I have a JD with the joy stick and a Wheelhorse that I converted to foot pedal through some creative welding and fabricating. I use both to cut the lawn. By far, I prefer the foot pedal. I copied the idea from a piece of equipment at work. The currently available foot pedal models aren't as easy to operate as mine, so that might be a deciding factor.

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Why not test drive a tractor with the foot pedal controls? Very "finessable" and you have both hands free to steer. You do realize that with pedal controls, the more you push, the faster you go. Infinately adjustible speed.

I would never go back to a lever control. My deere has a lever for cruise control and I never use it but rather just use the foot control.

The foot pedals are just like a car, it will very quickly become second nature to you and is much easier and faster to change speeds. If your lawn is a hilly/bumpy as you say you will definitely want both hands on the wheel when mowing. I bet your local Deere Dealer will bring out a demo unit for you to try if you request it.

I had a broken right heel when I bought my 318, which made hand controls a requirement. Now that my foot has healed and only hurts on days that end in "Y", I still appreciate having hand controls.

There you have it, buy one with hand controls in case you ever break your heal. It will be cheap insurance.

Just a note on your observation about all of the hydrostatic Craftsman tractors having a belt that runs from the engine to the transaxle: That is how the power is transfered from the engine to the hydraulic pump. The hydrostats on these tractors is a one piece pump/transmission. If the Craftsman had hand controls and was sold as having a hydrostatic transmission then you may have found your tractor with hand controls instead of foot controls.

seems there are still a few hand controlled units out there, i know sears has several models. not up to the quality of a select Series Deere, but decent units especially for their price!

but honestly you need to test drive ANY machine before you buy it. you will be amazed at the advancements over the years.

i have 2 foot controlled hydro units and have driven my FIL's hand controled cub, i can tell you that i MUCH prefer the foot controlled. but it is really a personal preference thing sort of like whether to get a side discharge deck, mulch deck, rear discharge deck, combo deck, or even a bagger. none of us here can honestly say what you will like.

My JD GT has both a foot control and a hand control and I can truthfully say I NEVER use the hand control. But I might add
that if the hand control was handy to the steering wheel, say on the dash, I might use it from time to time.

Ihave 2 with hand controls and like them. The only time I change up speed is when I'm slowing around trees, etc, otherwise I hardly ever touch the control, BUT my property is flat. I do have an 18deg driveway I use them on, and have never had any problems...but that's not wet grass either. If yours is hilly as you say it might be worth investigating the foot control. Don't know much about them.

I've tried the foot control, but it takes a lot of pressure to keep that control pedal down to make the machine move. I don't like that feature. But, i don't have anything that new in my stable.
Another thing: Being that i have an artificial leg, on the left side, the right hand foot pedal that must be held down, would certainly be detrimental to somebody with an artificial right leg and/or foot, mainly because of the odd angle of the pedal. And the lack of really good controlability of the foot to pedal action.
Since i do not have the where-withall in the money department to afford one of the latest tractors, i just stick to the clutch type of tractor as made in the past!

I would say the foot controls have come a long way. Mine is '94 and is like the new versions and is very easy to depress and the angle is very natural. I would hate to try to mow around obstacles and change speeds without both hands free.

my 2 cents - I've had both and prefer foot pedals. I like having 2 hands on the wheel - especially on hills

I also have had both hand and foot controls on JD LT's. I much prefer foot control, but would like to point out that the foot controls, even within just the JD product lines, differ quite a bit. I find the angles and pressure needed for the lower end JD lines to be unpleasant compared to the system on my LT160 ( which I think is the same as the X300 series). Anyway, the point is to try different manufacturers and different products within manufacturers to see if you like one or another.

My relatively new JD X738 is foot control. I prefer it as it is easier to use for most jobs than my old JD 322. My brother in law sold his JD 332 and bought a new Kubota. He has had four knee replacements, do the math, and wants to trade his new tractor for my 322. His problem, the foot petal vibrates his knee, causes pain. Second problem, he tells me he can't find a decent lever controlled John Deere. What should I do?

Swap him your old 322 for his new Kubota !

My Simplicity Broadmoor has both foot and lever.

I think for mowing a golf course, or large open lot, a hand lever, with a "cruise control" would be the most convenient, but if your yard is like mine, full of obstacles, then the foot control really shines. I need to backup and steer around stuff constantly, so the foot control is far better than using my hand.

tom

Ages ago I converted my Wheelhorse 312A to foot pedal. Absolutely love it. My JD316, younger brother of the 322 above, was just as much a pain to cut up and down and varying speeds, so I converted that to foot pedal too.

You need fabricating skills but it's worth every minute. BTW, my yard is 1.6 acres of obstacles and constantly adjusting the joy stick and steering with one hand is tiring.

chris

Joystick ? Pretty high tech for an Old-timer like you Bud ! lol. Where you been hiding Chris ?

I think the 400 is a great machine and pretty comfortable but the pedal conversion is a must. I am planning on converting mine this winter. If you like to tinker a little than the 400 is great, powerful, comfortable, mows nice and it's a 72" deck. Good tractor as a base for building on.

Just my opinion. Good luck

I am still around and enjoying the mow.

I have a bad back, and can't sit with my feet in a fixed potion for long, with that I will not deal with foot control, (yes even driving a auto, same issue, I have to purchase cushions and such to go over a hour driving and it takes me 2 1/2 hours to do my whole yard) a I would rather spend the $$$$$ to fix the old one than to purchase something that I would never use which I'm going to have to do.

I feel your pain. Had 2003 model Craftsman "garden tractor" w/hand controlled hydrostatic drive and loved it. Actually its been so long that I've had to buy a new mower I didn't know that they DIDN'T all come that way. Feel kind of upset about the 2-pedal system. I liked the hand-control of the other.

Same here-been driving a Craftsman 2003 with hand controlled hydrostatic drive and had to get a new mower this year 2021, and boy, it was a rude awakening to find no hand controls on anything. I suppose it's whatever you get used to, but I loved zipping around 3+ acres of lawn/hilly-bumpy field with that hand control-made me feel like I had "4 on the floor." ha ha. Does anybody make hand controlled anymore?

So... now it is 2024 and my grandmother is looking for a new riding mower... she cannot use her feet hardly at all... what options are there now that do not require leg/feet use?