Hydro lift lever

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

I need help on this lift handle that came on my 1974 c160. I changed it with the one that was on my 1977 c160 but now that I fixed up my 1977 I reinstalled it on this one. It's very hard to use the lift but it looks like it was made for a wheelhorse.  I went to all the c160 parts manual and non of them look like this.

Has anyone ever seen this type handle and what's it go on. I circled the handle

[ebinmaine 67,598]

As you know we only have manual transmissions here except the Charger hydro project. 

I thought all the older Wheelhorse hydro handle/knobs were much smaller. 

That lift handle looks like an owner mod. 

[953 nut 55,310]

The '69 Charger I sold to Paul looked like this. Has a short little handle and worked fine, otherwise it looks just like yours.

[squonk 41,151]

Looks like something somebody made when they broke/lost the original one.

[ebinmaine 67,598]

I'm curious to know how the replacement lever works as shown in Bob's picture above.

Looks as though it would move fore and aft but I thought the Wheel Horse levers went up and down?

[JoeM 7,874]

@BOB ELLISON looks custom.

really got me thinking a bit, if you extend the handle up, like a hydro handle, just might be okay. 

And then I started thinking if it would be cool to have on some kind of foot control?

 

that is when my wife says I get in trouble.....when I start thinking! 

 

Edited October 9, 2021 by JoeM

[squonk 41,151]

12 minutes ago, JoeM said:

@BOB ELLISON looks custom.

really got me thinking a bit, if you extend the handle up, like a hydro handle, just might be okay. 

And then I started thinking if it would be cool to have on some kind of foot control?

 

that is when my wife says I get in trouble.....when I start thinking! 

 

That's what I did on my C-160. I wanted to be able to steer the tractor, control the hydro and lift height whilst plowing. 

 

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

The '69 Charger I sold to Paul looked like this. Has a short little handle and worked fine, otherwise it looks just like yours.

I have the original on my 74 c160 as in the first picture. I did get a better picture of the long handle. The long handle looks original to the Hydro lift and looks originally made for this tractor. If its a home made handle it well made.

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

@squonk I may just try that. Extending the top to see it's any easier to use.  As it is it's very hard to pull it back. The original handle is one finger easy. Even the knob looks 70ish 

[JoeM 7,874]

@squonk just way ahead of the curve, looks nice!

 

[squonk 41,151]

Went to a tractor scrap yard and sawed off a hydro handle then welded it to an original broken handle.

 

[pacer 3,173]

This handle is what is on the D's ..... and oddly enough on my Massey the handle is very similar but enough difference to not interchange, and I broke one of the MF's (they are potmetal/Zamac? - fragile!) Using the pieces glued back together I used it to make one on the mill. Heh, I DID have to make - IIRC - 4 "prototypes" 

 

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

I've tried to add height and it's still not as easy as I think it should be and it's to close to the hood.

 I can't believe someone made this with such great detail. It  just doesn't have enough leverage to work right. Even the knob has a brass insert. I'm going to replace it with an original. Or maybe cut this one down and install a S hook like the original. I was hoping it was original for a different model and giving it to someone that maybe needs one.

I don't like to destroy an original part.

By the way I didn't make that welded piece it was in my junk pile.

[pacer 3,173]

With those last pics showing more detail - I am now of the opinion that it was/is ... shop? made....

[Lee1977 6,666]

Bob is the hole below the control valve for the S-hook broken off. I can't see it from your pictures, that may be the reason for the home made lever.

 

Edited October 9, 2021 by Lee1977

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

1 hour ago, Lee1977 said:

Bob is the hole below the control valve for the S-hook broken off. I can't see it from your pictures, that may be the reason for the home made lever.

 

Nope the hole looks fine

[pacer 3,173]

I think @Lee1977 has hit on the problem -- that hole is where the "S" hook/connx fits to give the handle a 'fulcrum' and the handle that should be there is the one that is shown in your 2nd pic (that I said looks like the D's)

 

With that loooong handle you have it appears to be getting its fulcrum from way down at the foot rest .... yes?

[ebinmaine 67,598]

17 minutes ago, pacer said:

I think @Lee1977 has hit on the problem -- that hole is where the "S" hook/connx fits to give the handle a 'fulcrum' and the handle that should be there is the one that is shown in your 2nd pic (that I said looks like the D's)

 

With that loooong handle you have it appears to be getting its fulcrum from way down at the foot rest .... yes?

I'd agree with that. 

 

The pivot being so far away is really not offering much if any leverage to decrease work. 

 

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

I agree with @pacer and @ebinmaine it being so low mounted there was no leverage. So I had to take things into my own hands. I did some cutting , grinding and drilling. I hated to destroy someone's work of art but no one could identify it as an original part. And it works easy now just as the original one on my other c160 just a tad shorter. I still need to paint it but I'm happy.

Thanks to everyone that replied to this.

[pacer 3,173]

Oh Yeah!!! now that is MUCH better!!! 

 

You make the "S" part too? Or just had one on hand.... If you made that, then that IS impressive!

[BOB ELLISON 2,981]

8 minutes ago, pacer said:

Oh Yeah!!! now that is MUCH better!!! 

 

You make the "S" part too? Or just had one on hand.... If you made that, then that IS impressive!

I made the S hook in 15 mins. Heat and a U shaped bolt in the vice. I believe its stainless steel. It only took about an hour to modify the hole thing. If I would have had to cut out the slot opening that would take hours and I don't think I would have done it. 

[ebinmaine 67,598]

11 hours ago, BOB ELLISON said:

I hated to destroy someone's work of art but......

I respectfully disagree with the wording. 

I agree that it was a nice piece... But... It was not fully functional. 

 

It is now not only well done I the areas that the original builder made it ... It is also fully functional. 

 

I'd say you improved "someone's work of art". 

 

Well done sir.