Hand Controls for a L2501

BigG · Jan 3, 2019

I purchased a new L2501 HST in August. I took a pretty bad fall onto my knees in September and it is looking like it will take months to get my knees replaced. I was wondering if anyone has any information for a hand control that could be used for the HST pedal. Most of the information I have found on the web is of little use or out of business.

Thank you

Poohbear · Jan 3, 2019

Sorry for your knee problem. I had one replaced last year. As an owner of bad knees myself I must ask if you can't use the HST pedal , how are you going to get on the tractor ? Time to teach the Wife or good friend how to,operate till you recover. Not pickin on ya , I know way too much about bad knees.

sheepfarmer · Jan 3, 2019

Must be awful to have a new tractor and not be able to use it! I don't know of any companies per se, but I have an old Ingersoll garden tractor, and it has for me the annoying feature that everything is done with the hands, throttle, forward, reverse, hst, steering, everything. Perhaps something from its design could be borrowed. Everything is cable controlled. Getting on your tractor might be the best physical therapy. I am a strong proponent of pt, it really helps, even if it just keeps your muscles strong for surgery.

North Idaho Wolfman · Jan 3, 2019

The cost of a custom device would most likely make it impractical!

Kennyd4110 · Jan 4, 2019

This group may be able to point you in the right direction:

http://www.agrability.org

dlundblad · Jan 7, 2019

You could add cruise control that will put a lever right next to the seat. Should be about $150-$200 from the dealer.

Won't help you with reverse though.

Dave_eng · Jan 7, 2019

BigG said:
I purchased a new L2501 HST in August. I took a pretty bad fall onto my knees in September and it is looking like it will take months to get my knees replaced. I was wondering if anyone has any information for a hand control that could be used for the HST pedal. Most of the information I have found on the web is of little use or out of business.

Thank you

An option to consider would involve the use of a 12 volt linear actuator.
The actuator could be mounted vertically and secured to the HST pedal with a ball joint. The actuator, at the push of a switch, would move the HST pedal up or down. The actuator action will be slow which is what you want.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200520510_200520510

It could be controlled with an electric controller like this one.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200520502_200520502

Dave

Kennyd4110 · Jan 8, 2019

Dave_eng said:
The actuator action will be slow which is what you want.

Dave

With all due respect Dave, that is incorrect and even dangerous. You’d want very fast (but accurate) action so it could return the pedal to neutral quickly when you need to stop. Waiting even one second would be an eternity in an emergency situation. I’ve never seen a linear actuator move fast! There are industrial servos that could be used, but those require special controllers and are both very expensive.

Dave_eng · Jan 8, 2019

Kennyd4110 said:
With all due respect Dave, that is incorrect and even dangerous. You’d want very fast (but accurate) action so it could return the pedal to neutral quickly when you need to stop. Waiting even one second would be an eternity in an emergency situation. I’ve never seen a linear actuator move fast! There are industrial servos that could be used, but those require special controllers and are both very expensive.

I see the key switch as the emergency button. I accept your criticism but then propose a solution the average owner could afford otherwise the owner is left with nothing.

He could always completely automate his tractor and run it while sitting on his front porch

.

Dave

vic gerbasi · Jan 8, 2019

L3300 GST HST - set the gear [ speed] you want ] set the throttle -rpm] you are done. move the forward reverse lever to neutral and bingo you have stopped motions.
hope this helps i was on mine yesterday moving a foot of snow for me and 4 neighbors

North Idaho Wolfman · Jan 8, 2019

vic gerbasi said:
L3300 GST HST - set the gear [ speed] you want ] set the throttle -rpm] you are done. move the forward reverse lever to neutral and bingo you have stopped motions.
hope this helps i was on mine yesterday moving a foot of snow for me and 4 neighbors

Vic,
Sounds like you have a GST and not a HST.
HST's are foot pedal operated where GST's are hand shuttle operated.

Big Gee Tn · Jan 13, 2019

This may be too simple thinking on my part,but could the pedal be removed and a simple piece of flat bar bolted in its place to make a lever forward/reverse? Full speed of hst might not remain but at least the tractor could be used,not in a speedy process using loader but it would be usable at least and not be permanently modified so you could put it back original when you are healed up.

TripleR · Jan 15, 2019

There is an old thread on TBN where a paraplegic equipped his foot control by attaching a rod to it, I saved the link to it for a while. It looked pretty simple.

Search

Hand Controls for a L2501

BigG

Well-known member

Poohbear

Active member

sheepfarmer

Well-known member

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator

Kennyd4110

Well-known member

dlundblad

Member

Dave_eng

Well-known member

Kennyd4110

Well-known member

Dave_eng

Well-known member

vic gerbasi

Member

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator

Big Gee Tn

New member

TripleR

Active member