Accommodate disability with skid steer controls

MrChuckles · Sep 29, 2022

I'm contemplating buying a skid steer. I don't have a left arm, thus I can't use a left joystick. A Kubota mechanic modified my Kubota KX04-4 mini-excavator moving the joystick controls to the floor. All of the stock hydraulics were used, with only one hose requiring an extension. It works well and I'm leaning towards Kubota even if my previous mechanic isn't around.

Do any of you mechanically inclined friends; a) know of a skid steer that can be foot operated without modification, or b) know if other brands such as Cat or Bobcat or others would be relatively easy to switch to foot control? Older models are okay.

Thanks,

Chuck

digger doug · Sep 29, 2022

I thought the Tak ones steered with one hand.

1466IH · Sep 29, 2022

An older bobcat with selectable controls should be fairly easy to do. You could make RH stick do the drive/steering and use the foot pedals for the loader controls

Tones · Sep 29, 2022

With the modern machines having pilot controls it should be simple enough to modify most skidsteers to your preferences like whether your feet operate the travel or bucket controls. My thoughts are foot travel(same as an excavator) and right hand stick remains the same because there are more functions on that lever.

Jonas302 · Sep 29, 2022

Mustangs had the T handle drive never cared or it but would be easy to run with one hand

suladas · Sep 29, 2022

The most sense would probably be a machine with iso, and add foot controls for bucket, ideally a machine that also could come from factory with foot controls then you could find stock pieces to fit.

Zewnten · Sep 29, 2022

JD 318 or bobcat s52x had hand and foot controls. Electric over hydraulic should be easy enough to customize if you can get the computers to cooperate.

willie59 · Sep 29, 2022

I agree with Jonas302, older Mustang machines uses a single T handle stick for drive, easy enough to use one hand to drive the machine and foot pedals for loader functions, no modifications required.

Welder Dave · Sep 30, 2022

In a skid steer I think you'd be much better off steering with your hand over 2 foot pedals. Much better control. You need to maneuver a skid steer a lot more than an excavator. Are you looking at a new skid steer or used? I don't think Mustang has used the T handle for quite a while but could be wrong. The other thing to think about is getting in and out with only 1 arm. A T handle between your legs could be a bit of a challenge. A dual control machine with foot pedals for the bucket and a right hand joystick makes the most sense if it can be converted that way.

MrChuckles · Sep 30, 2022

Tones said:
With the modern machines having pilot controls it should be simple enough to modify most skidsteers to your preferences like whether your feet operate the travel or bucket controls. My thoughts are foot travel(same as an excavator) and right hand stick remains the same because there are more functions on that lever.

I think that makes sense. Travel control by foot controlled by a floor mounted equivalent of a joystick and bucket control with my right hand would be doable.

MrChuckles · Sep 30, 2022

Zewnten said:
JD 318 or bobcat s52x had hand and foot controls. Electric over hydraulic should be easy enough to customize if you can get the computers to cooperate.

I think the electric over hydraulic might be easier depending on the space below the floor board. On my mini ex there was enough space to take the full joystick control and the hydraulic lines under the floor board. Wires leading to the floor mounted joystick would be easier to fit down below if the space was tight.

I wonder which brand uses electric over hydraulic?

MrChuckles · Sep 30, 2022

Welder Dave said:
In a skid steer I think you'd be much better off steering with your hand over 2 foot pedals. Much better control. You need to maneuver a skid steer a lot more than an excavator. Are you looking at a new skid steer or used? I don't think Mustang has used the T handle for quite a while but could be wrong. The other thing to think about is getting in and out with only 1 arm. A T handle between your legs could be a bit of a challenge. A dual control machine with foot pedals for the bucket and a right hand joystick makes the most sense if it can be converted that way.

I want a new skid steer but given the cost, I will probably be looking for a used lower hour model.

