GC1715 SEAT Adjustment want more room and comfort on the GC1715 ?

[atsah]

I'd suggested to Massey that they consider a tilt and telescoping steering wheel some time ago. The response I got is too many people put strain on the steering wheel in getting on and off tractors. And I had to agree with them about that because some on TBN have admitted bearing failure or stress that had to be repaired. Imagine how much you'd have to beef up the column are to accommodate the idea - it would be substantial.

Ya I would think it would need to be pretty stout. I myself find myself pulling on it from time to time, I try not to though.

 

[AxleHub]

Ya I would think it would need to be pretty stout. I myself find myself pulling on it from time to time, I try not to though.

Relating to the steering wheel in this discussion lol . . . I experimented with some different ways to not put slot of weight strain on the steering wheel an found left foot on deck and right foot on top of rear wheel. Then left hand for balance on seeing wheel and right hand on grab handle or top (depending on how long your arms are) works for on and off. I've watched several getting on their tractors and they all seem to pull heavily on the steering wheel from the side and you can see that steering wheel shift under strain. I'm told it's not an inexpensive repair because it's labor intensive to get everything out of the way. . . so I figure . . . Prevention of strain is smart for the wallet lol.

 

[Stache]

Without TBN, I never would have thought about pulling on the steering wheel. So thanks to everyone for that. I keep wondering if I can mount a handle on the hood, but the thought goes away after I'm on board.

 

[atsah]

Relating to the steering wheel in this discussion lol . . . I experimented with some different ways to not put slot of weight strain on the steering wheel an found left foot on deck and right foot on top of rear wheel. Then left hand for balance on seeing wheel and right hand on grab handle or top (depending on how long your arms are) works for on and off. I've watched several getting on their tractors and they all seem to pull heavily on the steering wheel from the side and you can see that steering wheel shift under strain. I'm told it's not an inexpensive repair because it's labor intensive to get everything out of the way. . . so I figure . . . Prevention of strain is smart for the wallet lol.

Lol.. I didn't mean to derail op..

 

[AxleHub]

You didn't . . . You merely complimented it lol.

 

[drizler]

I'm not familiar with your size particulars mine being bigger but do you have room for a grab handle on the fender like my 1736 has. I use mine heavily although I so have to clump up and down more height wise. When. One breaks I intend ( unless it's not Boeing priced like so much else Massey) I'm going to get a marine stainless handle to replace it.
You will find that when you have a handle to lean on you will be less inclined to put weight on the wheel. I feel your pain though as I have the same problem with my Simplicity. The wheel wants to fold me off balance climbing on and off and I invariably lean on the wheel:thumbdown:

 

[AxleHub]

I'm not familiar with your size particulars mine being bigger but do you have room for a grab handle on the fender like my 1736 has. I use mine heavily although I so have to clump up and down more height wise. When. One breaks I intend ( unless it's not Boeing priced like so much else Massey) I'm going to get a marine stainless handle to replace it.
You will find that when you have a handle to lean on you will be less inclined to put weight on the wheel. I feel your pain though as I have the same problem with my Simplicity. The wheel wants to fold me off balance climbing on and off and I invariably lean on the wheel:thumbdown:

The Massey gc1700 series has really nice grab handles on each fender. They are placed well when you are seated for sidehill activity. However the positioning of grabhandles on SCUT is low for climbing on . . .which is why I mentioned you up the grabhandles initially but then place your right foot on top of the back tire an then use the tops as a grab spot.

 

[dnw64]

With my Curtis Cab I find I don't even touch the steering wheel until I'm sitting down and ready to drive...

 

[AxleHub]

Another determining factor of mounting a GC - is either your height (length of legs) - or your age. At 25 or 30 I wouldn't have needed anything but the grab handle and nothing more - maybe not even that. But alas - I'm not 25 or 30 anymore.

But the good news - is my memory is very good - so I can still clearly recall what it was like to be 25 or 30 LOL.

 

[tommyguy]

Greetings,

2 years ago - I was soon to be a new Massey GC1715 owner. And I posted on TBN about an idea I had to increase leg room with the seat positioning. Then a week or so later when my tractor arrived - I implemented that change without any issues. Total tools needed was one wrench or socket and about 5 minutes time.

1. Lets start with the Massey seat on the GC1715 - I can only comment on that one because its what I know best. They designed it a great deal of flexibility that is not in the manuals. There is a seat adjustment "stop". and in my original thread I indicated that the stop needs only to have 2 bolts removed and spin the "stop" by 180 degrees and re-input the bolts. It gave me and others who followed the idea another 3 inches of seat adjustment room with no negatives or modifications required.

It works great for operators that are taller, or heavy built or have long legs. But it also works exceptionally well if you where big shoes or big boots or have right ankle and knee limitations.

But now I've discovered that again without need for modifications - there is another effort that can be done which further adds an additional couple inches of room on top of the original idea - again without weakening or limiting the seat design in any way and without effecting the seat switch or adjustment flexibility for others.

2. Again - this alteration requires just a wrench and about 15 minutes of time. I found that the whole seat bracketry rides on 2 tracks that are the adjustment tracks. The entire seat and bracketry is held to the tracks by 4 bolts that face downward. Now I found it convenient to take the actual seat off at the hinge - just because the seat is a heavy duty item and taking it off gave me better space to work and no leverage issues on the bracketry.

The wrench fits underneath the tracking on the nut and you take the 4 nuts off. Pick up the bracketry and there are another set of holes further back on the bracket that perfectly match the one originally bolted into - except they are about 1.25 inches back. Set the bracketry in place as a whole and retighten the 4 nuts. the entire seat and bracketry is fastened fully and properly with no changes to wiring underneath or seat switch or support for the coil suspension and spring suspension on the seat.


By following #1 and #2 adjustments above - you end up with:

a. more leg room if you are tall - have long legs or have stiff leg, knee or ankle limitations - or wear large boots or shoes.


b. You'll also find if you are heavy set or wear bulky jackets that you have more room from the steering wheel - more room using the seat belt - and the seat front doesn't protrude in the path of getting on and off the tractor.

c. You also get a wider adjustment pattern so the seat can be moved back for more room or still moved forward for average sized room and needs. Also because adjustment back and forth is normal - an average or smaller person working on their GC1715 in shorts and sandals in summer heat - has some added space options for winter cold weather gear without being cramped.


Now this is all true for the GC1715 - because Massey/Iseki built in some reversible dual use parts in their manufacturing design - which made it easier for them - but it also makes it easier for us to easily adapt their reverse design parts for new benefits. - But again - you won't find this in any manuals.

Now the GC1705, GC1710, and GC1720 have some different seat situations than mine - but I'm guessing Massey/Iseki did some similar reverse part manufacture use in some ways and there may be some similar possibilities to consider on these other models as well. So operators might have easy ways to adapt their seats for better space use as I described.


Just an example: Back a year ago or so - someone messaged me that he had read the tread early on at the time I wrote it - but that he didn't think my idea applied to him because he was medium height and medium weight. But a few months after reading it initially the temperature changed and he was wearing heavier clothes - so he tried the idea and it considerably helped his use of the unit in colder weather or when wearing his hunting boots. It also helped his Dad all year long who has some knee issues and allowed his dad to use the tractor longer and with better foot control and comfort.

Sometimes TBN threads contain good ideas that don't always appear important or related to the reader - and then - time and ideas can change in value LOL

Where is the stop located on/in the seat bracket? I've looked at mine several times...and for the life of me I can't figure out where the stop is. I'm probably just overlooking it..but any help would be appreciated!