suspension seat on Grand-l cab series?

5030 · Jan 12, 2006

Ken:

1.5 payments on my M9 would get you a seat. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

sflranchok · Jan 13, 2006

( I have to throw a wrench into this discussion, well, sort of.

The seat in my old 5030 HSTC (I traded it on a M9) left something to be desired. If I had kept the tractor another year I would have replaced the spring/shock assembly with an air-ride seat base (yes, they are available and with swivel too).

My stock seat in the 5030 was all right, just all right and nothing more. I didn't care for the forward tilt of it, without the safety belt on you felt as though you were going to slide into the steering wheel and while traversing rough ground it was bouncy no matter how I adjusted the weight compensator. The back compartment was nice, the armrests were okay. There was no adjustment for the armrests either up or down and they were of a hard black plastic (grained). Looked like big stoogies (cigars). The seat cover was okay but I immediately put a sheepskin seatcover on it. This wasn't a casual use tractor, I used it for haymaking so I spent long hours in the cab. All in all, the seat was middle of the road, nothing excellent, just average. Like I said, a nice upgrade would be an air ride seat base, or the seat that's in my M9. As soon as I sat in it, there was a difference of night and day. It's a Gramer, air ride (no swivel), adjustable armrests tilt, lumbar nice velour upholstery (no pocket on back). The seat don't swing forward so you couldn't access the back anyway. The M9 is an ag tractor and the sole reason the seat hinges forward on the 5030 is so you can interlock the PTO when you are out of the drivers seat. There is an OPD under the seat that senses weight and if you come out of the seat, the tractor shuts down. If you want to operate the tractor on say a grain leg, you must start the tractor, dismount, walk around the right side, lift the seat and reach in and engage the PTO lever. On the M9 you just engage the PTO, standup and exit the tractor. A buzzer sounds for 15 seconds...that's it. I guess Kubota feels that on a tractor that's expressly ag in use, the OPD is not needed or wanted.

With me, the seat is just as important as all the other bells and whistle. A poor or middle of the road seat can and will make your tractor time less than enjoyable.

If you want to experience a really poor seat, try sitting on/in a Manhindra. The seat is about on par with a church pew. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

On a scale o0f 10, I rate the:
Seat in the 5030 Cab Model- 4
Seat in the M9HDCC3- 9
My Western Star air ride Bostrum- 10+ )

Daryl, What do you think of the M105X seat? Having recently replaced a JD 6200 with this Kubota, I'd rate it at a 10.

Steve

5030 · Jan 13, 2006

Steve:

We also have a 105 but it's an S not an X. I'll stand corrected on this but I believe the seat in my M9 and the seat in the 105S are the same. The seat in the X is also the same with the addition of the controller armrest.

The 105S has the controls (shifter, throttle, outlet controls and pto engagement on the fender console), just like the M9. The 105S and the M9 could stand to have a 20 degree swivel as I like to look back at what is going on and the high back on the seat makes that somewhat difficult but the addition of a swivel base is no big deal and will probably come this year sometime.

I'll give the 105 seat the same rating as the M9,....9. No tractor seat will ever compare to the Bostrom in terms of comfort.

I was reading elsewhere that the new Kubota's have some sort of shock limiting device on the FEL to limit transmitted shock while traversing with the FEL loaded. That certainly is not needed on the 105 or the M9, their seats handle that chore quite well. The 5030, well, it could use that device for sure. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

sflranchok · Jan 13, 2006

Since the Bostrom is not available for ag, we must have the best alternative. Thanks for your thoughts.

I may have asked this unrelated question back in Dec, and ignore if so. Otherwise, have you worked with the mini KX excavators and what are your impressions? I have a KX-71 on order and look forward to giving it some major tests, hopefully it will be up to the challenge.

Steve

slowzuki · Jan 14, 2006

The kubotas in Canada have had the shock absorbing accumultor for years, only because they come with ALO/Quike loaders painted orange and labelled Kubota. It makes for a nice drive carrying a bale accross a field.

( Steve:
I was reading elsewhere that the new Kubota's have some sort of shock limiting device on the FEL to limit transmitted shock while traversing with the FEL loaded. That certainly is not needed on the 105 or the M9, their seats handle that chore quite well. The 5030, well, it could use that device for sure. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

5030 · Jan 14, 2006

The only excavator I have ever ran was a Koehring. I'm not familiar with mini units. My buddy has a Michigan articulated quarry loader with a 18 yard bucket and a solid mounted seat /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Of course with that you don't worry about ride, you are too busy watching that you don't run over anything like a car.