Suspension Seat Revisited

utahmule · Jan 10, 2003

I know this has been covered before a little, but I have a specific twist. How do the aftermarket suspension seats compare to manufacturer- brand ones that come on them?

Specifically, I've got a JD4600.

Any real life experiences to recount? Are they worth the money? Any best recommendations? I've got a messed up lower back that seriously cuts into my seat time. Any input may result in increased tractoring.

jhburke · Jan 10, 2003

I have a B7500hst. With the original seat I had to where the seat belt just to be able to stay on the tractor. I replaced the seat with one I bought from a local farm store. It is one that has adjustable springs and shock. I had to clench my teeth together with the old seat so as not to chip my teeth. With the new one I have to be careful not to go to fast on rough ground.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 11, 2003

Any aftermarket seats offer improved leg room?

RET · Jan 20, 2003

Hey Eric,
I guess folks don't like to talk seats anymore.
I asked a while back for an update on any suspensions seats that would fit a BX....nobody interested in discussing it.
My yard is rough...and it will take me a few years to get it all leveled out. Mowing on the OEM seat is taking years off my back's health...a well-suspended seat would be great. I just gotta be careful what I get 'cause the BX seat location is cramped.
One more time....
Any more recent experiences with suspension seats that will fit a JD 4600 and/or BX2200?
RET

pfoxy · Jan 20, 2003

Experience? No.

Ideas? A couple. You MIGHT get lucky and find one with a bolt pattern that will fit your original seat mount, but I wouldn't count on it.

I replaced the original seat on my JD750 with a similar unit from Northern Tool that was half the price. I had to fabricate an adapter to get it to mount and pivot like the original, but it has worked and lasted as long as the factory seat did.

It is now time to replace it again (I think my 225# carcass is a little harder than average on seats...) and my back is not what it used to be, so I'm considering a suspension seat.

Based on my experience adapting the aftermarket solid seat, I'm thinking that as long as the "footprint" for the mounting holes is the same, or nearly so, a little creative fabricating will make it mount and operate very close to the original. I'm not going to worry about fore-and-aft adjustment, as the stock position is fine, but I do need to get the height right, to ensure that my feet hit the pedals comfortably and that my head clears the ROPS sufficiently.

I'm probably going to go with another unit from Northern, it's just a question of which one. They have units from under $100 to over $400. I'm thinking something mid-range, with adjustable tension.

As I get closer to actually doing this, I'll check back and let you know how things work out.

JohnMiller3 · Jan 20, 2003

<font color=blue>...I'm probably going to go with another unit from Northern, it's just a question of which one. They have units from under $100 to over $400...</font color=blue>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ccmachinery.com/specials.htm>Here's a brand new seat being sold by TBN member CCI for $50...</A> /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

RET · Jan 20, 2003

Thanks gents.
The reason I keep asking is 'cause I don't have Northern Tool or Tractor Supply brick 'n mortar stores in my neck of the woods....and the darn internet sites just do not supply any details. I buy quite often by internet....but sometimes there just ain't no substitute for seeing the product first hand. If I can't actually see it, then the 2nd best thing is to get a referral from folks (TBN'ers in this case) who have.
RET

Anonymous Poster · Jan 20, 2003

Here's a couple websites to check out....

www.tractorseats.com
www.industrialseats.com

jhburke · Jan 20, 2003

I have replaced the original seat on my B7500. I had to make a plate to fit the original mountings. I then mounted the new seat on the plate. The new seat is a spring and shock seat like the one pictured in this thread. It was very simple to mount. I used to have to clench my jaws to keep my teeth from chipping.

n6ckv · Jan 21, 2003

I bought a similar seat (without the arms)as the one John is showing from Northern Tool. When I visited my local NH dealer they had the same seat on display. Forgot the brand name (it was like Gremer).

Love the seat, the only problem is there is a spring that tis adjusted to you body weight. If you press hard on the breaks, you remove weight from the seat, it tends to go up.

carl