Welder Dave · Sep 30, 2022

My legs can get pretty stiff just running the bucket and boom. I can't imagine how they'd feel constantly running the drive. Lots of back and forth and counter rotating and feathering the pedals to achieve different speeds. A skid steer is a lot different than a (steel) track loader when it comes to how it is driven. Foot pedals are just for steering in most situations. A skid is much more maneuverable because of the way the drive works and other factors.

heymccall · Sep 30, 2022

Cat D series and newer have the hand/ foot option as well as the G series Deere.

Any EOH skidsteer should be convertible given enough re-engineering.

Randy88 · Sep 30, 2022

I've never personally run one before, about the only brand I haven't, but JCB makes a side entry skid steer which I'm told makes getting in and out easier than a traditional skid steer, the downside is, they only have a single boom much like a telehandler and I'm told the hinge pins wear unevenly. Most any brand like has been mentioned with pilot controls should be easy to convert to however you'd like to run it.

Also whatever brand your thinking about, contact that company and specifically ask this very question to, I'd venture a guess they'll all been asked this many times though out the years and can help you out with dealer support on whatever you many need to convert any model over for however you'd like it, even used machines. I know people personally who have missing limbs that have had machines set for them personally, it just depends on how YOU want it done for your preference. Best of luck on whatever you decide to buy.

MrChuckles · Sep 30, 2022

Randy88 said:
I've never personally run one before, about the only brand I haven't, but JCB makes a side entry skid steer which I'm told makes getting in and out easier than a traditional skid steer, the downside is, they only have a single boom much like a telehandler and I'm told the hinge pins wear unevenly. Most any brand like has been mentioned with pilot controls should be easy to convert to however you'd like to run it.

Also whatever brand your thinking about, contact that company and specifically ask this very question to, I'd venture a guess they'll all been asked this many times though out the years and can help you out with dealer support on whatever you many need to convert any model over for however you'd like it, even used machines. I know people personally who have missing limbs that have had machines set for them personally, it just depends on how YOU want it done for your preference. Best of luck on whatever you decide to buy.

Surprisingly, all of the dealers I called when I bought and asked about modification to the mini ex bailed due to liability risk, and this was on a new machine. I checked separately with a place that modifies stuff for handicap use and they wanted more than $4,000 to do it. I finally found a savior in the form of a quiet, nice guy, who heard my request and offered to modify it just so he could do a good deed like Golden Rule. I of course paid him, and paid him well, but it doesn't compare the good feelings I got from someone good to fellow humans just because it was right in his mind.

Tones · Sep 30, 2022

Ì would have thought the dealers would be onto this like a rash. It goes to show who the cripples really are

Zewnten · Sep 30, 2022

MrChuckles said:
I think the electric over hydraulic might be easier depending on the space below the floor board. On my mini ex there was enough space to take the full joystick control and the hydraulic lines under the floor board. Wires leading to the floor mounted joystick would be easier to fit down below if the space was tight.

I wonder which brand uses electric over hydraulic?

Almost all new machines are electric over hydraulic. The two machines I mentioned have the ability to swap from hand to foot with a switch. My thought was it'd be easy to bypass that for your needs.

Welder Dave · Oct 1, 2022

Some dealers will use the liability card to get out of anything they aren't familiar with. It was so good someone came to your aid with your excavator. I needed to rent a mini ex to dig out an old abandoned fuel tank inside a building with a low ceiling. A couple places not a chance. Maybe because the dealer was close to going under, the place I bought my skid steer was glad to remove the roll bar and just had me sign a waiver that I would take full responsibility in case of a mishap. I know a lot of small tractors have folding roll bars to fit in garages but it's very rare when you actually see the owners put the roll bar up when using the tractor. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a roll bar.

MrChuckles · Oct 1, 2022

Zewnten said:
Almost all new machines are electric over hydraulic. The two machines I mentioned have the ability to swap from hand to foot with a switch. My thought was it'd be easy to bypass that for your needs.

Thank you. I'll go visit the dealers to visit with them. Your knowledge is appreciated.

Accommodate disability with skid steer controls

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