The cheap seat(s)

[ebinmaine 76,564]

Prowling around somewhere or another I saw this seat mentioned. Looked like something I wanted to try so I bought one.

 

Got it in the mail yesterday and I like it so much I ordered two more.

At or just below freezing in the shop and the material feels reasonably soft and supple. Will it last? I have no idea. We will see what it does at 0° or below.

 

On a low back versus high back seat I could go either way as far as looks.

 

For a practical nature however, I prefer a low back seat.

Two reasons: 

1. It's easier for me to get on and off the tractor without the seat back being in the way.

2. I've said it before and I'll repeat it here. Your entire muscle and bone and tendon structure is literally, use it or lose it. One of the biggest reasons, if not THE biggest reason, that most of us experience injuries is because we have failed over the years to use our people chassis correctly.

Engage. Your. Core. Muscles.

As often as possible. I'm talking as close to 100% of the time as possible. Yes it takes training. Just do it.

 

That's another reason why I prefer a low back seat. It forces me to use my core muscles to hold my body upright while driving.

 

 

Here's some pics. This particular one I got off of Wally World but it looks like they're available from multiple sources. It was just under $54 shipped.

 

 

 

 

[JCM 10,507]

Time will tell.

[sqrlgtr 1,798]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

On a low back versus high back seat I could go either way as far as looks.

Not me I prefer the low back seats for looks any day .

[Wishin4a416 2,402]

Looks good Eb. I need a low back. Thanks. Have you verified the bolt pattern will work? Do you have a model number from Walmart

Tx.

Jack

[ebinmaine 76,564]

1 minute ago, Wishin4a416 said:

Looks good Eb. I need a low back. Thanks. Have you verified the bolt pattern will work?

 

 

I have not checked it. Doesn't matter to me because I'll just end up bolting it to some sort of adapter plate that sets the seat back two or three inches further than normal.

1 minute ago, Wishin4a416 said:

Do you have a model number from Walmart

Tx.

Jack

 

 

I'll send you a PM

[WHX?? 53,765]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

. It was just under $54 shipped.

 

Real resonable... most are a 100 clams or well over for anything decent. When you spend as much time in the saddle as we do. 

[ebinmaine 76,564]

The newest seat's widest pattern looks like 7" across by 6.5"  fore n aft. 

 

I'll be removing the springs. Don't like em. 

I'll make a plate to adapt the original fender spacings to the seat base. 

[kpinnc 16,634]

11 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

For a practical nature however, I prefer a low back seat.

 

Agreed 100%!

 

Did the same thing on my last tractor! Got mine on the Jungle site. 

 

 

[sqrlgtr 1,798]

7 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

I'll be removing the springs. Don't like em. 

Funny I just added a set to the 12 no name. 

[ebinmaine 76,564]

5 hours ago, sqrlgtr said:

Funny I just added a set to the 12 no name. 

 

As originally installed, the opening of the spring faces backwards. When the spring is compressed the seat tilts more backwards. 

On our very rough tilted terrain here that is NOT conducive to a happy me. 🙃 

 

Removing the springs also gives a slightly lower center of gravity. 

Double win. 

 

When I built the C160-8 Tecumseh Horse I decided to try a set of springs but reversed the opening and flipped the springs so it set the seat further back. 

It's... OK.  I could still take or leave them. 

 

Trina and I both just have a preference for keeping lower and more steady and letting the machine do as it will. We compensate with our own movements.  

[sqrlgtr 1,798]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

 

As originally installed, the opening of the spring faces backwards. When the spring is compressed the seat tilts more backwards. 

On our very rough tilted terrain here that is NOT conducive to a happy me. 🙃 

 

Removing the springs also gives a slightly lower center of gravity. 

Double win. 

 

When I built the C160-8 Tecumseh Horse I decided to try a set of springs but reversed the opening and flipped the springs so it set the seat further back. 

It's... OK.  I could still take or leave them. 

 

Trina and I both just have a preference for keeping lower and more steady and letting the machine do as it will. We compensate with our own movements.  

