BX2380 Suspension Seat - zero height change

[JustJim]

Hi all - I was tired of getting beat up by my tractor when bush hogging my bumpy field, so I built a suspension seat by modifying the factory seat mount. The design 1) added a rear hinge and 2) added springs where the factory front seat mount was located, 3) retained the factory rear springs . This design allows the seat to have some vertical travel on the back (like the factory arrangement) plus some vertical travel on the front. The design greatly removes the seat rolling side-to-side and I can tune the spring rate by changing the front springs. Anyhow, here are the pics to hopefully have the words make sense.

 

[Yooper]

Well done! That design should hold up well and your back is saying thank you!

 

[Russell King]

I think you should add some rubber bumpers to stop any metal to metal slamming together at the bottom of the travel. 100% closure of the springs may be what limits travel but it could be a bolt head/nut to some flat surface. But that sudden stop is painfully transmitted to your spine if there is no bumper.

Looks good!

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Looks very nice!

I agree with @Russell King

I might add some sort of “bottoming out” protection, but it looks like it should be an upgrade for sure


EDIT: Oh and WELCOME sir!

There are lots of very talented people here, so you should fit right in!

 

[JustJim]

Thanks everyone. The plan is to procure some softer springs for the front, and sort out some kind of damper mechanism to remove any "bouncy-ness" that shows up with a lower spring rate. I did get some softer springs for the rear, but that'll require some kind of managing the rear springs topping-out on the factory latch mechanism. Anyhow, all that will wait until I get my front end weights (pun intended) made for the front of the tractor as I bought a TKV20 debris collection system. Kubota wanted a whopping $900 for suitcase weights, bracket and super special fasteners, and that was enough to spin me off into fabricating something for less money. Anyhow, I'll post my solution after I figure out what it is