So far the only thing I haven't liked about my BX2230 is the seat. Why Kubota designed/made it the way they did I have no idea. Even with my big 250# butt on it, the seat still slants downhill towards the front, and it isn't comfortable and I don't like it.
A couple of weeks ago while I was at Rural King I saw a universal seat that looked like it might work if I made an adapter to level the mounting base. After checking the dimensions and looking it over to be sure it would fit in the available space, I made another trip to RK and bought one for $199.99.
Got back to she shop and removed the original seat, unboxed the new one and test fit it on the mount with a couple of leveling blocks. Looked like it would fit just fine.
I cogitated on jut how to make an adapter and decided on using a couple of pieces of 17" long 2" wide 1/4" thick bar stock. By putting a twist on each end of the bars and putting a 2" tall spacer under the front mount to get a level mounting surface to mount the new seat tracks on, it would work out just fine.
By putting the bars in the vise 1" from the end, clamping pieces of 1/4" strap up 1/2" from there, I could heat the 1/2" gap red hot and twist it the proper amount, or at least fairly close.
That done and the bars cooled down, I drilled holes to match the spacing on the original mount, cut a couple pieces of spacer stock for the front mount and welded them fast. I had to do a little fine tuning with a 4 lb hammer to get the twists just right, but they came out really close to parallel. I measured the mounting pattern on the new seat, transferred it to the new mounts and drilled the holes.
I had to take the tracks loose from the seats to get it all aligned and then tightened everything up. The adjuster worked back and forth just fine, so I was happy with that. I lugged the seat assembly over to the tractor and slipped the pivot pins into the mounting tabs and put the retainer pin in so it stayed in place.I flipped it back into normal pisition and it fit just fine and looked really good. Hopped up for a test sit, and it felt really good and way more comfortable.
I put the arm rests and covers on and it looks like mission accomplished.
The only interference problem I have, is the handle for adjusting the seat back angle hits the inside of the left fender when you bounce in the seat. I think my solution is going to be to take the cutoff tool and cut off the portion that interferes leaving a short lever that can still be used if the back needs adjusting.
I just mowed the yard yesterday, so it will probably be a week until I get much seat time to test it out, but it has to be better than the stock seat.
All it needs is to have my daughter embroider a Kubota name or emblem on the seat back cover to make it look factory installed.
Edit. Link to seat info.
https://www.brabereq.com/high-back-black-seat-sea-44000be
A couple of weeks ago while I was at Rural King I saw a universal seat that looked like it might work if I made an adapter to level the mounting base. After checking the dimensions and looking it over to be sure it would fit in the available space, I made another trip to RK and bought one for $199.99.
Got back to she shop and removed the original seat, unboxed the new one and test fit it on the mount with a couple of leveling blocks. Looked like it would fit just fine.
I cogitated on jut how to make an adapter and decided on using a couple of pieces of 17" long 2" wide 1/4" thick bar stock. By putting a twist on each end of the bars and putting a 2" tall spacer under the front mount to get a level mounting surface to mount the new seat tracks on, it would work out just fine.
By putting the bars in the vise 1" from the end, clamping pieces of 1/4" strap up 1/2" from there, I could heat the 1/2" gap red hot and twist it the proper amount, or at least fairly close.
That done and the bars cooled down, I drilled holes to match the spacing on the original mount, cut a couple pieces of spacer stock for the front mount and welded them fast. I had to do a little fine tuning with a 4 lb hammer to get the twists just right, but they came out really close to parallel. I measured the mounting pattern on the new seat, transferred it to the new mounts and drilled the holes.
I had to take the tracks loose from the seats to get it all aligned and then tightened everything up. The adjuster worked back and forth just fine, so I was happy with that. I lugged the seat assembly over to the tractor and slipped the pivot pins into the mounting tabs and put the retainer pin in so it stayed in place.I flipped it back into normal pisition and it fit just fine and looked really good. Hopped up for a test sit, and it felt really good and way more comfortable.
I put the arm rests and covers on and it looks like mission accomplished.
The only interference problem I have, is the handle for adjusting the seat back angle hits the inside of the left fender when you bounce in the seat. I think my solution is going to be to take the cutoff tool and cut off the portion that interferes leaving a short lever that can still be used if the back needs adjusting.
I just mowed the yard yesterday, so it will probably be a week until I get much seat time to test it out, but it has to be better than the stock seat.
All it needs is to have my daughter embroider a Kubota name or emblem on the seat back cover to make it look factory installed.
Edit. Link to seat info.
https://www.brabereq.com/high-back-black-seat-sea-44000be
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