Yet Another M Question

Mongo6318 · Dec 12, 2014

First off I want to thank everyone for the knowledge and willingness to help out!!! My question is about the seat on my m. I have the seat in the picture. I am a big guy. 6' and 360lbs. Should I switch to a seat with the big spring in the back? I don't bottom out on this but it is close. I've heard a lot of horror stories about seat springs breaking and with my weight I am a little jumpy.

D Slater · Dec 12, 2014

With that weight a seat with spring under the seat, or what IH called a hydraulic seat will also go way down. You can put a air up ball inside the spring for heavy weight.
Spring pressure can be adjusted on the seat you have by screwing down the two jam nuts. If that spring breaks you just drop until the pipe hits the deck. Just want to make sure the pivot pin and parts are in good shape.
Your choice on what way to go.

robgIN · Dec 12, 2014

If it was me and I was your size I think I would look for the battery box and seat off of a later Super M , that would pretty much eliminate the possibility of a seat failure letting you fall off backwards. Even a new spring won't fix rust or metal fatigue issue with that design seat . I've never had that style seat , went from F-20 to SMTA so others may give you better feedback regarding that style seats limitations .

Mongo6318 · Dec 12, 2014

Okay. I'll think I'll replace pivot pin and such and keep this seat. Knowing that it will only go down to the pipe is a little more encouraging. I can handle some wet drawers when it goes versus a fall and injury. As always thanks for the advice!

FBH44 · Dec 13, 2014

The spring in your picture is not the one that is the danger; the dangerous one is about 8" tall and starts tapers from 6" - 7" wide at the top, down to 2" at the bottom. On the MOnroe Company's "E-Z Ride" Tractor Seat, style seat.

D Slater · Dec 13, 2014

Just my opinion if you have worries about the seats is to check the pivot systems on all types.
Seat like yours remove the pipe and spring from the steel bracket that bolts to the top cover. If the pipe is in good condition with no cracking which sometimes happens near the pivot hole or spring bolt hole and the pivot holes are not worn much? Spring bolt and pivot pin good? Just check the seat end mounting. Have welded new pivot pin sleeves in the pipes if needed to keep seats from tilting side to side and repaired the spring bolt holes.
If the tilt seat mounting is good that seat will stay on the tractor unless the spring or bolt and pivot pin fails at the same time.
If the pivot system fails on the other type IH seats, the seat may hang by the shock but the operator won't be there unless hanging on the steering wheel.

350 dave · Dec 13, 2014

I suggest you replace or last least remove and inspect ASAP. I had a seat like that on my M. One day while clearing brush, going uphill, I had to shift. Just as the brake and clutch both bottomed out, the seat ripped lose. Left me with my a$$ really hanging out in the air. With a white knuckle grip on the wheel, I really could not shut it off or shift. Fortunately my brother was around and he stuck it in gear. Otherwise, it would have ended badly I think.
The trouble is that you flip the seat up to avoid rain, then it all lands in the tool box, which is full of hay, leaves, squirrels' stuff etc. It will rust through by the bottom mounting bolt of the sheet metal. Then, catastrophic failure.
Maybe you roll off the back while pulling something that chops, or mashes, etc.
i WAS ABOUT 190# WHEN THAT HAPPENED TO ME
sry I would change it out or weld it up.
my 2 cents

AdamEichele · Dec 13, 2014

HAs anyone ever tried a john deere seat set up from like a 60 JD? If that could be made right one would have the best of both worlds. A little metal work sure.

DC Snider · Dec 15, 2014

Word of wisdom from experience...

Check not only the pivot pin but also the long bolt that holds the vertical spring.

Two months after I got my M I was driving it on the trailer. The bolt pulled through the pipe. The cup washer on top of the spring hit me in the chin, the seat pipe bottomed out on the deck and I nearly went off the back.

When I restored it I refit all the holes with one size larger hardware.

Mongo6318 · Dec 15, 2014

Thanks for all the help everyone. I'll do a full take down and repair and replace this spring on that seat.

dej(Jed) · Dec 16, 2014

You are about the size of my brother and I can remember the time an M spring broke on him. It wasn't pretty because he went over the back. Thank God, he wasn't pulling anything. I would go for the battery box type mount like the SMTA & 400 used.

Mongo6318 · Dec 16, 2014

I'll probably go for rebuilding the original. This tractor has been with one member of my family or another since it was purchased new in '44 so i want to keep it like it was. And yesterday I found that my Cub is "making" oil in the crankcase so I have a hydro pump to rebuild this spring also. Oh yeah :-( But thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

Yet Another M Question

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robgIN

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Mongo6318

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FBH44

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350 dave

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AdamEichele

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