Aftermarket suspension seats

[MChalkley]

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions on higher-than-OEM-quality suspension seats? I'd sure like one that would fit my L4310 that had a little more travel. I think the stock one has about 3" of travel, maybe a little less. It sure would be nice to have another couple inches with a more progressive resistance increase - maybe hydraulic or air instead of springs. Any ideas?

Mark

[Bird]

Can't help you, but certainly agree that it would be a nice alteration to make. My 190 pounds seems to hit the bottom of my springs now and then.

Bird

[Hawgee]

Mark

I have no time in a suspension seat on a tractor. Just an old MF Utility 35 with new seat covers. [img]/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif[/img] I do have two years in a GMC running a detroit compressor and 55' ladder truck. What was suggested to me at the time was to add weight to the frame. The seat in this truck run at about $600 at the time. (1978) The problem is when the manufacture sets them to handle small and large framed drivers. I'm 5'7" @ 168lbs. The seat was designed for up to 250lbs. I added weight (old cast iron double hung window wieghts, We do always complain for more traction???) to under side and adjusted as a larger person. It worked for me with this setup.
What I found when test driving the newer Boomers was the fact that the seat also goes down toward the floor as you move it forward for short legs. Without much seat time I can't be a fair judge of this new one. I do know what its like to bottom out. OUCH! [img]/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif[/img]
Most of my ground is NOT level and more utility work than the row cropping. Any give has to be better than none. This is one subject I will follow closely. [img]/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif[/img]
I've said it before. I do believe in Tractor Gods and someone somewhere is listening. They have seen to the user nice-a-ties but now its time to "TAKE CARE OF WHERE WE CARRY OUR WALLETS! [img]/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

[MChalkley]

Bird & Hawgee - My 195 pounds is plenty to exercise the suspension, I think. [img]/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif[/img] The problem is that if I adjust the suspension so that it's comfortable most of the time, when I hit that occasional really bad bump, I bottom out and it hurts my lower back. If I set it so it doesn't bottom out on the bad bumps, it's uncomfortable the rest of the time and my back gets sore, whether there's any bad bumps or not. Thus, my need for more travel and/or better damping. We'll see what the "brain trust" turns up. I haven't been disappointed yet.

Mark

[wen]

Mark, I noticed that my Kubota dealer had a really nice replacement seat for the M Series. They have adjustments for up to 300# and have never seen mine hit bottom and they are very comfortable to ride on all day. I think all of the M Series use the same seat.

[MChalkley]

Wen - Thanks! I'll have to find an M-series dealer so I can check it out. My dealer doesn't sell anything bigger than the L-series. I wonder if they'll fit on an L.

Mark

[Hawgee]

Mark

I do remember seeing lots of seats for sale in a Northern Tool catalog. Complete with deminsions.

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

[Bird]

Yep, that "Item # 11756-C149" in the lower right corner of page 34 of Northern's master catalog sure looks good, except for that $339.99 price.[img]/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif[/img] Might be worth it though. And of course, I don't know how hard it might be to adapt or mount on a Kubota.

Bird

[Hawgee]

I was told that the seat that swivels side to side on the new 25/40/45hp Boomers might run @ $300 without looking in the catalog.

And to agree with Mark on the importance of a good seat, try relating the $500 plus cost to a bad back or out of action waiting to heal. What is the price there? [img]/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif[/img]

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Hawgee on 7/30/00 07:37 PM.</FONT></P>

[Bird]

Yep, like I said, might be worth it, if it'll mount properly on the tractor, and performs like the catalog description.

Bird