Steve,
A ROPS is a “Roll Over Protection System” or roll bar. Newer machines are required to have them and obviously you don’t ever want to use one./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Most new TLB’s come with a FOPS or “Falling Object Protection System”. The ROPS in normally a single looped roll bar and the FOPS is a four-point roll cage with a canopy cover to protect against falling objects.
<font color=blue> Anything I should look out for that isn't obvious?</font color=blue>
These may be obvious items to many, but stand out vividly in my mind. Please don’t ask why they are so vivid./w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif With all front end loader equipped (FEL) tractors it is important to keep the loader as close to the ground as possible when carrying a load. This is especially important with a TLB because the backhoe will add a great deal of weight above the center of gravity. With a load carried high it is amazing how quickly a tractor can become unstable if a tire drops into a hole.
Be sure your stabilizers are set on solid ground. As you dig whatever, it is not uncommon to find yourself repositioning the tractor and setting the stabilizers on freshly dug dirt. The leverage put on the stabilizers will compress the new dirt until they are doing very little. This especially important if you are working on any kind of slope. With the backhoe boom at full reach, when you swing to one side you shift all that weight to an unstable stabilizer and ----------- you get the idea. Also when working on a slope always dump your spoils to the up hill side of the excavation.
Speaking of side slopes, try to avoid them. When ever possible you will always be more stable if you can work perpendicular to the slope. Again a TLB carries a lot of weight above the CG on the tractor. In my opinion, one of the cheapest and easiest ways to help this situation is to load the rear tires with liquid
ballast. A search will give you a lot of information about this on the forum. I did my own with a water and anti-freeze mix and found that it help stability and traction in a dramatic way.
Don’t let anyone near you when you are working. Hit the wrong lever when someone is near by and terrible things can happen. For the same reason always lower your loader and backhoe to the ground when you are not on the tractor.
Probably the best advice I can offer is take it SLOW while you become familiar with the tractor. There are many here on the forum with more knowledge than I and there aren’t any silly questions when it comes to safety. Ask away and the collective expertise will come up with great advice. I learn something new most everyday.
MarkV
