An assembly for actuating components of a surgical retractor comprising: a dial; a shaft coupled to the dial; a drive gear coupled to the shaft, wherein the drive gear is configured to rotate along a first axis based on movement of the dial; a first linking member located along a second axis and configured to rotate along the second axis based on contact with the drive gear as the drive gear is rotated, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis; a second linking member located along the second axis and configured to rotate about the second axis based on rotation of the drive gear and a coupling between the first linking member and the second linking member; a linking member selector configured to rotate about the first axis, the linking member selector comprising: a handle for rotating the linking member selector and selecting at least a position corresponding to the first linking member; and a cylindrical body integrally formed with the handle, wherein the cylindrical body includes (i) an aperture along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body, wherein the aperture is configured to receive the shaft; and characterized in that the cylindrical body further includes (ii) at least one protrusion configured to exert a force on the first linking member based on selection, via the handle, of the position corresponding to the first linking member, wherein the force on the first linking member causes the coupling between the first linking member and the second linking member. a dial; a shaft coupled to the dial; a drive gear coupled to the shaft, wherein the drive gear is configured to rotate along a first axis based on movement of the dial; a first linking member located along a second axis and configured to rotate along the second axis based on contact with the drive gear as the drive gear is rotated, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis; a second linking member located along the second axis and configured to rotate about the second axis based on rotation of the drive gear and a coupling between the first linking member and the second linking member; a linking member selector configured to rotate about the first axis, the linking member selector comprising: a handle for rotating the linking member selector and selecting at least a position corresponding to the first linking member; and a cylindrical body integrally formed with the handle, wherein the cylindrical body includes (i) an aperture along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body, wherein the aperture is configured to receive the shaft; and characterized in that the cylindrical body further includes (ii) at least one protrusion configured to exert a force on the first linking member based on selection, via the handle, of the position corresponding to the first linking member, wherein the force on the first linking member causes the coupling between the first linking member and the second linking member. a handle for rotating the linking member selector and selecting at least a position corresponding to the first linking member; and a cylindrical body integrally formed with the handle, wherein the cylindrical body includes (i) an aperture along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body, wherein the aperture is configured to receive the shaft; and characterized in that the cylindrical body further includes (ii) at least one protrusion configured to exert a force on the first linking member based on selection, via the handle, of the position corresponding to the first linking member, wherein the force on the first linking member causes the coupling between the first linking member and the second linking member.