Who engineered this thing ???

Macon It’s definitely a finger bone crusher! Trap! I always thought they’d have lasted forever had they used greasable bearings. People don’t take the time weekly to oil bushings and they sure don’t move a whole heck of a lot. I’ve repaired every one on my 24 Allis. Well actually 23, the C has a bench🤭and that had no bushings😆. Fix em up best you can and enjoy! Dana

The biggest issue with those well-designed suspensions, is the fact that the coil spring loses its strength over years of use and maybe we are a heavier people than we were in 1957 when it was first introduced. I've been adding a one inch long thin pipe spacer to the top of the spring to make up for that and it raises up the seat pan a bunch. Starting out higher gives you more suspension travel so you won't hit the bottom !!! An air shock I have thought of but air temps would affect how it could work and do you have an on-board air compressor ?? It should work better because I imagine all your old stuff was worn out anyway.

I replaced my D17 shock\spring and bushings. I was thankful the guy I bought it from alwasy stored in inside. I just tapped the roll pins and seat pins out and tapped the new ones in. EASY

Rebuilt both the seats on our D 15s . Wasn't very easy for me, but a lot more comfortable now. Good luck

My gripe for the day !!

Never had a seat assembly that bottom pivot wasn't worn thru or almost threw the bushings.

That is if the tractor has more than 1000 hours on it or someone hasn't already repaired it.
You can't even replace the shock assembly without removing bottom pivot pin and that is not a simple task.

here are 4 different seat assemblys currenly in use...



Yellow tractor has less than 1000 hours

Edited by Macon Rounds - 07 Jul 2023 at 10:59am

Yep
drilling those roll pins is a waist of time.

Pounding out is the way !!

Usually lay it up on the anvil "with a helper" and still get it glowing red. And 4 # works well...

I did this one by myself, yea.... not a pretty site.

Heating it up and chasing it around the garage floor.
Grrrrr !!!!

if you can see on the floor I manufactured some longer brass bushings. I do drill a hole for oil and have even put grease fitting in them. longer bushings keep them from migrating out or I have just put washers between the factory bushings....
The ones I have repaired should never need replaced again, except for the shock. And the next repair man will thank me.
I use antiseze ...

Hey that’s a well engineered seat! Lol, grease fittings would have been great! I do love the 2 position seat! They are a bear to disassemble

I agree with Mike, it's nice to flip the seat back and stand up

Looks like the one on our 175. Are you going to buy new cushions for the top and bottom? If so where? We can not find any. I have looked on K and M but no luck

Good info here even though i'll never be able to find it again if I ever go to fix my seat suspension.  Not a big deal since I don't use my D17 III  to earn a living.  Actually, in response to the very first comment I think the original engineer did a very good job in coming up with a seat that one could quickly flip up and back for easier getting onto a low platform tractor or just to stand up while operating.  These are 50 year old designs that served the purpose before the advent of ergonomic engineers.  

This might be a well engineered mechanism but they
Sure didn't consider maintenance when the designed it.

Would love to see photos of exhaust pipe spacer installed on seat...
and
The air shock fix.

Part number of air shock would be much appreciated.

This will not be my last seat repair. I always appreciate ideas and advice .

Edited by Macon Rounds - 10 Jul 2023 at 10:00pm

I'll look for them.