Deluxe seat for D-15

My current seat, the standard one, on my 1961 D-15 is completely trashed. I need a new seat spring, new pins and new bushings. The seat pan itself is the only thing decent. It's killing my back when I sit on it, as the seat leans to one side...

The only seat options on a D15 were the old tin pan style of seat, or one (see below) with the padded bottom and back - there were no arm rests.  Since your pan is in good shape, it is pretty easy to get replacement cushions - several vendors here have good quality ones.  If you have lots of time, your can rebuild your suspension.  I took the one on my D17 apart and had a local machinist make new pins and even put new bushings in the frame.  It is good for another 50 years now.

I went to Tractor Supply Co. and bought a universal mount seat for my D17. It works great, I think it was about $80. It had the suspension and everything with it, it bolted roght on.

I would think the pins would be the easy part.  I think it is 3/8" round stock, not exactly sure.  I got the seat off of my D17 series 4 right now as the pins, bushings, and the rubber bushings for the shock are all worn out.   That, the hyd. ram that is leaking, and the pto shaft that is leaking are my next projects as my generator just got dropped off to be repaired today so she won't be moving for awhile. 

Does anyone know what size the bushings are?  I haven't taken mine apart yet.

1/2" stock, sounds good. I figured I could make the pins if need be. I looked at my parts book and saw that they also used roll pins to hold the main pins in...I was wondering how they stayed in place.

I also used 1/2 round stock for new rods and cotter pins instead of roll pins like Skip said.  I also had two of the bushing spots on the "dog bone" worn into the linkage.  I used steel full length bushings from McMaster-Carr, welded them in and tapped threads and put grease zerks in them.  Won't ever wear out like before.  Mike












Edited by Skyhighballoon(MO) - 24 Mar 2010 at 8:41pm

You can get the bronze bushings at your local hardware store. Same thing with the stock for the steel pins. You can buy a piece of steel rod and drill the holes for the small roll pins. I rebuild my shock, but now they have the reproductions like you got from Steiners. If the hole for the bushings are worn like above a little work with a wire welder and a grinding stone can have it back like new in short order.