Mounting up on the left

Gary Mitchell · Oct 5, 2014

Herbie and I were sitting out on his patio yesterday enjoying the tail end of fall and got to talking about getting on and off of tractors. He's 85 and has bad knees. He said that he can hardly get on his Super 55 or on an 8N anymore but call still get on old Farmalls and his 77 due to climbing up from the back.

This led to noticing that we both get on tractors from the left side, like one does a horse. With more conversation we noted that cab doors are on the left, while hydraulic controls, pto levers, etc. are on the right and in the way of mounting from that side.

So am I 50 years behind in noticing this and does this derive from the olden days of riding horses and mules? gm

Janicholson · Oct 5, 2014

It just may do so. Interesting. Examples come to mind: Motorcycles have kickstands on the left, and I don't think I have seen operators of motorcycles get on from the right (exceptions are dirt bikes when picked up and jumped on after a spill)
Driver doors in the US and where drivers are on the left side also place leftness into the system.
Combines have ladders going up from the left (all that I have seen)
Commercial Airplane passengers enter the left side of the craft, as do pilots for general aviation planes with side by side seating.
I rarely mount my bicycle from the right side.
Boats (small craft) seam to be an exception, with pilot stations on the right.
Unicycles from the rear!!!!
I get on all our tractors from the right rear, or right (utility style)
Jim

redforlife · Oct 5, 2014

Well, I for one believes it does. I have noticed that for along time. Another thing is, double brake pedals on the right. Makes it harder to mount on the right with those on tractors without a cab. Strange thing is, in vehicles the driver gets in on left but the brakes are on the left or in the middle if its a manuel transmission.

Charlie M · Oct 5, 2014

I get on my H and M from the left side almost all the time even though there is no difference getting on from the right side. When I have got on from the right side it didn't seem right. I don't know if just habit or something else.

todd hamilton · Oct 5, 2014

It's the design for right handed people. As tractors modernized hydraulic controls tended to be mounted on right side. Combine cabs same. Boat captain chairs are mounted on right side so that control cables to engine run down right side of boat. I guess cars and trucks are reversed as there is more room in the middle for fear shifters and other controls.

notjustair · Oct 5, 2014

I've added extra steps on the left rear of my farmall M so I always use the left. Only time I use the right is if I have the PTO running for the mixer grinder and don't want to walk around. I end up getting up to the platform and then standing there trying to figure out what to do with my long legs. The only tractor I ever get on from the right is the little Farmall A. I always step on the right side of the drawbar with my left foot, swing my right around in front of the seat, and then climb on.

On the 4440 and 7800 JD I have no choice, but the loader joystick is on the right. Kind of a pain because so is the power shift. Be nice to be "two handed" when feeding in the winter.

Our old Massey combine had the cab offset to the left so that you were even with the left edge of the header. Controls were on the right and you were looking to the right to see all of the header.

Leroy · Oct 5, 2014

The AC combines were on the right but they were based on a left hand style of cut. The smaller Ford or Ferguson used either side depending on what want trying to do, the blue series Ford left as only side that had factory step. Deere A & B and Farmal H right rear but had fenders and used right hand, stronger, to pull myself up, John Deere AR left rear as seat was on right side so could see wheel in furrow while plowing.

roaddevil49 · Oct 5, 2014

most boats the operator sits on right to offset the torque of the engine.

Ultradog MN · Oct 5, 2014

Standard on a Ford 4000 ag model tractor is an extra step on the left side.
There isn't one on the right.

pete 23 · Oct 5, 2014

I agree with the left entry, but then why do we milk cows from the right side?

Larry NEIL · Oct 5, 2014

'48 and '49 Fleetline tractors had a right hand entry from the rear as the pto lever originally was on the left.

rrlund · Oct 5, 2014

I figured it originated from a tractor leaning right when sitting in a furrow,so it was easier to get on and off the high side,and the fact that most PTO driven implements,mowers,balers,etc were on the right and you didn't want to get off on that side in front of them.

DoubleR · Oct 5, 2014

I don't know about horses. But I will walk all the way around a tractor to get on the left side even if I can mount on the right.
My old Farmall C is the hardest tractor I got to get on. The Saginaw 3 pt is sure handy but it makes the tractor awful hard to get on and off. I have converted a JD step so I can mount the tractor from the side.

