Mower suspension seat options?

[Cord]

I'm looking to put a suspension seat on my mower and I'm not sure exactly what I'm wanting. I don't have headroom issues, but I figure that I can only raise the seat by 4" or the geometry will get off. Most websites have classified this seat as being a "forklift" seat. Been looking at a Grammer MSG 65 or maybe the 75, but the 75's are over $1,000 which I can't afford. Found a really good seat website here Material Handling Seats | Forklift Seats | Crane Seats | TEK Seating but they're out of the UK. I now see that Grammer also has a Primo line that appears to be limited to the European market. The Primo seats look really, really tempting to me. Grammer Primo XL Seat

Features I'm looking for:
60-110 mm of travel
adjustable lumbar
adjustable back angle
fore-aft isolation would be nice
no arm rests
cloth

The ultimate seat, but it's $2,000: Deluxe High Quality Grammer Actimo Evolution Seat - Tractor/Excavator-12volt | eBay
Something that's more in my price range: KAB Compact 12volt Agricultural/Material Handling/Forklift seat | eBay

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I'm looking to put a suspension seat on my mower and I'm not sure exactly what I'm wanting. I don't have headroom issues, but I figure that I can only raise the seat by 4" or the geometry will get off. Most websites have classified this seat as being a "forklift" seat. Been looking at a Grammer MSG 65 or maybe the 75, but the 75's are over $1,000 which I can't afford. Found a really good seat website here Material Handling Seats | Forklift Seats | Crane Seats | TEK Seating but they're out of the UK. I now see that Grammer also has a Primo line that appears to be limited to the European market. The Primo seats look really, really tempting to me. Grammer Primo XL Seat

Features I'm looking for:
60-110 mm of travel
adjustable lumbar
adjustable back angle
fore-aft isolation would be nice
no arm rests
cloth

The ultimate seat, but it's $2,000: Deluxe High Quality Grammer Actimo Evolution Seat - Tractor/Excavator-12volt | eBay
Something that's more in my price range: KAB Compact 12volt Agricultural/Material Handling/Forklift seat | eBay

I've got a suspension seat for mowers thread going in the Lawn and Garden forum. I did a video review of the Grammer seat. I have not done a video review of the Milsco V5400 seat yet because winter happened, but it is mounted on my mower right now.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/general-lawn-garden/348184-any-feedback-milscos-v5400-air.html

 

[Cord]

Looks like you are slightly ahead of me in the search. Pretty similar search criteria, but I'm looking for the lumbar support so I can stay unfused.

 

[Texasmark]

I have been fighting a rough ride for years. One of my attempts was a suspension seat for a DR, from DR, for $200 which raised the seat about 2". Like the OEM design suspension seats of my Fords, the seat was not all that smooth. You had this "moment of inertia" you had to overcome to get it in motion even with the slightest tension.

In short, overcoming that MOI was merely getting rid of the shock absorber which I did and also did on my Ford seats. Cannot believe the difference in ride quality. The two springs do a wonderful job on their own. Now I have a nice smooth seat transition (like riding a comfortable saddle on a horse at an easy "loping" gate) up and down and no shock waves for the back when the tires bounce up and down on my turf. To assist in this comfort, I spend a lot of time finding the lowest possible air pressure while maintaining safety and machine performance. Most tires are 5-10# on the mowers.

On my other lawn mowers I found some large, soft riding, coil springs that are OEM on Cub Cadet riders that are wonderful (part number, site sourcing, and cost are around the site somewhere as I have published it for reader convenience); again nice slow motion, no little tight springing suckers like you find on most riders, about 5 bucks apiece....whadda deal.

I have an air seat in my 6530 that has an air compressor to pump the seat to whatever pressure you desire, smooth as silk.....can't beat that; just like equipment functionality OTR 18 wheelers use as standard equipment. So, when (in a fit of frustration) I trashed the DR suspension seat (before I accidentally found out that the shock absorber contained therein was the culprit), I went to a motorcycle site and ordered a couple (one for each side) of their air seats (spring replacements) for bikes....the air cushioning very close to the 6530 air seat in ride quality. Just pump up to the desired pressure with shop air and wala a smooth ride. I modified them somewhat with an air tank I mounted on the mower for more volume since any kind of leak would quickly change the pressure in the bellows....small volume. I like 5psig for a number.

Well so much for that. Some good ideas here to stimulate one's imagination if you, like me, are getting too old to be bounced around like what occurs on "real" turf, not the carpet lawns you see in the advertisements!

 

[kthompson]

Cord do not know the mowers you have but look like high end mowers. I fought this issue with my firs zero turn mower and thought it common to the design. The brand I had two seat options, one was like $500 more, probably should have bought that one but when mower was bought had no idea how much it would be used. Was using compact tractor with rear finishing mower and it still is best ride for me.

My suggestions are: first read the manual and be sure you are inflating to the psi they recommend and not the tire company. At least my mowers run the tires soft to help with rough ride.
Think you are right forklift seats is style you want. But go to Toro and see what they offer first. As least get their specs to compare to. They know their machine the best of anyone or should.
Bigger diameter tires ride better.
If you have holes in your yard fill them in. Small holes are terrible on small tires. Our front yard was heavy woods when we built and over years the stumps rotted out and we had to about ever year fill in certain holes more and new ones would appear. Been 16 years and we have about gotten past that. Grinding stumps was not a good idea as it turned out.
My mowers are zero turn and I would NOT want an armless seat.
I needed a bigger mower as my needs had grown and went with a Ferris with full suspension system, much bigger tires and nicer seat. Much better ride. But in that also faster so hitting any bumps or holes faster which is not good.
Again do not know your mowers but when I put a very good seat on my first zero turn it really was different, it only raised it 4 or so inches but it affected the feel of stability greatly and also had a few tree limbs that were lower than I realized till yes I bumped them with my head. They are now missing.
Take care of the back. You are only issued one in your life time. kt

 

[lamanated]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200268424_200268424

 

[Gary Fowler]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200268424_200268424

That seat is only spring suspension so it wont be anything like an air ride seat. Probably much better than the standard lawnmower seat that has nothing but a bit of foam under the seat. I put on of the spring adjustable seats on my ZTR and it is much smoother, but nothing like an air ride would be if I could justify it.