Hydro Foot Control

[Racinbob 11,050]

Some members asked about hydro foot controls a while back. @RJC1965 @ebinmaine @Handy Don and others. I just found out the guy I bought the freshly rebuilt K341 also makes foot controls. Aside from the one on his tractor he has two more ready for new owners. He likely will build more if there's a demand. I don't want to post his information at this point but if you PM me I'd be happy to give it to you. 

[ebinmaine 67,426]

Much appreciated Bob.  

[Racinbob 11,050]

I talked to the builder yesterday and he actually has five built already. Basically a direct copy of the Wheel Horse 8-3900 control. 

[Rick3478 428]

2 hours ago, Racinbob said:

I talked to the builder yesterday and he actually has five built already. Basically a direct copy of the Wheel Horse 8-3900 control. 

 

The info you sent me didn't pan out.  Guy didn't know what I was talking about.  Maybe you got a phone number wrong or ??  If we can get this going, I'd like to potentially have two or maybe three of them.

[Racinbob 11,050]

24 minutes ago, Rick3478 said:

 

The info you sent me didn't pan out.  Guy didn't know what I was talking about.  Maybe you got a phone number wrong or ??  If we can get this going, I'd like to potentially have two or maybe three of them.

 

Well Rick, there's a good reason the guy you talked to didn't know what you were talking about. Some idiot (me) muffed up the phone #. The prefix is 993 NOT 933 I apologize to everyone. I've gone through and edited my PM's. Hopefully I got them all. 

@mrc

@PWL216

@oliver2-44

@Handy Don

 

Thanks for letting me know Rick. 

Edited January 15 by Racinbob

[Handy Don 12,213]

58 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

Well Rick, there's a good reason the guy you talked to didn't know what you were talking about. Some idiot (me) muffed up the phone #. The prefix is 993 NOT 933 I apologize to everyone. I've gone through and edited my PM's. Hopefully I got them all. 

Fixed and thanks!

[RED-Z06 2,221]

Curious what he's asking for them and do they fit 416-H?

[Racinbob 11,050]

1 hour ago, RED-Z06 said:

Curious what he's asking for them and do they fit 416-H?

You'd have to give him a call. I don't know.

[PWL216 889]

I spoke with Pete today. Very nice guy. He used to build these for someone in Denmark, who, I’m assuming, resold them. They are exact factory replicas of the WH 8-3900. He’s not building them anymore, but has 4 sets left he’d like to sell - $100 per set plus shipping. I’m buying 1 set, 3 left. They fit the following tractors built after 1980 - C Series, GT, 300 and 400 series. What I thought was interesting is that you also keep your lever controls as well. So you may decide to use the foot pedal in forward and the hand lever in reverse, as an example.

[RED-Z06 2,221]

1 hour ago, PWL216 said:

I spoke with Pete today. Very nice guy. He used to build these for someone in Denmark, who, I’m assuming, resold them. They are exact factory replicas of the WH 8-3900. He’s not building them anymore, but has 4 sets left he’d like to sell - $100 per set plus shipping. I’m buying 1 set, 3 left. They fit the following tractors built after 1980 - C Series, GT, 300 and 400 series. What I thought was interesting is that you also keep your lever controls as well. So you may decide to use the foot pedal in forward and the hand lever in reverse, as an example.

Looks like theres no return to neutral function with the oem kit, so you have to manually rock back on the pedal to stop im guessing? 

[kpinnc 12,006]

8 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

Looks like theres no return to neutral function

 

I've never understood the reasoning behind this. Not one hydro ever produced by Wheel Horse ever had return to neutral, so why does it matter if the foot pedal does? 

 

The left side pedal returns the hydro to neutral (on all) and applies brakes on later machines. Is this not sufficient?

[midpack 862]

17 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

I've never understood the reasoning behind this. Not one hydro ever produced by Wheel Horse ever had return to neutral, so why does it matter if the foot pedal does? 

 

The left side pedal returns the hydro to neutral (on all) and applies brakes on later machines. Is this not sufficient?

The reason I like it to return to neutral on it's own is to use the pedal to regulate speed (slow down) with one foot. Personal preference?

[Rick3478 428]

20 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

I've never understood the reasoning behind this. Not one hydro ever produced by Wheel Horse ever had return to neutral, so why does it matter if the foot pedal does? 

 

The left side pedal returns the hydro to neutral (on all) and applies brakes on later machines. Is this not sufficient?

