L4310 Enhancements

[MChalkley]

Gordon - I don't know what brand it is. There's nothing on it anywhere that you can read. The guy said it's made in Turkey. Northern sells 5 or 6 models by them. I'll look in the catalog and give you the model number that's closest to it, so you can have an idea of what it looks like. It sits, when adjusted to it's lowest position (it has a height adjustment), about two inches higher than the stock seat and about an inch and a half farther forward when adjusted all the way back. The tool box lid still opens, even though the seat doesn't tilt forward. So, there could be some disadvantages for some folks, but man what a difference in the ride!

Mark

 

[W5FL]

Congrats Mark,

Now that you have M Size tires and an M Suspension Seat, guess you have the closest to an M4900 with a hydro. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[MChalkley]

Wen - Actually, you're probably closer to the truth than you realize - as far as the seat is concerned, anyway. I looked real hard at the seat on an M4900 before I bought the one I did. As it turns out, the one I got looks an awful lot like the M4900 seat. They're so close, they look like they could be made by the same company.

Mark

 

[MChalkley]

Gordon - If you've got a Northern catalog (you can call 800-556-7885 if you don't), the seat that's item #17494 seems to be almost exactly what I've got. I think mine has a little more padding in the seat and the pattern on it is a little different, but otherwise they appear almost identical. The Northern catalog says it has 4" of stroke in the suspension and I measured 4 3/4" inches on mine. There's one in the Northern catalog, Item #17492 that's listed as having 4 3/4" but it doesn't have a height adjustment. Anyway, they're definitely made by the same company as mine and the three models I saw at a local Northern all looked very similar, with just a few differences here and there.

I went out and did a little grading today - I sure wish I'd changed seats a long time ago. I'll tell you one thing: I'm saving the original Kubota seat, because if I ever trade tractors again (no, don't start any rumors - I'm not planning on it), it's going back on - I'm keeping the new one!

Mark

 

[Rch]

I believe the Turkish manufacture of Mark Chalkley's seat has a URL http://www.starseat.com/ http://www.starseat.com On one of the boards 6 months ago someone tried to buy directly from Star but that was impossible. Apparently Northern has picked up some of Star's line to retail.

RCH

 

[W5FL]

Mark, you really need to start a L4310 Enhancements II thread. I haven't figured out how to make it load backwards so have to load the first 100 and then the rest to read the new messages. It is easy to go to the first 100 and just say this looks familiar and miss the actual messages that have been added.

Yes, the M Series seats are first class. Blue owners will say they don't swivel. I am glad they don't. Guess I have a hard time with technology that I don't need or want. Think I will start a thread on that, too.

Glad you got the new seat installed. My Massey had a good seat, too and that makes a world of difference in how you (and your back) feel at the end of the day.

 

[MChalkley]

Wen - Muhammad was working on a way to display flat mode in reverse date order, which would solve our problem. This is getting more and more important as the number of messages proliferates, too. Which, of course, just means that there's more information here for everybody to use.

How 'bout it Muhammad? Anything happening yet?

Mark

 

[MChalkley]

RCH - Great job finding that link! It always amazes me how fast we can find out stuff here. Thanks!

I checked out http://www.starseat.com and this is indeed the company that makes the seat I have. My model is the "Star06" listed on the products page. Strangely, it's the only one that doesn't have a picture shown on the pictures page. That figures. Anyway, if you look at the Star07, and mentally remove the wrap around arms from the seat back, that's the one I've got.

In the "Houston, we have a problem" category: I called Northern and asked them who makes these models of their seats. The customer support rep told me their seats are made in China. So I went back to the store and looked again. They're almost, but not quite, the same design. I think Northern's models are Chinese knock-offs. They may be just as good, or better even, than the Turkish models, I don't know. They're less expensive, I do know that. Anyway, just so everybody is informed and knows what they're getting - I didn't want my previous (apparent) dis-information stating they were the same seats to go uncorrected.

I'll be working on a two-day landscaping project Friday and Saturday, so I'll give the seat a thorough work-out then. Barring any more heat stroke incidents (which doesn't appear likely, since I'll be working in the mountains, it's supposed to be cooler, and I'm supposed to be smarter), I should be back on-line Sunday.

Mark

 

[MChalkley]

Well, after a thorough two-day test, I remain totally ecstatic in my opinion of the seat. The only backache I have now is from kicking myself for not doing it sooner. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I also found out something else today. I went to a different Northern store today and saw a couple of the seats still in the box. Stamped clearly on the side of the box, in big letters, was "Made in Turkey". Go figure.

On another subject, one of the things I did during the two-day landscaping project Friday and Saturday was drag several huge rocks from one place to an plant island we made. When I say huge, I mean HUGE. They ranged in size from about 8' x 4' x 4' to 12' x 6' x 5'. I was dragging them across a wet field, and several times the tractor dug 4 holes deep enough that about a third of the tire was in contact with the ground. When that happened, I found I barely had enough power to keep the wheels turning - if I'd had any less hp, it wouldn't have done it. But the traction those Michelin XM27's develop is incredible!

The maximum transmission temperature during all that dragging was still only 185 degrees.

Mark

 

[gordon]

Mark I believe those are closer to small boulders rather than rocks! When you say a third of the tire in the ground--do you mean the sidewall or the entire rim? Now thats traction at it's best./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon