Adding suspension to BX1860 seat

[Bravo Xray]

Thanks for the valuable input, everybody! I'm leaning towards the V5300 Michigan, as it comes with a seat belt and operator presence switch built in. My OEM seats have always been garage kept and are in perfect shape. It's a shame to take them out of service, but more comfort might be the deciding factor. I'll probably start by putting one on my BX1860. We'll see when the budget will allow for the luxury. :thumbsup:

 

[Zick]

I put the Michigan seat on my BX2350.
Had to use some flat steel to line up the back and also had to put a spacer in the front as it had too much tilt towards the front.

Still haven't come up with a way to re-attach the seat belts.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/Zick/Kubota/IMAG0275_zpsad35bf40.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/Zick/Kubota/IMAG0276_zps3289e443.jpg


Edit, not sure if these links will work for anyone since photobucket wants to be @ssholes. :muttering:

 

[kthompson]

Found this by I think texasmark (post 6) on thread about ztr mower that is going on right now here. Now this is regarding ztr seat but might solve your need and price is right.

"Only addition was a pair of springs under the seat since it comes without them. Just makes a great machine better. If interested, just go to the Google search engine and type in: 732-05182A; about 6 bucks apiece."

I guess he installed longer bolts through the springs...makes sense.

 

[Bravo Xray]

Thanks. My seats already have the springs... I wish it could be that simple.

FWIW I contacted Gravely's folks through their website. A very nice lady there suggested the suspension kit that I had already purchased and installed. Sadly, it doesn't do enough, and worse, it doesn't even come close to fitting. As someone else said it took drilling several holes, fabricating a bracket, and adding a bunch of fender washes to space it far enough away from the seat so that the kit would allow some travel. I sent her some pictures and detailed info about why it didn't fit, even though it was listed on their website as the correct part, but haven't heard back. my hope is that they update thier info to exclude fitment on a 2017 ZTHD. We'll see.

Thanks again, everybody.

 

[Bravo Xray]

Re: Adding suspension to BX1860 seat.. update

I did my research, spent hours agonizing, took a deep breath, finally flipped a coin and hoped for the best. :laughing: I hate buying stuff like this sight unseen.

Bought the Michigan seat. Installed it on my Gravely ZTHD. If I like it I'll probably get one for the BX. In the meantime, some thoughts on the reviews posted about this seat:

Packaging. Most posts said that it came unprotected inside a flimsy cardboard box. Sure enough, it did. There was some box damage, but to my surprise the seat survived pretty much okay. The only damage was that one of the mounting studs broke its tack weld, as other posters noted. Still works, just had to put some pressure on it to bolt it down.

Comfort and adjustability. Wow. Lots of travel, especially compared to the OEM seat. Good padding, too. Backrest angle is adjustable. It even has adjustable lumbar support, but I'm not sure how much I'll notice that. Heck, even the arm rests are adjustable for height, as well as lifting up out of the way. And of course it's adjustable fore and aft.

Overall quality seems okay, and I'm sure it will hold up just fine under my fat butt, bumpy fields and limited run times. It fit perfectly in the slots already in the Gravely's seat mounting pan. Can't wait to see how it performs. Sadly, I just mowed everything on my route day before yesterday, so I'll have to wait a week or so before I get to take it out and play.

Thanks again for all the helpful info, guys! :thumbsup:

 

[civilian]

Re: Adding suspension to BX1860 seat.. update

I did my research, spent hours agonizing, took a deep breath, finally flipped a coin and hoped for the best. :laughing: I hate buying stuff like this sight unseen.

Bought the Michigan seat. Installed it on my Gravely ZTHD. If I like it I'll probably get one for the BX. In the meantime, some thoughts on the reviews posted about this seat:

Packaging. Most posts said that it came unprotected inside a flimsy cardboard box. Sure enough, it did. There was some box damage, but to my surprise the seat survived pretty much okay. The only damage was that one of the mounting studs broke its tack weld, as other posters noted. Still works, just had to put some pressure on it to bolt it down.

Comfort and adjustability. Wow. Lots of travel, especially compared to the OEM seat. Good padding, too. Backrest angle is adjustable. It even has adjustable lumbar support, but I'm not sure how much I'll notice that. Heck, even the arm rests are adjustable for height, as well as lifting up out of the way. And of course it's adjustable fore and aft.

Overall quality seems okay, and I'm sure it will hold up just fine under my fat butt, bumpy fields and limited run times. It fit perfectly in the slots already in the Gravely's seat mounting pan. Can't wait to see how it performs. Sadly, I just mowed everything on my route day before yesterday, so I'll have to wait a week or so before I get to take it out and play.

Thanks again for all the helpful info, guys! :thumbsup:

Pictures???? or it didn't happen! LOL Jon

 

[Bravo Xray]

Re: Adding suspension to BX1860 seat.. update

Pictures???? or it didn't happen! LOL Jon

What would like a picture of? The seat after installation? My fat butt in the seat? The old seat? The box is already cut up to be recycled so that's off the table. I didn't take pictures of the process, as I don't have a way to hold the cell phone and work at the same time... I'm a registered dinosaur. :laughing:

Like most first time projects, this was 90% cerebral and 10% physical. Not at all hard to actually do the work, but trying to imagine the easiest and most efficient way to do the work took the time. Actual installation time... probably 15 minutes. Time to figure it all out... well, that was a lot longer. And alcohol was not involved.

From the previous installation of the suspension component (that wasn't all that effective) I learned that I needed to support the weight of the seat while I was trying to bolt it up. Not having anybody else around, I used a small block and tackle hanging from the joists above to suspend the seat so I could bolt things up. That little step saved me a bunch of time, a couple of band aids, and a bunch of quarters in the swear jar.