Does fitting a lift kit count as a modification, does it affect vehicle inspection?
Permitted modifications are listed in the AITM annex; no binding provision was found for an electronic kit on the control lever. Ask the inspection station.
We cannot give a definite answer, and we say plainly that we cannot. The types of modification permitted in Türkiye are listed in the annex to the AITM Regulation; work such as chassis, brakes, steering, cab and the addition of equipment calls for a project approved by an authorised engineer. No binding provision has been identified as to how an electronic kit that attaches to the cable of the control lever, and does not enter the hydraulic circuit, is treated in that list. The right place to put the question is therefore the vehicle inspection station or an authorised mechanical engineer.
The part of the legislation that is clear
The modification on a vehicle presented for inspection after modification has to have been designed and approved as a project by an authorised engineer, and the vehicle has to have been modified in accordance with that approved project. You attend the inspection with the approved modification project and the relevant calculations. On tractors, the addition of equipment such as a bucket, a loader or a trencher, and the fitting of a type-approved cab, are assessed within that scope.
What the kit changes on the vehicle, and what it does not
Let us state the part that is not clear just as plainly: for an electronic control kit that attaches to the cable of the existing control lever, does not enter the hydraulic circuit and does not change the chassis, brakes, steering, lighting or the dimensions of the vehicle, no binding provision has been identified. For that reason we cannot say "it passes inspection without trouble". So that you can describe the situation correctly, let us set out one by one what the kit does on the vehicle:
| System | What happens when the kit is fitted |
|---|---|
| Hydraulic circuit | Unchanged; the kit does not enter the oil line and does not touch the valve or the pipework — the detail is here |
| Chassis, brakes, steering, lighting | Unchanged |
| Vehicle dimensions and weight distribution | Unchanged; the enclosure is fixed to the existing body |
| Electrical system | A separate fused supply line is added |
| Control lever | An electric actuator is added onto the existing quick lift cable; the lever itself is not removed |
This table is not a declaration of conformity; it only makes it easier for you to describe the situation correctly. The authority making the assessment looks at the matter through the registration record and the class of the vehicle; the same kit may be assessed differently on different classes of vehicle.
What to do before going for inspection
- Before the inspection, describe the situation to the inspection station in your area and get their view; in describing it, state that the kit does not enter the hydraulics and that the lever is not removed.
- Consult an authorised mechanical engineer if necessary; the assessment can vary with the type of the vehicle and its registration record.
- Ask for the view you are given in writing if you can. A verbal confirmation is of no use when a different official is in front of you on the day of the inspection.
- Keep photographs of the installation and the technical information for the kit with you.
- If there is any doubt, removing the kit before the inspection is the simplest way of ending the argument.
The one thing that is certain: the installation is reversible
Know that the installation is reversible: since the original cable connection on the tractor side is not undone, the kit can be taken off and the vehicle returned to its original state. That is the practical counterpart of the reversible installation approach; when it is removed, all that is left is the bracket holes and the cable route, and the mechanical operation of the lever carries on as it did on the first day. The removal steps are described under removing the kit and restoring the tractor. That means you can take the kit off before presenting the vehicle for inspection and refit it if you need to.
In short: comply with the part of the legislation that is clear, and get a written view on the part that is not. You will not hear the sentence "it passes inspection without trouble" from us; the bodies that can say that are the inspection station and an authorised engineer. Nor is the account here a legal opinion; legislation can change and practice can differ from station to station. For further information on the subject you can get in touch with us.
The full topic: Converting a tractor hydraulic lever to electronic control