I hadn't ever had a tractor with the seat spring's until I got the C160 and I actually took them off for a while because I thought it would set seat back a little further for more room between me and the steering wheel but it gave me less room . I put those back on and decided I got a lot softer ride with the springs also, so I added them to the 12 No Name. The higher center of gravity is the only thing I don't like about having them on, but I think they give me a little more room to slid around on the seat for gravity manipulation on the hills around here .

[ebinmaine 76,564]

5 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

A little more room to slid around on the seat for gravity manipulation on the hills around here .

 

Agreed. 

 

I solved that by using 1 1/2" square tubing to create a set back for the seat. 

[WHX?? 53,765]

14 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

I'll be removing the springs. Don't like em. 

Well if you heavy weights wouldn't bottom them out ... 

[ebinmaine 76,564]

2 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Well if you heavy weights wouldn't bottom them out ... 

 

 

You ain't quite right... but you ain't wrong either.  

 

[SylvanLakeWH 30,169]

6 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Well if you heavy weights wouldn't bottom them out ... 

hey hey hey...

I represent that... 

 

Now that you say that though, it is nice not needing supplemental weights for plowing... 

[sqrlgtr 1,798]

33 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Well if you heavy weights wouldn't bottom them out ... 

You just had to go there. 

Edited Saturday at 01:17 PM by sqrlgtr

[Retired Wrencher 6,271]

On 1/9/2026 at 12:38 PM, ebinmaine said:

Prowling around somewhere or another I saw this seat mentioned. Looked like something I wanted to try so I bought one.

 

Got it in the mail yesterday and I like it so much I ordered two more.

At or just below freezing in the shop and the material feels reasonably soft and supple. Will it last? I have no idea. We will see what it does at 0° or below.

 

On a low back versus high back seat I could go either way as far as looks.

 

For a practical nature however, I prefer a low back seat.

Two reasons: 

1. It's easier for me to get on and off the tractor without the seat back being in the way.

2. I've said it before and I'll repeat it here. Your entire muscle and bone and tendon structure is literally, use it or lose it. One of the biggest reasons, if not THE biggest reason, that most of us experience injuries is because we have failed over the years to use our people chassis correctly.

Engage. Your. Core. Muscles.

As often as possible. I'm talking as close to 100% of the time as possible. Yes it takes training. Just do it.

 

That's another reason why I prefer a low back seat. It forces me to use my core muscles to hold my body upright while driving.

 

 

Here's some pics. This particular one I got off of Wally World but it looks like they're available from multiple sources. It was just under $54 shipped.

 

 

 

 

Eric I agree with the low back seats specially with the old start gen tractors. It looks nice. Where did you find those. Oh also does the holes match up putting it on the seat pan? Can you share the price?

Edited 15 hours ago by Retired Wrencher

[ebinmaine 76,564]

23 minutes ago, Retired Wrencher said:

. Where did you find those.  Can you share the price?

 

That's in the first post. 

 

 

 

24 minutes ago, Retired Wrencher said:

Oh also does the holes match up putting it on the seat pan?

 

 

I checked my 1974/5 and they do not. 

Not sure about other years...

[sqrlgtr 1,798]

Here is a picture of one I picked up at the big show last year, but it was an older one. I also think they suit the gen/start tractors very well. The holes did not match the factory holes in seat/fender pan on mine either. I believe this style of seat is what used to be called the "Michigan" seat.

.

[sqrlgtr 1,798]

I forgot to add, I believe you could make an adapter plate pretty easy for these and that would keep you from drilling extra holes in seat pan.

[ebinmaine 76,564]

11 minutes ago, sqrlgtr said:

I forgot to add, I believe you could make an adapter plate pretty easy for these and that would keep you from drilling extra holes in seat pan.

 

 

Sure can. I've used plate steel and square bar stock in the past. 

 

I'd also recommend getting some proper sized good quality fender washers for the bottom of the pan/fender to help spread the load.  

 

 

[Handy Don 15,650]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Sure can. I've used plate steel and square bar stock in the past. 

1.5” square tube can also give the seat a bit of extra height for us folks with longer lower limbs. 

[ebinmaine 76,564]

4 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

1.5” square tube can also give the seat a bit of extra height for us folks with longer lower limbs. 

 

And can be used to set the seat back a couple extra inches.