suspension seat on Grand-l cab series?

ttowne66 · Jan 1, 2006

Thanks Guys

5030, You have got me thinking about asking the dealer to "swap out" the L seat for the seat in your M9 before closing the deal. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

5030 · Jan 1, 2006

ttowne66:

I don't think that would be possible for a number of reasons. For one, the OPD unit isn't compatable with the seat pan on the M9 and that's a safety issue whether real or perceived if a new sale, the dealer is bound by Kubota and Federal Law not to alter any of the fail/safe safety related devices on the tractor and the cab on the 5030 is substantially narrower than the M9 so the seat in the M9 is wider and that's good but not for you.

The logical alternative both from a cost standpoint and a safety standpoint is have the dealer install an air ride low profile seat base to the existing seat pan. There is even a 12 volt hot wire under the (I believe) left (facing forward) upright post cover acessable by simply taking a 1/8" drill and depressing the centers on the plastic fastners holding the upright trim on. You will still have to live with the forward tilt of the seat, but the forward tilt is there for a reason actually. That reason is that you loose sight of the FEL in the uppermost position. The seat height along with the tilt allows you a better field of view with the FEL raised. You still can't see it all without cutting a hole in the roof but as an engineering compromise, it's better than a convential mounted flat seat position.

AB4D · Jan 1, 2006

[5030:I have to throw a wrench into this discussion, well, sort of]

Daryl, I don't think you threw a wrench into the discussion, just a well thought out informative post, I always like reading your posts on TBN. I see that you also noticed that the Grand L seat gives a feeling that your are sliding down out of the seat. I am going to try to raise the front of the seat base on my L3430 to make the seat a little easier to live with for the time being, but I haven't looked to see how the base is attached to the cab floor. The aftermarket air ride base you mentioned, do you know if the base is an exact kubota replacement or would the floor have to be redrilled to change the base?

Thanks for the information.

Additionally, in consideration of information you posted about pellet stoves, I picked up an Englander pellet stove a few weeks back. I haven't installed it yet, but as you indicated, it looks like a well made product. I considered corn/pellet but usable corn is too hard to locate on a consistent basis in this area. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Jim.

chilibit · Jan 10, 2006

5030,

Can you be more specific on the Western Star air ride Bostrum? Maybe a P/N or link? Why did you choose that seat? It flat down not jump out at me on a search. I have the same conclusions about the stock HSTC seat. Thanks. Vince

5030 · Jan 10, 2006

Try www.bostromseating.com They are an Accuride subsidary.

I have a cloth upholstered, swivel, air ride, dampened, lumbar, adjustable side supported, arm rests(2), isolation dampened, tilt back seat. It's a Liberty II highback, all options.

They aren't cheap, around 1K.

chilibit · Jan 11, 2006

Thanks. The images looked like they were on risers that seemed way too high. How much fabication was required for the install?

slowzuki · Jan 11, 2006

I'll post my comments on the L5030 seat too:
-I don't find it tilts me forward at all
-coming from ag tractors it doesn't have enough seat travel for rough ground, but of course you need to be able to keep your foot on the pedal
- I suspect the low seat base and suspension is due to the low cab. Kubota shot hard to get the thing low so it would go in more garages.
-It is expensive to replace, like 900$
-the tip forward feature lets you get to the tool box on cab models, keeps the seat dry on rops models.
-Air ride would be an improvment probably. In fact, I should pop the springs out and put a little airbag in the there, hmm.

5030 · Jan 11, 2006

( Thanks. The images looked like they were on risers that seemed way too high. How much fabication was required for the install? )

I think we are on 2 different wavelengths. The Bostrom is in my Western Star class 8 Tractor, meaning tractor as in tractor trailer, in my case, 22 wheeler. My M9 has an air ride Grammer from the factory.

I guess you could put a Bostrom in an ag tractor by removing the base which gets the seat to windshield height.

5030 · Jan 11, 2006

Ken:

I don't tilt you forward 'cause you are always going uphill. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

$900.00 cdn?.....do a Google search for tractor seats and get a low profile air ride seat base for around $250.00 and ride in style. Come on, you are an engineer, it should not be beyond your knowledge to get it to fit. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

slowzuki · Jan 11, 2006

Well, you would catch me spending 900$ on it but thats what they ask for the factory one. I tore mine open to try and find the other 750$ but could find it? Anyone else know where it is?
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
( Ken:

I don't tilt you forward 'cause you are always going uphill. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

$900.00 cdn?.....do a Google search for tractor seats and get a low profile air ride seat base for around $250.00 and ride in style. Come on, you are an engineer, it should not be beyond your knowledge to get it to fit. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )