^^^Agreed.
My 147 (basically the same machine) actually has a pretty decent turn, so yours sounds like it needs a tweak. As far as the seat, it would have been padded originally, and it would be obvious if the pad was simply missing. Sounds like someone tossed on an old substitute.
Here are a few good candidates for that machine: (I bought the one pictured last, from Cub Cadet. Not cheap, but I really like it on the 127/147's.
Northern Tool
Hoober
Cub Cadet