 

I always saw it as a safety improvement, dead man switch sort of thing.

[RED-Z06 2,221]

26 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

I've never understood the reasoning behind this. Not one hydro ever produced by Wheel Horse ever had return to neutral, so why does it matter if the foot pedal does? 

 

The left side pedal returns the hydro to neutral (on all) and applies brakes on later machines. Is this not sufficient?

Its handy to be able to regulate speed on the fly by just having to extend or let up on the pedal and not have to do a separate motion/force.  If you have to use the lever, or tilt the pedal, or use a different pedal, its not as smooth.  On my 416-H if i use the brake to return to neutral its very harsh and not very precise.

[PWL216 889]

@RED-Z06 I confirmed with the Peter that there is no return to neutral. I agree with @kpinnc - not sure it’s needed, just use the left side pedal.

[kpinnc 12,006]

3 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

Its handy to be able to regulate speed on the fly by just having to extend or let up on the pedal and not have to do a separate motion/force. 

 

I do understand that, but the pedal range of motion allows full forward and reverse. Also, unless you have your hydro friction cranked way down, it returns to neutral anyway. At least mine do. The hydro pushes back against any input.

 

I'll be the first to admit that I'm purely speculating here. Neither of my foot pedals are completed, so my experience with them is negligible. I just never understood the need for return to center on something that your foot rests on anyway. Plus all Wheel Horses have the "panic pedal" on the left that usually retains it's functionality.

 

Guess I'll understand more when I start playing with mine. 

 

[RED-Z06 2,221]

3 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

I do understand that, but the pedal range of motion allows full forward and reverse. Also, unless you have your hydro friction cranked way down, it returns to neutral anyway. At least mine do. The hydro pushes back against any input.

 

I'll be the first to admit that I'm purely speculating here. Neither of my foot pedals are completed, so my experience with them is negligible. I just never understood the need for return to center on something that your foot rests on anyway. Plus all Wheel Horses have the "panic pedal" on the left that usually retains it's functionality.

 

Guess I'll understand more when I start playing with mine. 

 

I have my friction cranked down pretty snug...it doesn't return to neutral but it wanders down.

[Rick3478 428]

8 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

What model is that pedal picture from?  And do you have a part number?  It looks like it might have potential for retrofit modifications.

 

Edited January 19 by Rick3478
delete extraneous info

[kpinnc 12,006]

25 minutes ago, Rick3478 said:

What model is that pedal picture from?  And do you have a part number?  It looks like it might have potential for retrofit modifications.

 

That's one I modified to work on a Wheel Horse. Still in progress...

[Bill D 1,919]

I included an automatic return to neutral on the pedal I built.  Much safer in my opinion.

[c-series don 8,688]

Does the factory one require modifying the belt guard? 

[Bill D 1,919]

50 minutes ago, c-series don said:

Does the factory one require modifying the belt guard? 

Yes.  Didn't someone give you a 520H a few years back that had a factory foot pedal?  I thought I saw an old post about it.

[c-series don 8,688]

9 minutes ago, Bill D said:

Yes.  Didn't someone give you a 520H a few years back that had a factory foot pedal?  I thought I saw an old post about it.

Wow Bill, yes they certainly did! I removed the foot control and passed the tractor along to my son in law. I can’t believe you remembered that!! I thought the belt guard on that 520 was cut and I was thinking about putting the foot control on my 418-C that I don’t want to cut up. 

[ebinmaine 67,426]

1 hour ago, c-series don said:

Wow Bill, yes they certainly did! I removed the foot control and passed the tractor along to my son in law. I can’t believe you remembered that!! I thought the belt guard on that 520 was cut and I was thinking about putting the foot control on my 418-C that I don’t want to cut up. 

 

Maybe get a spare foot board or belt guard and keep the original?

 

[Bill D 1,919]

1 hour ago, c-series don said:

Wow Bill, yes they certainly did! I removed the foot control and passed the tractor along to my son in law. I can’t believe you remembered that!! I thought the belt guard on that 520 was cut and I was thinking about putting the foot control on my 418-C that I don’t want to cut up. 

I remember commenting on the tractor when you posted pictures of it.  I thought it was a great gift!  I seem to remember that the pedal was on upside down when you got it, but I might be wrong about that.  I also googled wheel horse hydro pedal looking for inspiration when I was building my pedal, and found pictures of it.