Best riding seat for H & M?

Been out haying the last two weeks on my H & M. Both have the coil spring style, with the short shock absorber between the spring and pivot point. Do the styles with a long shock absorber at the rear ride any better?
I am a big guy, about 6' 7", and 325#. Have the heavy springs installed on both tractors. Any aftermarket seats that ride better? Lower back support would be nice too!

I can not answer your question, but my h has the seat on it like you describe (short shock between spring and pivot). These were Monroe seats I believe. Since my H is a 1951 and I believe it to be original and stock then I think the style like we have is newer than the style with the shock in the rear. Usually newer is better, unless beancounter accountants are involved.

I need to buy one of them heavy duty springs. My spring is weak. I am 6'5" and 250lbs. I have an old nerf football shoved inside the coil spring to help it out.

On the other hand, I have an older m that I am trying to fix up with the old factory pipe seat and no shock. I think that one is going to be a rough rider and a candidate for upgrade.

I have actually considered welding up my own riser platform so I can install one of those universal type seats with suspension but that will cost some $. But having a backrest and sliding track adjustment just might be worth it. You can even get those seats that have armrests too for even more $.

An alternative option might be to buy a whole seat assembly off a 460 or a 560. I think that would bolt right up to the existing platform and you gain a backrest.

I will be following this thread with interest.

Why not wind a second spring inside the existing one on your seat? Double your fun!!

About 15-16 years ago when I started getting into tractors, I was at a pull, saw a very nicely refurbished Super M sitting in the pits with a JD float ride seat on it. It wasn"t cobbed or "African-engineered", it looked like it belonged actually. I asked him why he had that on there. "Because I do field work with it too" was his answer. I grinned and nodded like I knew what he was talking about, but at that point, without much seat time on red ones I really had no clue! As our collection grew, and I finally spent some time plowing with our Super C, Super H, and Super M I discovered exactly what he meant!

I had one with a long shock that I traded the shock
out for a air shock. It worked really good and I
wish I had it back as you could set it as firm as
you needed it

You"re right, lower lumbar back-rest makes all the difference. I did it, couldn"t live without it. Took the back off an old secretary"s chair, bolted it on. [I mean an old chair, not an old secretay...]

Just get an old air ride truck seat. Best of both worlds. Arm rests,comfort, and will mount with little fabrication. There are 2 styles. The low mount and the taller one. The low mount has less movement. The tall one would be fine on an H,M. The lower version would be needed for the supers or any that have the battery under the seat.

Put a football that takes air in the spring. Add or let out air as needed. I am 6.3" 280# it works great for me. If you show the tractor its easy to remove.

Years ago my dad installed the 460/560 deluxe seats on the 450,400 and Super M by modifying the base of the deluxe seat to fit the battery box. Those rode a lot better than the original seats.

I now have a 560 with the deluxe seat and have the 856 seat back with the folding arm rests. Recently I was involved in a traffic accident with the 560 and felt the seat helped protect me from the impact when a car struck the left side of my disk from behind and forced the left rear tire and rim off the cast wheel.

The Monroe seat with the rear mounted shock absorber is the early, universal style. The mid-mounted shock came later, and supposedly was an improvement. I've got tractors with both styles, and honestly cannot notice any difference in how they ride.

Just installed this seat this weekend, very smooth ride.

i have done this putting the 2 springs together I think it helps alot to keep from bottoming out.

Yup, two springs.

What kind of seat is that? Looks comfy!

(quoted from post at 23:00:37 06/26/13)
What kind of seat is that? Looks comfy!

Click to expand...

Since no one else has replied...I believe the photo is of a Knoedler Seat (Spelling???). They were typically sold through farm stores back in the day like TSC, Farm Fleet, etc.

I have zero experience with the Knoelder seat but what I have read is love or hate (actually more hate than love). Some even refer to them as suicide seats as people claim that Knoedler seat has a tendency to throw off the back of tractor -especially when seat gets worn.

My opinion: It might be better than a stock Farmall pipe seat, but I do not think its better than the Monroe seat of any vintage.