BX Seat for Backhoe Operation

[Tractor Seabee]

Have been back on my 25 doing digging which I haven't done for awhile. This renewed my annoyance with the poorly engineered seat operation from driving OPs to BH OPs. Has anyone come up with a simple seat mount that you don't have to fumble and pinch your fingers? Do the 2017 models have the same system or has it been improved and maybe retrofitted to older models? If the answers are no; this may be something that our after market entrepreneurs here on TBN may be missing a market for a new product.

Ron

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm quite sure this is the biggest nuisance for me on my BX. So much that I tend to dig 'on my knees' vs. rotating the seat back and forward on many of my projects using the BH. It sure would be nice if there was a retrofit seat available!

 

[General Lee]

I have a 2017 BX23S (formerly the BX25). In my opinion the seat is still an annoyance. Most times I have to fold the back down so the seat clears the rops when you spin it around. PIA.

 

[BX23S-1]

I will have to agree, i have a new 2017 BX23S, i just simply hate the seat whenever i have to turn it around to use the backhoe, then turn it around again to move the tractor. Just a horrible design. The idea of the seat turning around to use the backhoe is a great idea, BUT it was just engineered very wrong. Like it or not, if you look at all the other sub compacts out there, they are pretty much the same awkwardly designed nightmare.

 

[dragoneggs]

Should be a simple push button to swing it around (or better yet...two buttons, for safety reasons like some machine equipment so both hands are clear of the action). Someone here should design one. BXpanded, are you listening?

 

[frugalangler]

Should be a simple push button to swing it around (or better yet...two buttons, for safety reasons like some machine equipment so both hands are clear of the action). Someone here should design one. BXpanded, are you listening?

BXpanded, take a look at the MF GC17x5 for an opportunity as well, I currently have removed the seat back on mine - if just doing a quick poke w/ the BH, I don't mess with the seat, use it in the operating position, if I am digging a trench, I will swivel it, but can hop to the operating position and drive the tractor with the seat in the BH position - this works but I'd sure like to have my backrest and an easy to swivel seat.

So, this is not just a Kubota issue, it's across most all the single seat TLB products, or at least it was when I was shopping for one.

 

[Snobdds]

I like the idea of taking off the back portion of the seat to just have a bench. I will have to take a look at mine and see if there is a way to put a quick attach like mechanism on the back portion to easily put on and off the back part of the seat.

 

[Gcorron]

Never known this NOT to be an issue! I've known people who looked at a backhoe with the BH seat first in their mind. If it doesn't have a separate seat, they ain't buying it.
I went to dig a hole last year for a neighbor (who used to own a lot of equipment) and when I backed up to where he wanted the hole, he asked why I was putting my gloves on. I told him if he flipped the seat around without them, he would soon find out.

I don't move the seat without gloves, too many blood blisters! I'd love to see some guy fix this problem, and hope he makes a gazillion dollars in the process.

I don't change seats when digging in a straight line, learned to move myself with the backhoe a long time ago. Put the machine in neutral and just turn around to raise the front bucket when I need to change positions.
George

 

[CHDinCT]

How 'bout a seat that just folds backwards so the backrest becomes the BH seat and the seat becomes the BH backrest? Or a separate folding seat that mounts to the open top link bracket? Fold it against the BH controls when not in use. Just some ideas.

 

[valkyrie9901]

The seat seems to work for me. There is a mid-point dentent where you stop it and it swivels right around. Also a dentent when it is at front position or the rear position for the BH.

 

[altoonapillarrock]

The seat seems to work for me. There is a mid-point dentent where you stop it and it swivels right around. Also a dentent when it is at front position or the rear position for the BH.

I agree. My BX24 is the only tractor I have owned. When I went to use the backhoe the first I read the directions the and it's been no problem. If you lift the seat there's a sweet spot where it just swivels around.

 

[radioman]

i havent tried the newer models then bx24 for how it swivels around, but on my bx24 i dont have a problem with swiveling it. i lift up until it detents (click like) , swivel, grasp the top of seat with one hand and grasp the corner of lower seat with palm and push down and hold it and move down to the lower position until its about 1 inch away from the bar and make sure its lined up and slam it in. works for me.

 

[Code54]

I find that if I am just digging a smaller hole or something that takes less than 15 or so minutes I just kneel on the seat facing backwards and run the hoe that way. Just seems quicker and easier than spinning it around smashing my hand at some point!

 

[BX23S-1]

Watch out for the tool/cup holder on the BX23S. The seat will drag across the top of it and leave a nice huge gouge in the cover.

 

[ultrarunner]

I found a little lubricant to the entire mechanism helps a lot...

Often will just to the knee thing unless serious digging.

I do like the flip seat on the Deere 110 much better... no swivel... simply flip back.

 

[dragoneggs]

The point is not that the seat can be flipped around without too much issue. The issue is having to rotate it frequently depending on the type of work you are doing. It gets really old and tiring and slows me down big time. I like efficiency and tools that perform as such.

Also being on a hill makes the rotation of the seat much harder than on flat ground.

 

[ultrarunner]

This is why I really like the flip seat... it simply toggles front to back... and back to front in one move.

Also, it has creeper function which I never appreciated until I was trenching and re-positioning often.

The 3800 has a dedicated seat and is VERY cramped for me... much rather use the swivel of the BX...