L3400/2800 suspension seat...

[davrenn]

yes, even with all tension off of the springs arms don't move freely. And of course the more you tighten, the more resistance to moving (bottoming)

Guess maybe one of the original posts was onto the solution when he said he worked his up and down about a "million" times. Think I'm only at about 50,000.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I'm glad to see that you also had the same problem. Not really... I also had the very same problem with the suspension seat on my L3400. After removing it, soaking it, hammering on it, etc. and many attempts later - if finally broke loose.

I have no real advice regarding how to free it up seeing that none of my earlier 999 efforts didn't do the job. But at least you can feel better knowing that you have my sympathetic ear.

Keep on trucking, err banging.

 

[k0ua]

Well, I didn't count how many times I did the Wily Coyote stomp on the thing, but it was a bunch. And I am a bit on the porky side, so maybe that helped. But it did finally free up good. And it worked well until I traded it off for the Kioti. No stomping on the Kioti needed. Which is kinda ironic.

 

[davrenn]

No stomping on the Kioti needed. Which is kinda ironic.

Yes, isn't it though....so much for the Kubota quality you pay extra for.

The really maddening part is to think how long this same inferior design was used....apparently thousands? of tractors, years and years of production. Quite disappointing.

 

[davrenn]

Well fellas...wonder of wonders...sometimes it pays to cuss the Kubota god.

Was doing some more stomp down/pry up cycles, and somewhere between 50,000 and a million, the thing finally freed up. Only have the approximate 1 inch or so of designed movement, but when you had zero that's a big win.

Bottom line...keep at it.

 

[k0ua]

Well fellas...wonder of wonders...sometimes it pays to cuss the Kubota god.

Was doing some more stomp down/pry up cycles, and somewhere between 50,000 and a million, the thing finally freed up. Only have the approximate 1 inch or so of designed movement, but when you had zero that's a big win.

Bottom line...keep at it.

Yep, you gotta stomp on it for a "while"

 

[Recoveryhill]

I'm guessing nobody ever discovered an answer to the original question...?

Have you 3400/2800 owners had a problem with the spring suspension seat mechanism freezing up and if so have you come up with any novel ideas to keep it from happening?

The seat on my L3700 was miserable. I purchased a proper suspension seat, fabricated a simple adapter frame bolted it together and down the road. Milsco V5300 available at Northern Tool @ $369. Frame simply provided for OEM hole locations and new additional holes for the studs on the new seat, like 1/8 x 1-1/2" flatbar.

 

[Oldpath05]

I'm not seeing this stuck seat problem, once I unscrewed the tension knob and added some penetrating oil, I now have more bounce to the once. What I have is a broken seat spring problem on the left side which causes me to keep steering to the left and ruining into trees. I'd like to fix it but still looking and waiting for the $10.00 fix.

 

[Doc G]

This thread deserves a bump. After reading it a year ago, I realized that my tractor actually HAS a suspension seat! And, theoretically, the ability to slide the seat back and forth. It was frozen up when I got the machine but I never looked at the seat closely enough.

So after reading here, I the removed suspension and slider mechanism. Stood on it. Used a pry bar. Pounded with hammers. Applied PB Blaster penetrating oil. Wash, rinse, repeat. No luck.

After trying everything, I got the bright idea of setting it on fire. A few rounds with a mapp gas torch to all the pins worked wonders (and if you're wondering, no it didn't damage whatever finish is on the metal). Once the heat loosened the pins a bit, the PB was able to work better. When it finally moved freely, I hit all moving parts with Fluid Film and it's been great for 6 months or so. I do keep it garaged so that probably helps.

Maybe someone else out there has a frozen suspension. It makes an ENORMOUS difference how long I can operate without stopping.

 

[old and tired]

Update on my seat... Last year I had to insert a bolt to replace a metal rod that broke. First it was one side that broke and I had half ass fixed that, then the other side broke. So I put a bolt through it all. Using your photo to show the broken rod location... I guess I should lose weight but it's more fun fixing crap that breaks!!