I won't tell you how much time and money I have spent to solve your problem. Initially I bought a ZT with no springs under the seat. Actually I have 2 that came like that (DR and Hustler). On the DR I ordered their $200 suspension seat which I tried for awhile but found that the springs were tougher than my back, even on the lowest tension setting.
I removed that and installed a pair of motorcycle air chambers...replace the spring(s) under the seat of a motorcycle. Added an old bottle used for oxygen for the small/portable Oxy-acet gas welders, with a gauge and shrader valve for filling. Problem with that was with the small volume, even with the tank, it had to be filled every time I wanted to use the mower.
Next came a set of Cub Cadet springs I accidentally came across going into a TSC store one day. The spring is used by CC and Troy built and available online from suitable parts aftermarket retailers. CC part number is 732-05182A. Cost about $6 and probably the best 6 bucks you ever spent. If you look at it and a (engine valve spring looking thing) spring on most mowers you can easily see how this is an easy riding spring. I have installed them on every piece of lawn mowing equipment I have including where I had the air bags on the DR..
Next came ATV tires, the ones where max psi is 5. On a light mower that I use for pond banks with snow studs, I run them at 2 psig. Nice and soft. On the larger/heavier machines I run them at 4 psig.
I bought a 24 hp compact tractor (Branson 2400) Jan. 2016 that was fitted out with industrial tires (12x16.5 6 ply), rears rated at 2300+# each at the rated 30 psig, The whole tractor weighs in at 1800+ plus loader so how is one to get a soft ride on a machine of that weight with a pair of tires rated for 5600+#? Not very easily.
Solution on that went through several iterations and the solution was 33x12.5-16.5 4 ply turfs on the rear, also rated for 2300+# but they were only 4 ply, still had a stiff sidewall and the balloon (volume of air the tire could hold) was larger allowing me to run them down around 8 psig rather than their rated 30 and get a softer ride. Then I added 50# weights to each rear and then added an additional 65# of weights to each wheel and still a rough ride.
Next on the 2400 came an air seat cushioning system (minus the seat....nothing wrong with my OEM seat itself) for $350 something rather than the $650+ you pay if you buy the whole seat and system. There is a little valve at the front whereby you turn on the 12vdc internal air compressor and set your resistance. All of that fixed my 2400.....cost? Tires were $600 for the pair (retail is over $600 each), seat $350, weights, $300 (because they were off specific tractors and old iron dealer thought that added value...which it did if you had a buyer for such).......looks like something over $1250.
Well guess what. The money is gone forever. I will probably have the tractor to enjoy forever. Money well spent for all of it and for my back and my peace of mine.......well worth it.
Upload one or more videos to your post. Photo filesizes should be less than 300K and Videos, less than 2MB. Formats allowed are gif, jpg, png, ogg, mp4, mov, and avi. Be sure to use filenames without spaces or special characters, and filetypes of 3 digits lower case.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Product Review: Black Tire Paint - by Staff. I have been fortunate in that two of my tractors have had rear tires that were in great shape when I bought the tractor. My model "H" even had the old style fronts with plenty of tread. My "L" fronts were mismatched Sears Guardsman snow tires, which I promptly tossed. Well, although these tires were in good shape as far as tread was concerned, they looked real sad. All were flat, but new tubes fixed that. In addition to years and years of scuffing and fading, they had paint splattered on
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
2022 John Deere 5045E, 4wd, front end loader and 3rd function with grapple. 120 hrs, 55k new, must sell
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
