why no four post rops on tractors?

[dfkrug]

Originally Posted by ultrarunner

Yes... but I think the Bay Area Air Management District does go onto private property if they suspect a non-compliant diesel engine might be there...

As far as disabling the ABS... I think that will also cause a vehicle to fail state mandate annual brake inspections where required...

No auto safety inspections of any type in CA now and has not ever been
any.....for private use. I am not talking about a "fix-it" ticket. Many other
states have safety inspections, however, some for many years. But usually
you are talking about lights and windshields, etc, not under-the-hood
stuff. If any states start inspecting for traction control, ABS, tire monitors,
etc, that would surprise me. But it IS possible.

Where did you hear BAAQMD would come onto pvt property regarding
older non-compliant Diesels? I am sure that is not true. Any biz, however,
without EPA Tier IV compliance Diesels have to upgrade or sell them. I have
had this conversation with my equipment rental source for tractors.

[ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by dfkrug

Where did you hear BAAQMD would come onto pvt property regarding
older non-compliant Diesels? I am sure that is not true. Any biz, however,
without EPA Tier IV compliance Diesels have to upgrade or sell them. I have
had this conversation with my equipment rental source for tractors.

There was a piece in the Oakland Tribune a few months back... the person interviewed went into detail about enforcement and said BAAQMD has broad enforcement powers.

Also, I was looking into a larger chipper/shredder for sale for a very reasonable price from the guy that advertises all the time on Craigslist... he was very forthcoming and told me it would either have to be re-powered of leave CA and he would only sell it with that stipulation even after I told him it would be for private use...

So, I really don't know what the reality is... only that non-compliant 50hp and larger diesels are being targeted...

I'm not aware of any regular passenger car inspections in CA presently... other than emission...

When I worked in the family car business brakes were inspected on every used car offered for retail sale in compliance of California Vehicle Code 24007 and 26453...

I imagine a failed or disconnected ABS system would not pass inspection... you are correct in that the requirement only applied to Dealers and not private parties.

Could be a problem with so many aging "Modern" vehicles out there...

[tallyho8]

I hate to get off-topic, but why do people disconnect their ABS?

[MossRoad]

Originally Posted by WarrenF

You made me laugh right out loud with that one. Thanks for the levity and understanding my "dry humor"

Good. I am all for personal responsibility, too. However, there are those among us (sometimes me) that need a watchin over!

[MossRoad]

Originally Posted by tallyho8

I hate to get off-topic, but why do people disconnect their ABS?

If the system fails, the ABS light stays lit on their dashboard. So they disconnect the ABS to get the light to go out. They still have brakes, just not ABS control.

That, or someone with a thick skull will insist he can brake better than the system by pumping his foot.

[Charlesaf3]

really like the 4 bar FOPS on the m59. I'm thinking Bill got it right that its an Osha requirement for construction equipment. Ironic considering just about every tractor seems to have a loader on it these days.

Cab tractors effectively have 4 post FOPS I'm assuming?

[dfkrug]

Originally Posted by tallyho8

I hate to get off-topic, but why do people disconnect their ABS?

I was not saying they do, it was just an example of the many govt
mandates that are forced upon manufacturers, sellers, and commercial/
industrial users, but the end use privateowner has no such requirements.
(BTW, MOSSROAD's reason is plausible.)

To bring this back to the OP's question, there was a mandate nearly
30 years ago about ROPS for compact tractors sold in the US. So if
you were a business that sold older non-ROPS-equipped CUTs, or
grey market non-ROPS-equipped CUTs, you had to add them on. I
will bet the regulation said nothing about restricting (or enforcing) that
same requirement on private owners for private use. So no one (even
here in CA) is going to force a private owner/user to put a ROPS on any
tractor, or keep him from cutting an existing ROPS off.

[ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by dfkrug

I was not saying they do, it was just an example of the many govt
mandates that are forced upon manufacturers, sellers, and commercial/
industrial users, but the end use privateowner has no such requirements.
(BTW, MOSSROAD's reason is plausible.)

To bring this back to the OP's question, there was a mandate nearly
30 years ago about ROPS for compact tractors sold in the US. So if
you were a business that sold older non-ROPS-equipped CUTs, or
grey market non-ROPS-equipped CUTs, you had to add them on. I
will bet the regulation said nothing about restricting (or enforcing) that
same requirement on private owners for private use. So no one (even
here in CA) is going to force a private owner/user to put a ROPS on any
tractor, or keep him from cutting an existing ROPS off.

I think what we are witnessing is a general shift on how regulations are applied.

At one time... regulations were imposed on manufacturers or as dfkrug points out... on business

CA smog inspection program also worked like this... Manufacturers were required to meet a California Standard so as to sell their product....

Later... all vehicle Sellers were required to have non-compliant vehicles, going back as far as 1955, retrofitted at the time of sale... it was called a Nox Kit...

Both of the above only applied when a vehicle changed hands...

The new regulations no longer stop there... Grandfathering which was once the way things operated is no longer a guarantee...

Look no further than the bi-annual emission inspection requirement or mandatory no-burn periods for wood stoves... even EPA certified, Cat equipt and installed in compliance with local building permits...

Another example is the outright ban on the use of 2-stroke marine engines in most of CA inland waters...

Or the requirement that properties with old or existing wells must have back-flow devices inspected and certified annually or loose city water service.

I was told the four point rops is to support protection from falling objects... i.e. support a roof structure...

[farmboy12]

Originally Posted by Gary Fowler

I dont remember the website I was visiting, but it showed a new JD tractor with the ROPS in front of the steering wheel rather than attached to the back axle it looked to be attached to th frame just in front of the operator platform. I thought that was a good idea to catch roll offs from the loader. I found one on TBN earlier with a 4 post ROPS and was going to copy but put a top on it for weather protection. I figured that if I slant it a little in the front and dont have the top stick out over it, it should shed the low limbs and keep them out of my face and not damage the canopy either.

The front ROPS is for the branches. The only problem is that the springy branches bend then smack you in your face while using one. I know from the exhaust pipe on many tractors.


Kyle

[Robert_in_NY]

Originally Posted by farmboy12

The front ROPS is for the branches. The only problem is that the springy branches bend then smack you in your face while using one. I know from the exhaust pipe on many tractors.


Kyle

ROPS are not designed for deflecting branches like you described. They are there to prevent the tractor from rolling over if it tips on its side. Bending branches with a mid mount ROPS is a good way to get seriously injured or killed, if your hitting braches with any part of your ROPS (mid or rear) then you need to trim your trees.