Mike (WA) · Oct 5, 2014

Never thought much about it. Oliver 550 and MF 135, I get on whichever side I'm on. JD compact utility, I get on the left because loader lever is in the way on the right. Kubota I get on the left because that's where the step is.

Beautiful day, going to go clip and pasture harrow.

TomH in PA · Oct 5, 2014

I always assumed it was a holdover from horses. We're also taught to get onto bicycles from the left.

A friend once commented that when an older tractor has fenders the left side will usually be broken and repaired while the right one is still good. Probably from climbing on and off.

Two Dogs · Oct 5, 2014

I mount and dismount my motorcycle from the right because it is easier to swing my leg over the seat while standing on the foot rest on the high side of the bike. Old folks have to do what it takes.

TDF

ss55 · Oct 5, 2014

Belt pulleys were usually on the right hand side of the tractor.

JMS/.MN · Oct 5, 2014

AC combines were left hand cut...just like many binders..sitting on the right side of a WC/WD, it was easier to turn just a bit and see the header, compared to tractors where you sat in the middle.

retired farmer · Oct 5, 2014

We always milked them on the left side.

gtractorfan · Oct 5, 2014

Same with motorcycles. If you move a cycle around from the right side you're asking for trouble.

used red MN · Oct 5, 2014

I think Todd has the main reason nailed. So like a bicycle or motorcycle that have the kick stand on the left you then mount from that side. Because the majority of people are right handed (sorry south paws!.) So you steady yourself with yourself with your right arm as you raise your right leg to access the seat.

Switchflicker · Oct 5, 2014

Couple of things I've noticed.

Boat drivers sit on the right so as they may be closer to the shore, watching for logs and rocks and stuff. Especially true in a river.

When testing private and commercial pilots, If the examiner tells the pilot to make a steep turn - either direction is OK, Almost always he or she will do the turn to the left.

Hmmm??

RN · Oct 5, 2014

I mount motorcycle from right side, did horse also. Right side mount of motorcycle is easier on left leg as other noted- for a right hand person the right leg is often also extra muscled- and a bit harder to get higher at hip. Same situation is some Karate fighters- Wallace could kick higher with left foot faster than right, Tae Kwon do and some Thai boxers will use left foot more for the head kicks while right leg will be used mid body thrust. simple enough body dynamics. Motor cycle drill in mount and dismount- police patrol riders trained to use right side mount/dismount because that is usually the 'Curb' side in a traffic stop and not stepping into traffic lane. Also with left hand on brake lever doing a right side dismount the right hand is handy to pistol for most people- right handed- and if suspect car driver tries to exit and has weapon can quickly draw and shoot- even with left leg partially in air it can be dropped to seat area as pistol is drawn. Watch Blue Knights at Patriot Guard runs, see which side they use. As for the horse mounting? Left side come from english calvary with sword on left side, Indians with spears tended to mount from right side- 1880s calvary manuals had this noted for horse herds taken from Indians, if to be used as remounts then either the horse or the rider had to be retrained. Mounted rifle troops that didn't have swords or the Sharps carbined light calvary that had the carbine shoulder strapped over right side also did the right side mount. The sabre was mounted on the saddle left or right side sometimes for when it would be used as mounted shock troop, dragoon use. Otherwise the trooper would travel by horse and fight on foot- mounted infantry instead of horse troop usually. Officers of mounted rifles were about the only ones with the long sabers as badge of rank. 'English' riding protocol for left side was the upperclass riders if in military were officers with the swords- so that became the 'normal' mount side. Olympic horse events, steeple chase and polo have variations- Polo ponies trained 'Asian' school are right side mount normally. Smart riding horse or Amish work horses get used to both sides. Motorcycle rider get used to whatever as needed and the right and left side mounting is/was taught inmost MSF courses. Tractors mounting- right side of seat may have a PTO lever that would be hard to get around- so use left side. RN

KenL · Oct 5, 2014

I've been wondering that for years but never was brave enough to say anything. I thought everybody would laugh. On tractors, if I'm on the right side, I will always walk around and get on front the left. Then when I sit down, I always wonder why I did it. On anything else including a motorcycle, I will get on from either side unless there is no way to get on from one side. Stupid but true.

