Need new seat?? and mystery bolt found in seat

[Command52]

As you know im restoring this tractor from top to bottom . Now the seat questions
Is this seat an original pan
is it worth recovering back to original {IS COVER AVAIBLE ?? }
What fabric is original to the 1957 cub
Is the drain hole original
If need new seat who sells the nicest reproduction

Also the picture of the bolt lying on the seat was found in the seat any ideas what it is Bolt is. It about 1 1/8 long not counting head
Head is 5/8 and has holes on all sides and has a hole through the center
bolt is a 7/16

Sorry about the dumb questions but I'm trying to do this as correct as possible Thank You

[Clemsonfor]

Looks like someone home made machined bolt to let water ho through

[Command52]

The bolt was basically just laying on its side under the foam not in the hole

[Barnyard]

http://www.tmtractor.com/new/se/356fp.htm

[Peter Person]

My 1957 had it’s original silver canvas on it when I bought it in 2005. Canvas was well worn and the “foam” padding was crumbling.
Opted to take it down to bare metal, prime, and paint it with rattle can 2150 Red. Bought a silver vinyl padded cover fro TM Tractor and haven’t looked back.
Don’t know if anyone has picked up the mantle from Darrell Darst after he passed away a few years ago. His seat restorations were spot on.

[Don McCombs]

Right now, your two options for an original style seat are the repro that Barnyard linked to and this DIY option...

viewtopic.php?f=147&t=70582

[Stanton]

I can tell you that the black canvas I used in that How To faded very quickly and I was disappointed with it. If you believe time = money, and want a good looking, longer lasting seat cover, then the manufactured one linked in Barnyard's post would probably suit you better.

And, NO! you would never put a bolt in the drain hole of a pan seat, no matter how many holes someone drilled into it. Regardless of how dense that foam rubber is, remember, it's still foam rubber! I know that bolt would be FELT when someone's backside was firmly planted!

[Clemsonfor]

I can tell you that the black canvas I used in that How To faded very quickly and I was disappointed with it. If you believe time = money, and want a good looking, longer lasting seat cover, then the manufactured one linked in Barnyard's post would probably suit you better.

And, NO! you would never put a bolt in the drain hole of a pan seat, no matter how many holes someone drilled into it. Regardless of how dense that foam rubber is, remember, it's still foam rubber! I know that bolt would be FELT when someone's backside was firmly planted!

I didn't say it was a good idea. But who knows what people of the past were thinking on some of these things that were done?

[Stanton]

...I didn't say it was a good idea...

I realize that and certainly don't imply that you did. I was just shocked that anyone putting a bolt, with a tall head like that, down under a foam seat and not be able to feel it...wow! I guess it might have a centering effect on the driver(?)!!

The story of the Princess and the Pea comes to mind...

[inairam]

The re pop white canvas ones I find still absorb water. The red and white vinyl one[b][b] with hole [/b][/b]while, not original, do a better job at keeping the butt dry.

I got K&M sets made in USA from https://www.tractorseats.com/p-561-inte ... -ring.aspx

REcommend stainless bolts and some lub or anti-seize.

[Gary Dotson]

I've bought a couple of the reproduction seats. The first one was the silver canvas, I cheaped out and got one without the drain hole, Bad Idea!! That one didn't hold up and was recalled by the manufacturer, the replacement did better. The silver canvas lost it's good looks pretty early on but hasn't gotten any worse. For the second one, I opted for the silver vinyl, was only available without the drain, got it anyway. It's held up good and still looks good, it is on Cubota. The price of them has increased a good bit!
Stanton, I commend the effort in restoring the original seat, sure was a lot of work, though! End result looked great!

[SamsFarm]

Looks like someone home made machined bolt to let water ho through

The head of the bolt is drilled for safety wire!

Popular in aircraft and military applications.

My bet is someone set the bolt on the seat and it got knocked in the cracked seat material and lost till now!

[JimCub48]

This bolt looks a little bigger, but isn't there a similar bolt on the govenor (with tamper proof wire) ??

[Clemsonfor]

Looks like someone home made machined bolt to let water ho through

The head of the bolt is drilled for safety wire!
959BFBE9-77A0-413B-A9ED-F6EC782BB6A7.jpeg
Popular in aircraft and military applications.

My bet is someone set the bolt on the seat and it got knocked in the cracked seat material and lost till now!

Maybe I say something wrong but wasn't there a hole through the bolt, like a banjo bolt.