Zero turn (ZTR) Mower Seat Modifications

[tmajor]

It's too tilted forward and the relation of leg height to sitting position is not right, either, with no way to adjust it.

Depending on the mounting method of your seat, you might be able to help things out with some of these "shock/vibration" mounts. Maybe, even different lengths under front and rear.
H.A. King

 

[Mean Jean]

Helpful thread, this will benefit many folks.

Great to hear you are getting the lawn done faster.
Nice lines in the first picture.

Tmajor made mention of these mowers turning hard and fast.
I would try and use that to your advantage.
Maybe some struts added to improve cornering?
Would different tires make a big difference?

 

[tmajor]

Tmajor made mention of these mowers turning hard and fast.
I would try and use that to your advantage.
Maybe some struts added to improve cornering?
Would different tires make a big difference?

I didn't reference "turning hard and fast", I said the front wheels "drop hard and fast". As a result, the seat-back throws your body forward causing mild whip-lash.

 

[Mean Jean]

Re: the misquote.
Sorry, I misread it.

Question
-Are there shocks at the front wheels?
-Any shocks up front?
If you could dampen the initial hard dip of the front, you would lessen the whiplash effect. Should also speed up your cornering. Knock some time off your mowing time.

 

[tmajor]

No shocks ... I have the brochures on the Simplicity and Ferris, both of which have chassis suspension shocks. But they would have cost me $1500 to trade and I'm not sure that they have components equivalent the commercial grade Woods. Plus, they don't have a suspension seat.

I have found some "coil over shocks" on eBay for motorcycle seats, which I think would work (in place of my arrangement), ... but they aren't cheap! But, they are cheaper than some, which I've seem for $200 + .. a piece!

 

[Mean Jean]

Can you post a close up of the front wheels?
Adding shocks there would be great.

 

[tmajor]

Don't have a picture on hand of front wheels. Moat all of the ZRTs have pretty much the same configuration on the front wheels. Adding shocks to the front is a major modification and the shocks aren't cheap!

 

[Mean Jean]

Bouce it off enough guys and someone will come up with an affordable, and clever solution.

 

[tmajor]

I've created a short video of the modification action. It's "short", because there are only so many things you can do "by yourself".

‪ZTR Mower seat mod.‬‏ - YouTube

 

[WVBill]

Don't have a picture on hand of front wheels. Moat all of the ZRTs have pretty much the same configuration on the front wheels. Adding shocks to the front is a major modification and the shocks aren't cheap!

Here's what my front wheels look like. I've toyed with the idea of taking out that bolt that holds the whole assembly together and replacing it with a longer bolt that runs up through an added spring up on top...