John Deere's yellow seats

Charles in Aus.

Well-known Member
Just what is it with these seats ? I have had two ride on mowers whose seats have split and torn even though I gave them all the care I could while still using them to sit on .
Some friends and acquaintances have tractors whose seats look like they have been mauled by a Pitbull .
Is there a secret to keeping them whole ? I'd really like to know if there is , my wife has just bought me a X340 mower for father's day , the seat isn't torn yet , it would be nice to keep it that way .
 
UV Lite is the biggest culprit. Outside parking will do them in. Vinyl
hates UV . People do not believe how much florescent lights generate
UV.
 
While UV is bad for vinyl seats, the most recent issue is not UV. First let me say that my previous tractor was a JD 175 Hydro and that seat lasted over 15 years before it finally developed some cracks.

My new X500 split the seat with less than 100 hrs on it and it has NEVER been stored outside. Always in the garage. I had the seat replaced under warranty. The day after the new seat was installed I installed a JD seat cover in hopes of preserving the replacement seat. 18 months later the seat is completed SHREDDED under the cover. All you have to do is look through Craigslist at the various newer JD tractors for sale and you will see most all of them have split seats. The seats JD currently uses are total GARBAGE and there really isn't anything you can do to preserve them.

My advice is to simply take as best care as you can and WHEN (not if) the seat tears buy a 3rd party replacement from Ebay for 1/2 the price that JD wants for a new seat.

On my X500 they want like $160 for a replacement seat that will be just as garbage as the two I've already had. My currently course of action is I've covered all the tears with gorilla tape and stuck a seat cover on it. I will run it this way until the seat disintegrates and then I will buy a new decent replacement seat from Ebay.

JD should be ashamed of the seats they are using on $6000-8000 garden tractors.
 
(quoted from post at 10:18:50 08/18/18)
JD should be ashamed of the seats they are using on $6000-8000 garden tractors.

Why??

They got your money. You bought the name..

Hope you weren't expecting to much quality in exchange.
 
(quoted from post at 10:18:50 08/18/18) While UV is bad for vinyl seats, the most recent issue is not UV. First let me say that my previous tractor was a JD 175 Hydro and that seat lasted over 15 years before it finally developed some cracks.

My new X500 split the seat with less than 100 hrs on it and it has NEVER been stored outside. Always in the garage. I had the seat replaced under warranty. The day after the new seat was installed I installed a JD seat cover in hopes of preserving the replacement seat. 18 months later the seat is completed SHREDDED under the cover. All you have to do is look through Craigslist at the various newer JD tractors for sale and you will see most all of them have split seats. The seats JD currently uses are total GARBAGE and there really isn't anything you can do to preserve them.

My advice is to simply take as best care as you can and WHEN (not if) the seat tears buy a 3rd party replacement from Ebay for 1/2 the price that JD wants for a new seat.

On my X500 they want like $160 for a replacement seat that will be just as garbage as the two I've already had. My currently course of action is I've covered all the tears with gorilla tape and stuck a seat cover on it. I will run it this way until the seat disintegrates and then I will buy a new decent replacement seat from Ebay.

JD should be ashamed of the seats they are using on $6000-8000 garden tractors.


Here's an 2006 x520 I bought this spring with 112 hours on it. It had always been inside and here's the fine seat it had on it.

I did what you said and bought one off E-bay. I don't know how long it will last, but that's the most comfortable seat I've ever had!!

Speaking of shame, how bout those fine plastic hoods and side panels! Yikes!!



Irv
21748.jpg
21749.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 06:43:22 08/18/18) UV Lite is the biggest culprit. Outside parking will do them in. Vinyl
hates UV . People do not believe how much florescent lights generate
UV.

I had NO IDEA that the sun is a fluorescent light!! (snicker, sorry, I couldn't help myself!)

Irv :roll:
 
Yip he should of bought a fiat product then he would
have known not to expect quality or whose name
would be on it next week
 
You need to use a vinyl protectant before you ever get the seat dirty. Then use it every few months. This will help a lot in keeping the vinyl flex able so it does not crack when you set in it. The vinyl losses elasticity and then cracks.

The best I have used is called 303 Marine vinyl protectant. Look at any place that sells boating equipment and they will usually have a good product as just about pleasure boats have vinyl seat covers.

It is not just a JD problem either. I have found that the lighter color does seem to crack faster but I have two Honda four wheelers that never set out and the black seats are shot at four years old with them being treated.
 
Yip he should of bought a fiat product then he would
have known not to expect quality or whose name
would be on it next week
 
I too bought a new yellow seat off ebay. This was for a little JD L110 hydro I have rigged up for my "minigator". Seat was about 35 bucks, free shipping and
it too is extremely comfortable but is not high back like yours.
 
"Real" upholstery vinyl has a cloth backing/base.
Those seats appears to just be some sort of polysomething likely sprayed onto the mold before the foam is injected into the mold.
Appear to be very thin outer material.
 
"Just what is it with these seats ? I have had two ride on mowers whose seats have split and torn even though I gave them all the care I could while still using them to sit on ."

The seat on our JD rider did the same thing. IMHO, it's the material used. The last two boats I've owned had seats that the wood rotted out on before the vinyl wore out. The material was considerably thicker, and you know how cheap those boat seats are.
 
I have a 1 year old X570 with 59 hours on it and I noticed a small spot with a crack in the seat cover yesterday. I use it in the winter to blow snow and I'm sure that vinyl doesn't like that at all but you are right this is pretty annoying.

Maybe a market opportunity for yellow Gorilla Tape?
 
Thanks all , it's a great shame that Deere continue to produce such disappointing seats . It's also a Pita that replacement seats here in Australia are very expensive , E bay only has a few loose seat covers listed for 60 / 80 Dollars .
Speaking of which there seem to be very few Generic aftermarket parts available for Deere mowers in Australia either .
I recall paying $75 Aus. plus postage for a genuine deck spindle for the STX38 I had in 2005 . The same spindle is now available in the US for $12 .
 
Hmmmm. My Cub Cadet TANK zero turn built by MTD, seat still looks brand new after three years and 115
operating hours. It's Yellow with black trim, but has Cub Cadet embossed on it, but I'm sure it's less
than $160 if you guys want to put one on your Deere's. Very comfortable with adjustable fold down arm
rests.
 
(quoted from post at 20:17:47 08/21/18) Hmmmm. My Cub Cadet TANK zero turn built by MTD, seat still looks brand new after three years and 115
operating hours. It's Yellow with black trim, but has Cub Cadet embossed on it, but I'm sure it's less
than $160 if you guys want to put one on your Deere's. Very comfortable with adjustable fold down arm
rests.

Might want to go see how much.
I see some M60 tank seats at about $600 and up.
 

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