Backhoe MT225S Backhoe Seat Question

[wraven]

Would someone please check their rotating seat on their MT225s and tell me how close they can adjust the seat to the BH controls?

I can’t get it close enough and wind up sitting on the edge of the seat to operate the hoe. Unless the LS engineers are 7 feet tall I think there is something wrong. It was installed at the dealer but I don’t see an obvious issue that I can fix. My picture shows it moved as close as it gets to the backhoe.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

My neighbor was complaining about the same thing. He is 6'5" and has a hard time reaching for the BH levers. We made an adjustment to the levers : (remove the cover at the base of the levers, loosen the nuts at the base of the levers, and turn them about a 1/4 to 1/3 turn back towards the seat, tighten nuts).

It did make a difference, but still far away. We looked at the base plate the seat tracks are mounted to. There is plenty of space left to drill new mounting holes about 1 1/2" further towards the rear. We are probably going to drill and remount the seat this weekend. Even with it mounted further back, it will slide forward enough for normal operation of the tractor.

 

[wraven]

It’s reassuring knowing it’s probably not the dealer install and/or me just not using it correctly. I wonder if anyone has received the backhoe mounted from the factory and if they are also noticing the placement issue.

When it’s pointed forward, the seat touches the steering wheel. It’s definitely wacky. I am also considering “customizing” it.

 

[Doofy]

Looks like an asinine install by the dealer. If the dealer is close, see how other seats are mounted. They may have just installed the bracket bassackwards. Definitely wrong.

 

[traderfjp]

Would someone please check their rotating seat on their MT225s and tell me how close they can adjust the seat to the BH controls?

I can稚 get it close enough and wind up sitting on the edge of the seat to operate the hoe. Unless the LS engineers are 7 feet tall I think there is something wrong. It was installed at the dealer but I don稚 see an obvious issue that I can fix. My picture shows it moved as close as it gets to the backhoe. View attachment 665276

I have a similar setup on my MT125. It was always a PIA to rotate the seat so what I learned is that I can kneel on the seat, facing the BH and it allows me to get really close to the controls. I also find it way more comfortable.

 

[martyman1]

all bh,s are dealer installed

 

[wraven]

all bh,s are dealer installed

I did not know that. I thought some came from the factory already on the tractor.

 

[wraven]

... We are probably going to drill and remount the seat this weekend...

Did you try the remount?

I’m also wondering if I can adjust the levers to bring them towards the operator a bit.

 

[Bluesteel]

Did you try the remount?

I知 also wondering if I can adjust the levers to bring them towards the operator a bit.

http://https://www.surpluscenter.com/Truck-Trailer/Seats/Seat-Belts-Hardware/900-Pair-Adjustable-Seat-Slides-1-3550.axd

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Didn't get to do the remount, hopefully sometime this week....

 

[NorthWestKent]

Hi All,
I purchased a MT225s the other day and had the same issue with the seat. I realized was in fact a poor install. The issue is which orientation the track was in as they mounted it to the frame. Picture the sliding track mechanism on a kitchen cabinet drawer. It's like it was installed while the drawer was out and now the range of slide is skewed so that it can go only partly back into the cabinet and even further out into the kitchen. That's why the forward slide makes the seat almost touch the steering wheel!
To fix, remove the 4 allen bolts that mount the track to the seat lift frame. Then pull the slide lever up, and move the tracks to the opposite direction. Remount.

 

[Doofy]

Hi All,
I purchased a MT225s the other day and had the same issue with the seat. I realized was in fact a poor install. The issue is which orientation the track was in as they mounted it to the frame. Picture the sliding track mechanism on a kitchen cabinet drawer. It's like it was installed while the drawer was out and now the range of slide is skewed so that it can go only partly back into the cabinet and even further out into the kitchen. That's why the forward slide makes the seat almost touch the steering wheel!
To fix, remove the 4 allen bolts that mount the track to the seat lift frame. Then pull the slide lever up, and move the tracks to the opposite direction. Remount.

Figured as much. Good write up.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

That will just make the BH position worse (further away). The issue is not in the tractor operation position, the seat goes plenty far back from the steering wheel. When you turn it around for the BH, it won't slide forward enough!

 

[wraven]

Thank you. I will take a look this afternoon and report back.

 

[NorthWestKent]

That will just make the BH position worse (further away). The issue is not in the tractor operation position, the seat goes plenty far back from the steering wheel. When you turn it around for the BH, it won't slide forward enough!

Did you physically look at this, or are you just speculating? Your right, the issue was not in the loader operator position...but it's still same seat and same track. The seat rotates around, but the sliding track is fixed...so basically everything can shift back 6 inches based on where the seat is relative to the sliding track underneath at the time of mounting.....which means when the seat is spun around, it slides that 6 inches closer to the backhoe station. It also makes the sliding position in the operation station as designed with good adjustment that can make one too far back all the way to too close.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

No speculation.... sat on the tractor myself (I am 6') and could not sit back in the seat and reach the BH controls (with the seat moved fully towards the BH). This is my neighbors tractor... he is 6'4" and cannot reach the controls without leaning forward off the seat! We adjusted (turned) the control arms back towards the seat, but they are still too far away.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Maybe we don't have long arms?

 

[Doofy]

It just doesn't make any sense that it was designed this way. The tracks or something has to either be wrong or is installed wrong. No Engineer could let this slide.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

There were a few folks on the LS Facebook page complaining of the same issue, so I doubt it was an isolated dealer install issue. My neighbor initially had the tractor for about 6 weeks without the BH. The seat has a plate with 4 bolts holding it to the stationary mounts. When the dealer installed the BH, they change out the seat mount with the swivel mount.... again only 4 bolts.... only 4 holes.... impossible to screw up.... definitely a manufacturer boo-boo....

 

[Doofy]

Is there any way to mount a second separate seat for the backhoe and leave the original seat in the tractor position? Forget all that swiveling back and forth. My tractor is cabbed and the hoe has its own seat.