But really, it doesn't matter how it got that way. I just know I wouldn't operate a tractor with that on it.
WHY?
It seems there are so many people on here that are to uptight when it comes to these things. Are you saying you would nover or have never operated and old 8n, 9n, 2n, or ay older fafm tractor for that matter?? It makes you wonder how anyone ever got anything done without them.
When I bought my
l3400 4 years ago, it was the first tractor I ever owned with a ROPS. It was not foldable either. I had it off of the tractor before I ever hit 5 hours. It was constantly catching branches in the woods and when mowing, not to mention it won't fit in a 7' garage door.
You just have to use common sense and know the limitations of your equipment.
And since I am already going to get a hard time about this statement from the saftey police, I will also add that I removed the little flip up PTO shield as well. It only lasted until the first time I tried to hook up the pto shaft. It was just a PITA.
Not to mention I also disabled the saftey switch in the seat. I always used to bushhog with the 8n. Being able to stand up to see better, and avoid branches, as well as stretch a little was something I didn't relize how often I actually did it, until I got the bota and it kept turning off. But I did good, this one made it about 15 hours before being removed.
IMO all of these saftey features tend to make people feel TOO comfortable. As if noting can hurt them on their "safe" tractor. A lack of some of these things tends to make people a little more cautious. And the ones aren't...............well I think thats called natural selection.