Just installed a new Grammer mechanical seat

[GeorgeSB]

I bought it from Amazon because I have Prime and the shipping would add to much to an already "high" cost for a seat. I got t his one:
Grammer MSG65/531 Gray Vinyl Mechanical Suspenion Seat

I needed to solve the back-killing ride, when mowing big fields, especially. I was literally standing, in this tiny no-space-to-stand cockpit. The ride just awful.

Installed by fabrication of a base into my 2003 era Kioti DK35

That was bit of a fab install. But it's in.

First test ride orders of magnitude improvement.

I'll post some more in time.

I may make some more adjustments to the install. I can see that the Kioti DK35 has a significant slant forward in the pan I mounted the seat onto. Since the Grammer is intended for flat base installation, my seat resulted in a bit of a pitch. So far it isn't an issue. But I might shim the front of the fabbed seat frame so that it is less pitched.

(Hopefully I'm posting properly here this way.)

Old seat (black):


New seat (gray)

 

[GregP27]

Looking good. Let us know if the comfort improves ...

 

[Sysop]

Is that better than the Michigan?

Amazon.com: Michigan Black Seat, Milsco V53 High Back Suspension Seat W/Lumbar #1598 #HE: Automotive

 

[rhunt]

I like that re-purpose of the fence posts! Bob

 

[GeorgeSB]

I like that re-purpose of the fence posts! Bob

Bob has apparently seen these old metal fence posts.
They were all around these place when we bought.
They are handy metal for various uses. What better item to fix a tractor with? LOL

 

[GeorgeSB]

Is that better than the Michigan?

Amazon.com: Michigan Black Seat, Milsco V53 High Back Suspension Seat W/Lumbar #1598 #HE: Automotive

My short answer is I don't know.

If it comes only to price, Michigan is cheaper.

But I often learn the really hard way that you often get what you paid for.
My guess is that it's true here as well.

My guess is the Grammer is of higher quality because of 1) price 2) care of packaging and shipping 3) I have it and it's extremely well built 4) It's a German company. What I know of German engineers, they demand, really demand quality. "GRAMMER AG (headquarters located in Germany)"

The more industrial companies and more serious end users seem to use Grammer over Michigan.
I could be wrong.

What I know of Michigan is virtually nothing.
But it's carried by retail companies that sell low quality after market stuff, including tons of absolute junk. That worries me a bit.

Contrast that to Grammer. Mostly sold by high end suppliers and suppliers to industry.

I don't have a Michigan to compare it.

I did go to Tractor Supply and looked at every seat in stock, sorry I don't know the brands. I didn't like any of them there.


The Michigan is less expensive.
They ship the Michigan very poorly and many customers complained of broken seats, etc. While the Grammer was boxed extremely professionally well and came in tact without a single problem.


One reviewer on Amazon said this positive:

"I installed this seat on an older Bob-Cat zero turn mower that originally came equipped with an earlier version of the Michigan Seat. The first seat lasted thru TEN seasons of daily use in our lawn care bussiness, so Michigan knows how to make a long lasting seat. This version is an improved model in that it now has an adjustment for the angle of the back. This seat is actually more comfortable than the seat currently offered on Bob-Cat mowers. Actually I don't know of a more comfortable mower seat on the market & I've tried many. The only drawback is that this model is black instead of a more logical lighter color - it can get pretty hot when sitting in the sun. Because of the black color I could only give it a 4 out of 5."

I have to say that I LOVE the light gray color of the Grammer. It is COOL to the touch. Since my tractor is in very strong sun, this is an important factor for me. An option is to put a light colored seat cover on the seat.

Apparently Michigan makes cheap seats too: "I bought the cheaper seat ($136.00) from Tractor Supply first but it fell apart in 1 month."

Another reviewer: "Overall a nice seat but it is not like a real suspension seat ! Heavy built with good covering and does take the edge off of rough terrain . Be aware that it is not as good as the $200 higher real full suspension seats so its up to you if you want to spend more to get the real deal ."

Because you have to fab a mounting for the Kioti. I'd really check all the dimensions quite carefully.
The original Kioti seat has a fairly high mounting and it's designed to install in a base of the tractor that slants quite a bit forward.
So I had to build up a platform at least 4" high so the new seat would be at a normal height. I also had to pitch the front of the fabricated mounting brackets up to reduce the forward pitch. It wasn't easy. And it should be pitched to near flat. That's not going to be easy either. The platform fabrication challenge is true for any after market seat installed in the Kioti. I don't know of a good quality bolt in seat. Sadly.

 

[GeorgeSB]

New Grammer Mechanical seat experience.

I've now run the tractor down the road and did some mowing.
I love the seat.
It seems to remove both high frequency (rolling down pavement) and lower frequency (mowing clump grass) bumps very nicely.
I completely forget I have a seat and it could have been a rough ride on the old seat, it's that much better!
Now I hope it lasts.

 

[whitexc]

For what it's worth my Michigan seat was very well packaged however there are a bunch of negative reviews out there stating otherwise.

Glad you like the new seat. I wish I hadn't waited so long to make the purchase.