M7040 Seat Re-upholstered

Captain13

Active member

Equipment
M7040 4WD ROPS, ZD28, Woods (84” box blade, 72” harrow, 48” pallet forks)
Feb 27, 2019
516
169
43
Kathleen, GA
I had two slits on my tractor seat, one on each side, so I checked new seat prices and decided I would just have mine re-upholstered. Took the seat in to a shop that does cars and trucks. Got there at nine and he was through at eleven. I never have been crazy about the seat and I mentioned to him how firm it was and he agreed and said he would look at it.

He did a great job. When I picked it up, I noticed the vinyl was a heavier grade than the original Kubota and a lot softer. He said the Kubota seats are heat molded and that’s what makes them so hard and that’s why they start splitting. He said that not to many shops will do the re-upholster on a heat molded seat because they don’t know how to remove the vinyl from the foam. He added a half inch layer of high density foam over the original Seat foam and coupled with the heavy vinyl, makes the seat a lot more comfortable. Looks good, too.

So if you’ve had the sticker shock from looking at new seats, consider a shop that can overhaul your original.
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
555
83
USA
Last one N bought for my open station was 60 buck at Rural King, came in Cordura with armrests too. I agree, Kubota seats (OEM) are butt busters. On par with a cheap lawn tractor seat.

My cabin unit has a Grammer air ride in velour, very comfortable seat.

I'd think that Kubota would step up in ergonomic quality with their factory seats,
 

Captain13

Active member

Equipment
M7040 4WD ROPS, ZD28, Woods (84” box blade, 72” harrow, 48” pallet forks)
Feb 27, 2019
516
169
43
Kathleen, GA
Attached is a picture. Nothing was wrong with the back so I left it alone. Just the seat and armrests.

Also, it appears shiny because I used 303 Protectant (UV) to condition it. Also, it's getting the outside light onto the back through the shop door and the seat is getting the overhead LED lighting in the shop.

He did a great job on the seat and armrests.
 

Attachments

Last edited:

Captain13

Active member

Equipment
M7040 4WD ROPS, ZD28, Woods (84” box blade, 72” harrow, 48” pallet forks)
Feb 27, 2019
516
169
43
Kathleen, GA
Don't know why the picture is rotating 270 degrees. I rotated and saved but it still is showing up rotated. Sorry.
 

D2Cat

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,831
5,584
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
With that style of Kubota seat when left outside, the moisture runs down the seat into the side plastic and into the steel pan. After enough time out the pan becomes unable to support the back and the bottom.

Last year when my L4240 seat needed attention I discovered the problem. Kubota seat was like $1100. (yes eleven hundred)
 

chim

Well-known member

Equipment
L4240HSTC with FEL, Ford 1210
Jan 19, 2013
2,123
1,244
113
Near Lancaster, PA, USA
Congrats on finding a real upholstery shop. When you mentioned adding the layer of foam it reminded me of a local shop we deal with for trucks and equipment at work. They can repair seats and replace damaged panels in cloth, vinyl and leather that match beautifully. Most times we can get truck seats fixed or forklift seats rebuilt for around $100.
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
555
83
USA
With that style of Kubota seat when left outside, the moisture runs down the seat into the side plastic and into the steel pan. After enough time out the pan becomes unable to support the back and the bottom.

Last year when my L4240 seat needed attention I discovered the problem. Kubota seat was like $1100. (yes eleven hundred)
Probably cost 20 bucks to make too......:D

Wish I'd bought a couple of those RK seats you linked to last year. Great seat, fantastic price. Even better with the low profile suspension.
 

ItBmine

Well-known member

Equipment
B2620, RTV-X1100C
Jan 21, 2014
1,377
384
83
Canada
With that style of Kubota seat when left outside, the moisture runs down the seat into the side plastic and into the steel pan. After enough time out the pan becomes unable to support the back and the bottom.

Last year when my L4240 seat needed attention I discovered the problem. Kubota seat was like $1100. (yes eleven hundred)
We were just going to see if anyone local here could recover a seat like that.
Just priced a seat for our mini-ex here and it was $2000. And that's with no base or anything. Just the bottom and seat back.
 

D2Cat

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,831
5,584
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
A year ago I lucked across a link that was so unbelievable I had to try. I posted it here and others purchased the same seat. It was a $250 seat for $46 including delivery. I ordered 3. Needless to say they were gone quickly.

I put one on my L4240, then added a camo cover I got off of Ebay.
 

Attachments

Captain13

Active member

Equipment
M7040 4WD ROPS, ZD28, Woods (84” box blade, 72” harrow, 48” pallet forks)
Feb 27, 2019
516
169
43
Kathleen, GA
Nice camo D2Cat.

My job cost $150 with the armrests. $100 without the armrests.

The pan and base both looked good. I keep it in the shop. Kubota tractors and Zero turn mowers will disappear in this area if left unguarded.

Just finished mowing a five acre field this morning. The seat is a lot more comfortable.
 

D2Cat

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L305DT, B7100HST, TG1860, TG1860D, L4240
Mar 27, 2014
13,831
5,584
113
40 miles south of Kansas City
Captain13 your man did a good job at an excellent price!

My seat base was rusted bad. I bought the tractor used and the previous owner obviously left it out many times.
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
555
83
USA
Last time I went to the Sunbelt Expo IH had a tractor there wrapped in a American flag and it had red leather seats. Very sharp looking tractor.
You and I both know a sweaty butt on a leather seat don't work well. My preference is Cordura or Velour for an inside seat.
 

Bulldog

Well-known member

Equipment
M 9000 DTC, L 3000 DT
Mar 30, 2010
5,440
78
48
Rocky Face, Georgia
I haven't tried a cordura seat but I'm thinking about putting one on my L. I did change my seats out in my 350 though and put power leather buckets. I like them a lot.
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
555
83
USA
I haven't tried a cordura seat but I'm thinking about putting one on my L. I did change my seats out in my 350 though and put power leather buckets. I like them a lot.
The Grammer in my M9 like yours is velour. I opted for the air ride seat when I bought it. was worth the extra grand. I added a swivel plate so I can swing the seat to each side, nice when running a side mounted implement like a disc mower. makes it easier to see what is happening back there.

I think the seat I bought from RK for the open station is Cordura, not sure, but it's just as comfortable as the Grammer and light years better than the blow moulded slippery vinyl seat that was on it and I didn't care for the OEM suspension either. Ditched it all (went to the curb) and replaced everything. Hard to believe Kubota wants north of a grand for a slippery vinyl covered rock. Bet they sell a ton of them....:eek:

Amy's Burb has heated and cooled leather, my 350 has the stock cloth (bucket) seats with lumbar that I never use anyway.