Tractors, Combines and Other Self-Propelled Farm Machinery

I am paralyzed from the waist down, and I want to get a tractor for use on my horse farm. Is there any way it can be made to be completely hand-operated?

  1. First, a tractor with a hydrostatic transmission would be convenient, since no clutch engagement is required.
  2. A hand control can be made by attaching a bent rod by means of a bracket to the foot pedal for the clutch, brake, or hydrostatic transmission. The rod can be clamped onto the foot pedal and bent to come up to a convenient location for hand operation. An article with color pictures and evaluation of different designs of bent-rod hand controls can be found at asae.frymulti.com by typing "Evaluation of Mechanical Tractor Pedal Extensions" in the "with-the-exact-phrase" search window, click "GO" then "download pdf."
  3. A few companies make custom-manufactured hand controls for tractors or perhaps provide design plans that you or a local machinist could use to make the conversion. Three such companies are Life Essentials of Brookston, IN (765-742-6707 or www.lifeesstentialsweb.com); John Hancock of Lexington, KY (859-227-7099), and Northend Mobility of Welland, Ontario (905-735-5552 or www.northend-mobility.com).
  4. Two companies make joystick controls for cars and trucks that could possibly be adapted for tractors—Electronic Mobility Controls (www.emc-digi.com) and Creative Controls (www.creativecontrolsinc.com). Also, Butterfield, MN, farmer Dale Baerg, with quadriplegia, has tractors that have been modified for joystick control and he is willing to share with and help others, he can be reached at 507-956-2074.
  5. The Breaking New Ground (BNG) Resource Center at Purdue University has two entries in its Plowshares Technical Reports series that that you might find beneficial—"Hand Controls for Agricultural Equipment" (Plowshare #2) and "Farming with a Lower Extremity Amputation" (Plowshare #24). They can be viewed and downloaded from the Center's Web site—www.breakingnewground.info.
  6. BNG also developed the "Toolbox," which is a CD-ROM and on-line catalog of commercial and farmer-modified equipment and assistive devices for farming with a disability. It includes fact sheets that show tractor, utility vehicle, and lawn tractor foot-to-hand control modifications. Your county Extension office and local high school agricultural education teacher should have a copy of the CD to view (perhaps borrow), or you can access it (in pdf format) on www.bng.info.
  7. The University of Wisconsin Extension AgrAbility Web site carries an article on a homemade hand-operated clutch lever that you might find helpful. Go to fyi.uwex.edu/agrability and click on "Assistive Technology Resources," then on "Plans for Equipment Modifications."

I have a hard time getting into my tractor, and combine. Are there any design plans or companies that build lifts?

I have a hard time getting into my tractor, and combine. Are there any design plans or companies that build lifts?

There are a number of small companies that custom-manufacture farm machinery adaptive devices, including man-lifts to access operator stations of farm equipment and large trucks. Among them are Life Essentials, of Brookston, IN (by phone @ 765-742-6707 or on the Web @ www.lifeessentialsweb.com) and John Hancock, of Lexington, KY (by phone @ 859-227-7099). They will discuss your needs and suggest possible solutions, including building one for your specific situation. Also, Life Essentials can install one on the back of a pickup or flat-bed truck that can be used to access tractors or combines.

Detailed instructions to build a man lift for a tractor can be found on a Kentucky AgrAbility Web site at: Kentucky Agrability tractor lift. WARNING, when using a winch for a lift, it is important to verify the winch load capacity and certification for lifting people.

For lighter and less expensive lifts that might be more compatible with smaller-size vehicles and equipment, check out: the Coach Lift, made by SS Products, of Tempe, AZ (by phone @ 888-224-1425 or on the Web @ www.coachlift.com and click on "Farm Handicapped Lift") and the Glide 'n Go Power Seat Lift, made by Access Unlimited, of Binghamton, NY (by phone @ 800-849-2143 or on the Web @ www.accessunlimited.com and click on "Other Vehicle Products).

Atom-Jet Industries makes the Ajility lift that mounts into the back of a pickup truck that lifts a person and his/her wheelchair to access the operator station of farm equipment. Contact them by phone @ 800-573-5048 or on the Web @ www.atomjet.com.

The Breaking New Ground Resource Center at Purdue University also has printed materials that address this topic. They include the following four fact sheets found in The Toolbox (a CD-ROM and on-line catalog of modified equipment and assistive devices for farming with a disability): "Commercially Manufactured Lifts," "Independent Mounted Lifts," "Equipment-Mounted Chair Lifts," and "Equipment-Mounted Platform Lifts". Also in The Toolbox is a publication in the Plowshare Technical Reports series—"New Concepts in Man-Lift Attachments for Tractors and Combines" (#8). Your county Extension office and local high school agricultural education teacher should have a copy of The Toolbox CD to review (or perhaps borrow); also you can access it (in pdf format) on BNG's Web site—www.bngtoolbox.info.

The University of Wisconsin Extension AgrAbility Web site also has published articles on the subject of man-lifts. Go to fyi.uwex.edu/agrability and click on "AgrAbility Quarterly;" then under "Past Issues—2001," click on "Commercial Person Tractor Lifts."

There's a possibility that your state's rehabilitation services or vocational rehabilitation program will purchase, or at least help you purchase the man-lift(s). To find out, contact them either by phone (look in the yellow pages under "Government, State" or in a separate section ahead of the white pages that lists state government offices) or via the Web (go to www.agrability.org and click on "Resources" then "Vocational Rehabilitation contact information."

* Note: When modifying a tractor or other self-propelled equipment for use by someone with a mobility impairment, extra precautions are needed to reduce the risk of injury.

I have difficulty in making that first big step onto my tractor. Are there any add-on steps available?

  1. Check out these Web sites for commercial extra or add-on step kits:

    • Step kits designed for selected John Deere tractors only— John Deere

    • Step kits designed for Case IH and Allis Chalmers as well as John Deere tractors — Sloan Express, and K and M manufacturing

  2. Check out the "Toolbox," which is a CD-ROM and on-line catalog of commercial and farmer-modified equipment and assistive devices for farming with a disability. It includes sections on tractor operator station accessing and truck cab accessing. Your county Extension office and local high school agricultural education teacher should have a copy of the CD to view (perhaps borrow), or you can access it (in pdf format) at www.bngtoolbox.info.

My problem is my inability to change and hitch agricultural implements on my own. What’s out there that will allow me to do so?

Here are some ideas for hitching without needing assistance:

  1. John Deere has a new iMatch hitching system for their utility tractors where the PTO and three-point hitching is done without getting off the tractor. Go to the John Deere iMatch website
  2. Attachments are available for automatic hitching of a tractor drawbar to the tongue of trailing equipment. One example is StaFast Hitch (see www.farmeasier.com).
  3. Check out the "Toolbox," which is a CD-ROM and on-line catalog of commercial and farmer-modified equipment and assistive devices for farming with a disability. It includes a section on hitching. Your county Extension office and local high school agricultural education teacher should have a copy of the CD to view (perhaps borrow), or you can access it (in pdf format) at www.bngtoolbox.info
  4. Hitching a four-wheel wagon can be a lot easier using a "telescoping" tongue that allows considerable flexibility in making the connection to the tractor drawbar. You back up the tractor in line with the wagon tongue and slide the front portion of the tongue out to align the draw pin holes. The tractor is backed up to lock the two portions of the tongue together.
  5. Keeping PTO drive line shielding and components lubricated and in good condition can make connecting the PTO driveline to the tractor stub shaft easier. Dents in the driveline shielding can greatly increase the effort required to telescope the driveline to make the connection.
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