Our main business is selling tractor parts - but as the tractors that we are supplying parts for become older, it gets harder to find the parts that are still manufactured by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). A lot of these businesses have been around for a very long time and are still producing the spare parts, as they were supplying them directly to Nuffield or Leyland in the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s. However, as with many things in life, change happens and these companies decide they no longer want to produce a certain part. This is an issue, especially if your Leyland tractor needs this part for restoration.
This is where Tractor Spare Parts Ltd comes in and where our experience in toolmaking, manufacturing and logistics helps us to keep the supply chain going, even if the OEM manufacturers are not able to help.
An example of this came up this week when we took delivery of a large pallet of Leyland seat pans. These are the moulded seat pans that are fitted to all the Leyland Middleweight range of tractors. These seat pans were made by KAB, who are still manufacturing seats today.
The Original KAB P3 seats
The original Leyland tractors were fitted with a KAB P3 seat pan, which was a moulded seat that was generous in size. This P3 seat has been discontinued and despite Tractor Spare Parts Ltd offering many thousands of pounds in tooling for the remanufacture of this P3 seat, KAB decided to scrap the tooling more than 10 years ago. So, for over 10 years, we have been offering a very similar seat from the same range - the P2 seat.
The KAB P2 seats make a good alternative
This KAB P2 seat is a slightly smaller seat pan from the same family - it looks very similar to the KAB P3 seat pan but is slightly narrower. This KAB P2 seat is more than generous enough for the majority of people - in all our time offering this seat pan as an alternative seat, we have only ever had 2 people say that it was too small and that they wanted to send it back for a refund. I have put the dimensions of the P2 seat pan below, so you can see the sizes.
This KAB P2 seat pan works well for the Leyland tractors but it also works well for other applications. KAB developed the P series of seats as a space-saving solution for small machines (yes, these days the Leyland and Marshall tractors count as small machines). I quote from the KAB Seating brochure:
‘The construction of the P series is an integral one-piece PVC skin and foam fitted to a rigid seat pan. Ideal for outdoor applications, the P series’ contoured surface grooves channel any surface water towards drainage holes at the rear of the pan.’
While KAB may have designed these seats for agricultural vehicles and other machinery without a cab, they are also suitable for tractors with a cab, such as the Middleweight Leyland tractors. They are also suitable for diggers, dumpers, small ride-on lawnmowers, forestry machinery and other construction vehicles.
Some OEM part numbers and models that I believe the KAB P2 seat will fit are as follows:
Case 1985
85 Series
385, 485, 585, 685, 785, 885, 985
95 Series
395, 495, 595, 695, 795, 895, 995
International 1970-1985
74 Series
354, 374, 444, 454, 474, 475, 574, 674
84 Series
484, 584, 684, 784, 884
85 Series
385, 485, 585, 685, 785, 885, 985
International > 1970
276, 434, 444, 634, B250, B275, B414, B614
Ford:
Ford 1210 etc compact tractor range
Leyland
I believe that the original parts numbers for the Thwaites and Terex dumpers are as follows:
- Thwaites – 8227
- Terex/Benford – 1502-111
- Terex/Benford – LD123
- Terex/Benford – 060-45
Will we still be able to source this seat?
As with most things, fashions and businesses change which sometimes means that older parts are made obsolete. We have heard on the grapevine that the KAB P2 seat may not be available anymore after this year. This is of concern to us, as Leyland tractor parts are our business and we are already using an alternative seat pan. To now have to go to a second alternative is not good.
As a tractor parts company who is willing to invest in the manufacture of the parts and their stock, here at Tractor Spare Parts we have taken this information seriously. We hope that we have secured many years of stock before the end of manufacturing the KAB P2 seat. We have even enquired with KAB about purchasing the tooling for the seat pans.
Once these arrive here on site, we can be assured that this is the case, but for now, we believe that the supply of the KAB P2 seat will not be a problem for the foreseeable future.
A company willing to invest in Leyland parts
At Tractor Spare Parts Ltd, we only sell parts for the Nuffield, Leyland and Marshall tractors. So when parts like the KAB P2 seat become unavailable, it is of big concern to us. As a company, we are willing to invest in the remanufacture of parts to ensure supply for future projects.
This KAB P2 seat is just one example of what stock we are willing to hold in our warehouse.
There are numerous other examples where we have remanufactured the parts ourselves, or modified currently available parts to ensure that the Leyland tractors can still do a day's work on the farm, and preserve British agricultural history for the future.
