B 21 Seat

[Rick572]

Heres another newbe question. Does anyone have a problem with the seat on the B21, or maybe the B series seats? I'm a new owner and really love the tractor, but it is setup with a BH and I'm unable to swivel on the seat when changing positions from driving the tractor and operating the back hoe, and it is annoying. It would not bother me if I was digging long ditches all day, but I mostly dig one hole and have to move the tractor for the next one. As it is now, after I position the tractor, I stand up, swivel the seat, get off the tractor and use the step on the bh to get on again. Its quite annoying and time consuming. Is this the way it is, or am I doing it wrong. I'm not a complete novice, as I have several years operating a JD 410 BH and more reciently had a B7100 bh, both of these machines had the seat that swiveled and I guess I kinda formed the habit. Any suggestions or comments will be welcomed. Thanks.
Rick

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Rick,

<font color=blue>Is this the way it is</font color=blue>

Yep, and I agree. You don't have to be sitting on it for it to be a pain in the butt./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

It's amazing sometimes that things get built without any input from the people that have to operate it.

I have an L35, which is the same set up. My tractor is wider than yours but still a pain as there was no thought given to someone wanting to step over the seat!

"Why would one want to do that" queries the dumbfounded design engineer?

(definition of an engineer: no offense intended to anyone but I've dealt with a peck of Boeing engineers with auto parts and I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE...they can explain the metalurgy involved in a starter motor casting, explain the electrical theories until you pass out, but CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU WERE TO HOLD IT OVER THEIR FOOT AND DROP IT!)

Well back to the seat..

Why would one want to go over the seat? Well it's usually quicker, it's usually safer then up and down on to the ground, it's cooler (hey it's a REAL backhoe), and anyone who USES a backhoe has been in situations where the LAST thing they want to do is step off the tractor into shin deep GOO.

DUH. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

I thought the swivel seat would be easier on my L35 then lifting up one seat and putting the other one down on my 1710 Ford. I custom made a frame mount for it so the hoe is tucked real close to the tractor (do a lot of work where a typical ass-dragging factory backhoe setup is a pain. When one seat on my Ford is down the other one is up. I simply flip one then the other then climb over using some simple platforms I made.

The Kubota seat is a real complicated affair, much more comfortable then my Ford seat I'll admit. It takes some getting used to, to operate it efficiently, push this, twist that, do this before you get your weight off it, etc etc, but works, IF you want to get off the tractor. I'm going to have to make some kind of 'FOR ME' adaptation so I can go over it though, maybe with a monkey bar or straps to hang and swing on, on the way over.

I'm going to love watching my orthopaedic doc's eyes glaze over when I try to tell him why I think my shoulders/wrists are screwed up..."well I was swinging by my arms on my tractor and..."/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

All of wish we had the floorspace of a big Case 580 with that swing around same level front to back seat. I'm surprised no aftermarket company doesn't make a conversion for these B21 and L35 models as they sell a lot of them to utility companies and other commerical uses.

del

oldcarparts@mygarage.com

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Del,

<font color=blue>"maybe with a monkey bar or straps to hang and swing on, "</font color=blue>

Hummmmm........../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Might work.

Al

 

[Rick572]

Thanks guys for the response. A least now I know that I'm not doing something wrong. I guess if the seat is my only complaint, I'm in pretty good shape. Thanks again.
Rick

 

[MarkV]

Rick,

I'm a B21 owner also and I have not come up with a better way than you to work the seat. The other thing that bothers me is that the seat locks to the frame with a spring loaded "J" type of hook. I know mine has unhooked at times and it makes me wonder what good the seat belt does if the whole seat comes loose. Anyone else noticed this?

MarkV

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Mark,

Mine has not come unhooked, but when I first got the tractor it would not hook in the backhoe positon. I adjusted it and seems to work OK. Notice I used OK not "just fine".
Al

 

[Rick572]

"Why would one want to go over the seat? Well it's usually quicker, it's usually safer then up and down on to the ground,"

I don't think its safer. I do a lot of my work at night and I guess I'm getting about a wide as I am tall. Besides being inconvient to crawl over the seat, the first time I had a problem, my pant leg caught on the PTO shift lever, entangling my foot for a couple moments. Another time I managed to bump the PTO speed control lever. Niether time is a big thing, but boths times it resulted in me being in the middle of field in the dark trying to figure out why the engine wouldn't start. I guess theres safty switches everywhere. Just a little flustration and discomfort when its rainy and cold, but I guess I'll get used to it in time...The last time it happened I was considering removing and storing the levers which are not being used as I will probably never remove the backhoe. Gee, It sounds like I complaining about my new tractor. I love this tractor, its such improvement over what I was operating...Maybe I'll just get used to it soon...

Rick

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Maybe it isn't safer on a Kubota (it is on my Ford). On my Kubotas the levers are all convenient to hand operation which means you could hit your foot on them going over the seat. My Ford also has a hump you have to climb over and the levers are not the same as the Kubotas. I'd sure like the option though, as stepping into deep mud every 10 minutes digging a ditch sucks the roady toad.

On dry ground, where you aren't going to risk slipping and sliding getting up and down, getting off is so much fun on the L35 with the extra step they provide and that nice wide almost flat floor. When I start to get bored with it I go climb over the Ford a couple of times to get my mind "right" again!

I guess you just can't have what you want! I love certain aspects of the Kubota, but the Ford can be parked on a slope and it won't go anywhere no how no way. I would never park this Kubota anyplace it couldn't coast safely to after I get off. (or any other GST HST tractor that doesn't have a real PARK-LOCK transmission device (which I don't think any of them have).

My Ford has also been "widened" I put the rear tires out to almost max and then moved the fenders and ROPS permanently outward.

I know how you feel about complaining about your tractor! Everytime I think something negative it's time to go pick up a shovel and try it that way for awhile! All of us can remember when we were tractorless, or had a REALLY old beast to serve us. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

del

 

[Rick572]

I agree Del. Last thanksgiving I would have sit on an apple box for a seat to be able to operate a tractor as nice as the B 21. Now I complaining about the seat. How soon we forget.
Rick