Handicap up-fit 2710

[Anonymous Poster]

I'm in the process of buying a tractor, I have narrowed it down to the Kabota 2710HST. My next door neighbor/good friend recently lossed full mobility of his legs in a car accident. My question is can hand controls be fabricated to fit the 2710 and if so would he be able to do basic work (mow pasture, grade roads)or would that be to much to do with hand controls? Also what would be the ball park of these up-fits(500,1000,1500)? This is a great forum, I've learned alot from all the posts. This will be the frist of many questions. Thanks Tom H.

 

[Von]

Tom,
When I was looking to buy a tractor I looked at two kubotas that a Viet. vet. that had lost both legs in the war owned. They just had a rod rigged up to the hst. Both had front loaders as well, and he had no problems making it work. I don't know the cost, but it can be done.

Von

 

[Bird]

Tomzog, register as a member and join the group. I have a B2710 myself; very happy with it. And I agree with Von, I don't know what it would cost, but I believe it might be pretty simple to rig everything for hand controls. I think the most difficult thing (and certainly not insurmountable) would be getting on and off the tractor.

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thank you for the info, as for transfering to the tractor I can build a ramp for that he will have to be careful about getting stuck, and I asked him about to many hand controls and his response was 'if it's the only game in town you learn quick'. My next question is would these additions get in the way of an able bodied person using the tractor or would they have to be removed.I know this is a little more in depth than the normal ?'s but I'll give it a shot.
Thanks Tom H.

 

[Bird]

Tomzog, I've never done it, or seen it done, but darned if I don't believe even I could get a few pieces of metal rods about a half inch in diameter and my trusty welder, a little spray paint, and design hand controls. Talk to a competent welder (and your local tractor dealer, of course) and see if they couldn't do that. I believe it would be best to have the guy who's going to use it assist the designer in deciding exactly where he wanted the handles, and I think they could be designed so that able bodied folks could still use the normal controls.

Bird

 

[MarkV]

Tomzog- I remember Mr. Carver (Carver Equipment) mentioning his dealership doing work on tractors for handicapped tractor owners. I also think Steve is involved in Vet organizations and would be willing to offer advice. Pull up his web site off the banners and e-mail him. He has always been very helpful to all that contact him.

MarkV

 

[Bird]

Good advice, MarkV (why didn't I think of that?)/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Bird

 

[Steve]

We'll be happy to assist.....
steve
carver equip
write steve_carver@carverequipment.com

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, I'll post what I find. Thanks agian, Tom H.

 

[srssales]

I am a handicapped tractor driver. (paraplegic) I have a Grey L1511DT with loader i was prepaied to build a hand control for it but when it arrived at the wholesalers it allready had the hand control built right onto it.
Getting on and of the tractor is a bit difficult but i am the type that never says cant. I have found the seat to be a bit on the hard side ( not good for the tailbone) Maybe Steve at Carver will know if there is a similar tractor that is sold in north america.

 

[tomzog]

Thanks for the reply srssales,Ive got a couple of ?'s for you.1:Are your loader controls and motion controls mounted on the same side,if so is that a problem? 2:Im also getting a full canopy with bolted on hand holds for transfers, good idea/bad idea or do you have a better idea? thanks again.
Tom H.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Steve:
I have MS and have difficulty with my left side. I had a B9200 with less than 100 hours but the clutch was on the left and I could no longer work it safely. So I traded my B9200 and several thousand dollars for a B2710. The 2710 is taller than the 9200 so now the problem is just getting on. At my dealer's I spotted an M series with a step. I asked the dealer to put a step on my new 2710. Not an option for the 2710 but he made it work anyway without welding. Now my problem is finding the time to use it. Don't let a handicap trap you indoors.

 

[tomzog]

I drove down to Dunn N.C. and talked with Steve about this today, we came up with some good ideas and then took them to his mechanics to see if any would work. What we came up with was the B2710 with folding ROPS and a Teltrax canopy(?)
yes we needed the extra hieght.Also they are going to mount hand holds to the under side of the canopy for easy transfers. They are going to chop the 2\4WD lever flush with the fender to get it out of the way, it will make sliding on and off easier.The mechanic is still thinking about the best way to fabricate hand controls but he had some good ideas. The only problem I see is the motion and loader controls are on the same side. The fact that Steve and his team took this as a challange rather than a problem sold me , after my freind talks with the mechanics on friday its only a couple of bolts and bent metal away from me being a spectator watching someone else drive my new tractor. The down payment was made and I hope to get it next week sometime. Send ideas if you have them its still at the shop. Thanks again for this board in pionting me in the right direction.
Tom H.
Where theres a will theres a way!

 

[PeteF]

How about a ring/tube assembly on the loader joystick below the knob that transfers an in/out motion to the foot control. The change of motion occurring at the base (just above the locking plate of the joystick) would allow joystick 'wobble' without affecting forward/backward motion.

I believe that the foot control has heavy centering springs that could be changed to reduce the hand pressure needed for the joystick adapter.

Just a thought. Good luck.

B2710/LA401/4690