Seat Belts on a M5030su - Should There Be Some?

[GreensvilleJay]

The square hole ,just above the semicircular plate ,looks like it 'might' be for the sealtbelt bolts ??Big issue for me is the two bolts and washers that appear to be holding the seat base onto the tractor. It looks way to mcGivered to be OEm AND safe....

 

[Fordtech86]

I would think you could use those two bolts to mount it BUT please take advice from someone more familiar with that model then me

 

[JerryC999]

Well, MacGyver works at the dealership, then. They are the ones that installed that seat. But those two bolts are the ones I am considering as well.

 

[GeoHorn]

I see vacant holes and also existing bolts which might double in purpose.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

The 2 circled bolts would be OK BUT replace them with Grade 5 bolts, maybe gr8 ? I zoooomed in and saw the 'tabs' under the washers, so mechanically the seat is mounted right BUT I didn't see 3 bars on the bolt heads that indicate it's gr5. Course now I'm thinking, yeesh METRIC ?, and haven't a clue what system 'they' use..I know the ones on my BX23S are new and SHINEY......

 

[Russell King]

The 2 circled bolts would be OK BUT replace them with Grade 5 bolts, maybe gr8 ? I zoooomed in and saw the 'tabs' under the washers, so mechanically the seat is mounted right BUT I didn't see 3 bars on the bolt heads that indicate it's gr5. Course now I'm thinking, yeesh METRIC ?, and haven't a clue what system 'they' use..I know the ones on my BX23S are new and SHINEY......

Metric bolts come in grades also but the grade is marked directly on the head like 8.8 or 12.9. The number is the strength of the bolt in a metric units that is similar to pounds per square inch (PSI).

But Japan also had a system for the automobile manufacturers that just had a single number stamped on the head. I don’t know what exactly that meant but it had to do with matching a tool to the bolt so that they were not stripping the threads in the parent material.

My old L185 had some of those on it but they may have been replacements for original since it was harder to come by metric hardware in the 70s and 80s. I was curious why a few bolts had script type numbers on them so did enough research to get that information.

 

[JerryC999]

Thanks for all the expertise and concern, folks. I will check those bolts and see what they are, and replace as necessary. Small price to pay to getting it right.

 

[JerryC999]

I see vacant holes and also existing bolts which might double in purpose.

The question then is something like, "What angle works ok for a seatbelt? How far behind? How far below?" And such.

 

[GeoHorn]

The question then is something like, "What angle works ok for a seatbelt? How far behind? How far below?" And such.

At the hinge-point (where seat-back meets seat-cushion) would accomplish both forward and upward dislodgment of the operator.

 

[NHSleddog]

If this is actually a legal concern, ANYTHING you "brew" up would still keep you liable. Are you a seatbelt engineer?

Get the OEM, or have the dealer put "something" on it to work and keep the receipt. Doing it yourself will actually be worse from a legal sense than not having one at all (unless you removed the old one and it can be proven).

I would be a lot more worried about some inexperienced operator on my tractor hurting other people than the seatbelt - JMHO.