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

The foot pedals on a John Deere lawnmower may not be at a comfortable height for all users. Adjusting the seat height can be sufficient to correct this in some situations, but others might require further correction. Pedal extenders can be added to the pedals to allow smaller users to comfortably reach them. The pedal extenders used in cars can be used on lawnmower pedals. Brake/Clutch PedalMate The brake (or clutch) Pedal Mate is adjustable with extension lengths from 2—7' and at heights ranging between 3—4'. Each Pedal Mate is easily positioned to meet your exact requirements. The brake and clutch Pedal Mate is made of sturdy steel and a rubber pad with dimensions of 2½'×4'.

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.

Diy Foot Pedal Extender For Riding Mower For Sale

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.'

Diy Foot Pedal Extender For Riding Mower Deck

* 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.