75th sov seat question

[Wilbur643 47]

The original seat on the 75th (long gone) was bolted to a large 12x12 plate that bolted to the slide plate. The seat bolt pattern is 11.5x11.5 got a tall zero turn seat that bolted right up. Because of my bad knee it is much easier now to get on the tractor by throwing my leg over the back seat like climbing on a horse. Need to find a low back seat. Will the low back seat that came with other Soverigns with the 9.5" back fit the slide plate if I remove the large seat plate? Also, does anyone know what the bolt pattern is for the low back seat, Simplicity #1714316SM seat is still available, pretty pricey but then what isn't? Any other ideas would be helpful. Thanks. Chris   

[PhanDad 3,616]

When I refreshed my first 75th, I put installed an "old school" Sovereign seat using the long hinges.  Some detail is toward the bottom of this post:

http://simpletractors.com/forums/topic/35546-75th-refresh-finally-done/

You can see the huge difference it made in this "blue lineup" pic:

Eliminating all the intermediate plates gets you as low to the seat pan as possible.  Only thing lower would be bolting the seat directly to the pan.  But no-way would I give up the better "ride" the hinge/springs give you - at a cost of an inch or two extra height.

 

[Wilbur643 47]

Thanks Bill, I may end up going with the old school hinge set up. Since the wife uses the thing some times I would like to keep the fore and aft adjustment set up. I think the 7" height differences between the seat that's on it and the low back seat will be enough for now, in a few more years who knows.  

[Bill725 1,176]

As you may know the original seat which came on the late model sovereigns in NLA. When I replaced both seats on my Sovereigns I made an aluminum adapter plate to go from the original smaller bolt pattern to the new bigger bolt pattern.

[Wilbur643 47]

The seat I'm looking at -1714316sm- is still available just can't find the bolt pattern. Anybody know?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

is still available, just can't find the bolt pattern. Anybody know?

[Mike_H 92]

FWIW, the low back buckets look SO much better IMHO.  Those High backs with the arm rests just look out of place.  I think the best seat they've had is the low back, Highly padded ones like this...

 

This one is on ebay right now for 65 bucks...includes the mounting bracket. Its probably a little taller than the old school one from the 70's and early 80's (90's broadmoor and their ilk used this), but I find it supremely comfortable for my 6'2" frame.  It has fore/aft adjustment as well. 

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Simplicity-Broadmoor-Seat-/122303532963?hash=item1c79dbcfa3:g:HdoAAOSwA3dYcokB

[Chris727 2,015]

There is an even lower version of the seat Mike posted above. The lower one was commonly used on Regent, Express, and Cornet models in the late '90s to early 2000's.  Those are one of the most durable seats they had used. The new seat from Simplicity is likely a new Milsco seat with the foam glued to a plastic base. They are comfortable but not very durable.

[Wilbur643 47]

Okay, the seat on ebay that Mike posted looks to be 1787020sm, it is the high back seat. The slide adjustment set up looks to be the same as the one on my sov, so I assume the bolt pattern is the same. After some research the seat that Chris is referring to seems to be ether a 1714315sm, or the 1714316sm, both are still available. Both of these are listed as 09.5 back seats, the 15sm being about $10.00 less than 16sm, don't know why. Can't find the bolt pattern for ether one, but from some of the pictures they look like they may fit. Guess I'll go to the local simplicity dealer (50mile round trip) in the next few to see if he has ether seat, or if he knows if they will fit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

is still available, just can't find the bolt pattern. Anybody know?

[PhanDad 3,616]

1 hour ago, Chris727 said:

The new seat from Simplicity is likely a new Milsco seat with the foam glued to a plastic base. They are comfortable but not very durable.

Chris,

Is the this the seat you are referring?

According to the ad, it's a Dahti Mesh Seat 1687860.  I wonder if its a replacement for the Milsco seat?

It can be had for $200:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dahti-Mesh-Seat-1687860-Simplicity-Snapper-riding-lawn-mower-tractor-Zero-Turn-/262803787714?hash=item3d30538fc2:g:L4kAAOSwA3dYdp2

[Chris727 2,015]

19 minutes ago, PhanDad said:

Chris,

Is the this the seat you are referring?

According to the ad, it's a Dahti Mesh Seat 1687860.  I wonder if its a replacement for the Milsco seat?

It can be had for $200:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dahti-Mesh-Seat-1687860-Simplicity-Snapper-riding-lawn-mower-tractor-Zero-Turn-/262803787714?hash=item3d30538fc2:g:L4kAAOSwA3dYdp2

No, I was meaning this sort of seat:

 http://m.ebay.com/itm/High-Back-Seat-Fits-John-Deere-VG12160-VG12160-Simplicity1731999SM-420-360-/252721847024?hash=item3ad7655af0%3Ag%3AFdsAAOSw8d9UuGV8&_trkparms=pageci%3A9aeffd14-e0cf-11e6-9cc9-74dbd180dd09%7Cparentrq%3Ac76975141590a60cc970a2f1ffb76e3d%7Ciid%3A22

Thats the sort of seat used on the earlier Prestige, Conquest, and a lot of other brands. There are several sizes but the foam is glued on and often ends up coming loose.

[Wilbur643 47]

Just a little side note: my name is also Chris. The Wilbur643 comes from the fact that the 75th sov. is number 643 and the fellow I bought it from was named Wilbur. He was the local dealer and his wife drove it in the parade. After buying the tractor he was very helpful and provided me with information whenever I had to work on it. Like most oldschool guy. He's the one who had me contact Al Eden about the engine. He said Al was the go-to guy for most dealers when it came to engines, especially Kohlers.  Wilbur and Al died the same month. Really miss both of them. 

 

-Chris