Can I still use the manual lever with the kit fitted?
Yes. The LFT20 and LFT54 do not remove the tractor's control lever; they only attach to the outer end of the existing Lift-O-Matik cable, and since the original connection on the tractor side is never disturbed, manual use is preserved. You can cut the kit's supply and operate the lever by hand, and if necessary remove the kit completely and return the tractor to its original state.
The installation logic is deliberately reversible. The end of the existing cable outside the tractor is detached and connected to the kit's cable entry socket. The original connection on the tractor side is left untouched, and the control lever and mechanism stay in place.
The practical consequences:
- In case of an electrical fault, a battery problem or a blown fuse, you can carry on using the lever by hand.
- You have a ready reference point for troubleshooting: disable the kit and try it by hand; if the behaviour is the same, the problem is not in the kit.
- When selling the tractor or moving to another one, the kit can be removed and taken with you; no permanent change is left behind.
The point to watch is the cable length. With the kit fitted, the cable leaves a distance on the kit side equal to the kit's pull range. In manual use, check whether the lever's range of movement has changed; if the lever goes past the transport position into the continuous pumping sector, the oil heats up and the spring loses its tension.
Full topic: Converting a tractor hydraulic lever to electronic control