Is air ride my solution?

[cold1313]

I have an F3990 to cut the grass which takes me around 3 hours of run time. My yard is quite bumpy, some slopes, etc so I'm always in low gear and can never "floor" it in low gear. I get bucked around too hard.

My issue is my giant sized head and the sore neck I get after mowing. I'm guessing I look like a bobble head doll when I mow.

Would an air ride seat fix this issue? I have the factory kubota suspension seat adjusted to my weight and I've played with it heavier and lighted. I can bottom out the seat every once and awhile. I'm not the lightest person at ~250'ish pounds.

What also started this is that mice have gotten into the back of the seat already this winter and have started remove the foam. I'm furious.

Would an air ride stop my head from bouncing all over the place, or make it worse? I was trying to find just a basic air ride seat but the Grammar ones start adding in heat seat options, etc...I don't need any of that.

Suggestions?

 

[4get gto]

If you didn't have a suspension already I'd say you'd think this was God. I don't have any with air so I can't say for sure but I'll go out on a limb and say it would "probably" be better than what you have now. How much better..? :confused3:

 

[ruffdog]

The front mower units are a great tool to mow large areas, but the design does nothing for a smooth ride. The packaging dictates the tire diameters are small and the operator is directly above one solid axle. Small tires fall into holes more than a large tire like a tractor and being right above the axle (w/no suspension) inputs all shake into the bobble head.

Semi trucks once had a option of a good seat but it only addressed the up/down movement, none of the rolling action (bobble head). They now have the fancy air ride cabs that suspends the entire cab...big difference.

If I were to design this mower, I would have the operators station suspended so it would float to isolate it from the side/side shake to help us bobble heads (your not the only one who feels like those toys). I was looking into Ferris mowers as they seem to be a leader into mower suspensions. I ended up getting a Toolcat that has 4/wheel suspension and it is WAAAAY smoother than my tractor.

How to fix your unit? It may take re-engineering some float into your seating platform or buy something else.:2cents:

 

[cold1313]

Ruffdog you nailed it - I just realized that I didn't consider the side to side sway that I get. I'm an engineer and my father is a retired millwright (which means I overthink everything and he makes it the simple and clean way that typically works better!) so I'm sure we can come up with a solution - I just thought I'd see what people thought of an air suspension seat.

 

[chim]

A velvet smooth ride would be great for the operator - but would it be good for the equipment? If the operator is "Cadillac Comfy" on the roughest terrain, he's a lot less aware he's beating the snot out of the equipment.

 

[cold1313]

Maybe for some, but for myself, I can tell when the equipment is getting pushed hard. You shouldn't need a seat for feedback on that.

 

[chim]

Maybe for some, but for myself, I can tell when the equipment is getting pushed hard. You shouldn't need a seat for feedback on that.

You and I may not need it, but trust me, there are some that do. Happy New Year!

 

[mikester]

Yes the air ride seat will make a big difference. OEM Kubota seats generally suck and give very little suspension. You can get a Grammar air seat which should bolt on to your machine relatively easily.

FYI I put one on my ZTR for the same reasons. I was hesitant to do it because of the cost - I have no regrets other than I should have done it sooner. I need to do the same for my M59 because the OEM seat really sucks on that machine...no suspension and it's tilted so you feel like you are constantly sliding off the seat.

 

[plowhog]

I have a Grammar in my Massey 1758 and it is wonderful. Compared to my Massey SCUT, it smooths out all but the worst of the bumps. For my little SCUT I bought something similar to this at Walmart:

https://www.amazon.com/ComfiLife-Ge...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2Y9P2E5QTEE4M7HQVGXY

 

[oosik]

I've often wondered if something like a Grammar air ride would make my M6040 smoother. I have the seat suspension knob cranked full. I seldom bottom out. I SURE do a lot of bouncing though. I do a lot of "topping up". My OEM seat suspension has no "moderation" to movement - up or down. It's like I'm sitting on one of those bouncing pigs on a coil spring at the local children's park.

 

[cold1313]

Yes the air ride seat will make a big difference. OEM Kubota seats generally suck and give very little suspension. You can get a Grammar air seat which should bolt on to your machine relatively easily.

FYI I put one on my ZTR for the same reasons. I was hesitant to do it because of the cost - I have no regrets other than I should have done it sooner. I need to do the same for my M59 because the OEM seat really sucks on that machine...no suspension and it's tilted so you feel like you are constantly sliding off the seat.

I figured I would cross reference the dimensions of my existing seat to a Grammar. Since there isn't a Grammar dealer near me, I'll have to give them a call to see if they have a basic seat with the suspension only. I don't need the seat to be heated, etc.

 

[oosik]

mikester - you have a Grammar on your ZTR. Is the air suspension in the seat adjustable. Meaning - stiffer or more pliant. Can you adjust the ride height with air pressure.

Stated previously - I've always thought it might help my back to have a seat like that. After a day on the "dancing pig" my back muscles can get all knotted up and sore.

Like cold1313 - no local dealer. Heck of an investment without being able to actually "touch" one.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I have air ride on my T4.75. Most comfortable seat I've ever had on any tractor. It does make a difference. They are pricey however. I would first try to place heavier duty springs under your seat. If that is an option it will save you some coin. Those air rides are expensive. On my Toro Groundsmaster it has a spring seat that I don't find uncomfortable. I drive as fast as the mower allows for a good cut.

 

[Monster5601]

I had an issue last winter where the surgeon cut me open from my rib cage to south of the border. Come spring I was still quite sore and soon discovered I could not mow on my ZD. The bumps were painful but the bilateral movements were worse. My issues were further complicated by my height (6' 4") and my knees were too high with respect to my torso while sitting on the machine.

So I bought an air ride seat after hours of reading and research. The seat came in and I mounted it on the ZD but soon found out the seat sat lower than the factory mechanical suspension seat. So I found a set of seat risers and installed them, adjusted the rear and forward seat height to fit me and viola, I could mow with out as much pain.

There isn't much you can do to reduce the bilateral movements, but getting better control of the bumps reduces the bilaterals.

Here is the ZD with the air ride seat and seat riser set up for me.




I got the air ride seat at;
MILSCO V54 AIR RIDE SEAT, HUSTLER, EXMARK, TORO, BOBCAT, DIXIE CHOPPER, ZERO TURN #JQ - Seat Warehouse

Here is the adjustable seat bracket;
Trique Manufacturing Adjustable Seat Brackets SRB2 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing

 

[oosik]

The seat on my 2009 M6040 is still OEM. That means one big spring with the tensioning knob. Last I read a new Grammar to fit my tractor was an M85 or something like that and around $2K. I only get "back muscle cramping/pains" if I'm in the seat most of the day.

I'll keep looking for a bigger, stiffer spring(s). If it were medically required or because it caused me real pain, in the short term - - completely different situation.

I'm currently dealing with some form of arthritis in my left shoulder. At times it's just me and advanced pain meds. The ONLY positive thing I can say - I finally know exactly what 10 out of 10 on the pain scale really means.