Dopp Creek · Oct 5, 2014

Goes back to medieval days when knights (who were dominantly right-handed) carried their swords on the left. Mount the horse from the left side so the sword does not interfere when you swing your right leg over.
As a left-hander I'm sure I would have been relegated to stable duty because a pitchfork works either way.

caterpillar guy · Oct 5, 2014

And now with all this stuff set up for right handed. I feel discriminated against as a left hander. LOL
The colt single action army had the loading gate on the right side so the reins could be held in the left hand while reloading with the right hand, while riding, in the cavalry.

TomH in PA · Oct 5, 2014

I always thought you sit on the right side of the boat because you need to watch for other boats coming from that direction; rules of the road give them the "right-of-way"

Paul from MI · Oct 5, 2014

Let me start off by saying that convenience of access to controls is frequently mentioned in old tractor ads, but not so much in actual design of the controls. Generally speaking, the simplest, most rugged designs usually won out. Lubrication points are even less user friendly. As we age getting off-on the tractor gets tougher, just glad I can still do it. I do find that getting on from the left rear seems to be easier on my row-crop tractors. My Allis-Chalmers B is the worst. If it weren't for a homemade step it wouldn't get used much, and I seem to end up sliding off the fender/rear wheel, even if it's muddy.

Dave H (MI) · Oct 5, 2014

Generally, I get up on the side that has the least oil/hydraulic fluid leaked all over it. This significantly reduces my chances of being involved in something embarrassing.

Leroy · Oct 5, 2014

Hydrolic control on Deere A & B on left so in the way.

Leroy · Oct 5, 2014

Was refering to the AC model 100 self propeled seat on the right and straw walker exiting to the right.

Russ from MN · Oct 5, 2014

Our JD 4600 has an extra step on the left, and the hydraulic levers are on the right, but the shift lever is on the left. If it's in 1st or 3rd it a little in the way of entry, and its OK to leave the transmission in gear, as long as the reverser is in neutral. On our Farmall C the belt sheave to run the Woods mower is on the right, so I put extra steps on the left. On a motorcycle the kickstand is on the left so that seems like the natural side to get on.

Kansas4010 · Oct 5, 2014

I had read somewhere that Sam Colt was a lefty so that's why the loading gate is on the right. A left handed person can hold it in their left hand and reload but a righty has to switch hands. If I remember right Sam died before the SAA came out but it was designed to be somewhat similar to the previous revolvers. Don't hold me to that it's something I just vaguely remember reading.

fixerupper · Oct 5, 2014

I had a Triumph motorcycle that had the rear foot brake on the right and shifter on the left, just the opposite of US or Japanese bikes. Many a times I tried to use the rear brake by pushing down on the gear shifter.

Bill VA · Oct 5, 2014

My JD 5055d has a factory hand rail on the left side of the tractor for climbing on. Pretty handy.

Cliff Nelson · Oct 5, 2014

We milked in a stanchion barn with pipeline, half of the cows were milked from left and half from right. Some cows would let you know if they were in the wrong stall and therefore on the wrong side.

big jt · Oct 5, 2014

My thought would be it goes back to the days of the moldboard plow.

Pretty much all tractor plows had the worked ground to the right. Get on the tractor from the smoother unworked ground. I think most drivers look over their right shoulder to look at the work so as tractors developed better ergonomics you had your controls infront of you (right there on the right side of the seat) instead of behind you.

jm2cw

jt

johnlobb · Oct 6, 2014

Prior to about 1975 all British, Harleys and some other bikes had right shift and left brakes, German, Japanese and some Spanish had left shift and right brakes. Federal Government mandated around this time all motorcycles shift on left and brake on right. If one is flat track racing left shift does not work well while your left foot is out sliding, but too many people were injured/killed by stomping on the wrong petal in an emergency, I know I drove a Bultaco with right shift and instinctively hit the shifter when trying to stop, almost dumped it. I was used to my Maico.

mkirsch · Oct 6, 2014

As a left-hander I'm sure I would have been relegated to stable duty because a pitchfork works either way.

Actually, you would have had your left-handedness beaten out of you as a child, or you would have been burned at the stake as a witch/warlock/demon.

Hoenes · Oct 6, 2014

Dopp, I have heard the same theory. That's why the "English" drive on the left, and "Americans" drive on the right. The knights always passed on the left, so no one could grab their sword. The cowboys in the old west always passed on the right, so no one could grab their revolver.

Mounting up on the left

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