on a tractor with remote box/ cylinder steering. Hydrostat drive becoming a lot more common too- most horse farms are going hydrostat tractors so the women can use them.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 6, 2008

Thanks for the help! I posted this question on another site and they didn't think disabled people needed to be on the roads!

I'm glad to here other people are in my situation. I'm only 20 yrs old, but the burning urge to get on and drive a tractor is outrageous!!! I know nothing more could put a bigger smile on my grandpas face.

We have an old 4010 we could use as a prototype. The trans is shot in it but it still runs. Then maybe we could put it on the 4020 after we got the controls workin'.

Ron-
Thanks for the link. I tried emailing MSU but the email didn't work. It sounds like some of there ideas would work so I'll keep trying.

JMS/MN-
I have tried AgriAbility and they were clueless when it came to such a project.

Jose-
I like the joystick idea. I run my chair with a joystick. Where could I find these?

KRUSS1-
I'll try emailing Purdue University.

Thanks
Jake

adapting a tractor

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