Air-Operated Clutch

To make it easier to start and stop his John Deere 4430 tractor, Shawboro, NC, farmer Harvey Roberts developed an Air-Operated Clutch, using a pneumatic cylinder with an 8-inch stroke to actuate the clutch pedal. He fabricated two brackets that support both ends of the cylinder while allowing them to pivot. One of the brackets is clamped onto the clutch pedal, and the other is bolted to the frame of the tractor. Mounted above the tractor’s toolbox are a 5-gallon air storage tank and a 12-volt air compressor to supply air pressure to the cylinder. An easy-to-reach, three-way, hand/foot-operated valve controls the air-flow. The components are all connected by air lines to create a filtered, closed-loop system.

Cost: $350.00

Impairment Category: Lower extremity