Thermostart vs magnetic oil pan heater

[clemsonfor]

I think they are the Hercules ROPS

Hercules ROPS - Yanmar

They are cheaper but they are not foldable (if that is important to you) and they are... well... sort of not that great looking (also may not be important) . They are not a lot cheaper either really- around $100 less from what I have found. We looked into selling those a few years ago but, for the money, the foldable ROPS were hard to beat.

They are expensive but I assure you that we only make around 10% on one. It is not the dealers getting rich off of these. I knew at one time but it seems like it cost around $10,000 per model to get a ROPS tested & certified.




Aaron
Hoye Tractor Parts
Contact Us
(940)592-0181

My ROPS that i got on my VN tractor is a foldable model. It is a little crude and not as smooth fitting as yours im sure. Looks a little crude does not fold as smooth as id like it to, part of that may be that the pins go into holes that were burned out with a torch but it still folds.

 

[clemsonfor]

Aaron, your link is no good. Im going to google it.

Just googles it and the link to Hercules was purple meaning i had visited that sight. I think there server must be down as i tried 2 different links through google and both returned "page can't be displayed " messages.

 

[Gary Sweat]

I think they are the Hercules ROPS

Hercules ROPS - Yanmar

They are cheaper but they are not foldable (if that is important to you) and they are... well... sort of not that great looking (also may not be important) . They are not a lot cheaper either really- around $100 less from what I have found. We looked into selling those a few years ago but, for the money, the foldable ROPS were hard to beat.

They are expensive but I assure you that we only make around 10% on one. It is not the dealers getting rich off of these. I knew at one time but it seems like it cost around $10,000 per model to get a ROPS tested & certified.


Aaron
Hoye Tractor Parts
Contact Us
(940)592-0181

I don't fault dealers for markup. You have to if your going to stay in business. 10% now days does not seem enough to make it cost effective for you. Still, when I purchase something, it has to be within reason for what I'm getting and these just don't add up. IMO the ROPS prices are what people are willing to pay because they just accept that it must cost a lot to make one. If I can't find one at a reasonable price I will just copy the one on my Toro mower and see what it really cost's to make it. Maybe it will prove me wrong If so, I'll be the first to say so. (I did on my loader)

 

[clemsonfor]

Now your going to go and stirr up all the ROPS police and tell you that you cant make one, no way it will hold, your metal will beld welds wont hold when they need to. They will tell you that price is for testing, insurance and lawyers just in case.

I hope we dont get into this all over again. If i remember right this is why Wayne from LMTC left.

 

[HoyeTractor]

Still, when I purchase something, it has to be within reason for what I'm getting and these just don't add up.

Believe me, I'm the same way. That is a LOT of money to spend on something that, hopefully, you will never use. If I was going to be the only operator it would be hard really to convince myself that I need a ROPS more than a new gun or something . The other thing is remembering to buckle up. If you don't wear the seatbelt you are wasting your time & money.

Aaron
Hoye Tractor Parts
Contact Us
(940)592-0181

 

[Gary Sweat]

Now your going to go and stirr up all the ROPS police and tell you that you cant make one, no way it will hold, your metal will beld welds wont hold when they need to. They will tell you that price is for testing, insurance and lawyers just in case.

I hope we dont get into this all over again. If i remember right this is why Wayne from LMTC left.

Hmmm, good point. I didn't mean to get anything started about ROPS and if it does, it can just die here. Like you, I don't want to go into the safety issue. I probably should never have used that as an example of some parts being out of whack for what it takes to make and sell it.

 

[Gary Sweat]

If I was going to be the only operator it would be hard really to convince myself that I need a ROPS more than a new gun or something .

Aaron
Hoye Tractor Parts
Contact Us
(940)592-0181

For me right now that "something" is a set of 24" wheels and tires. Somewhere in the past somebody changed out the original 24" wheels for 22". Always wondered why the tractor sat a little low in the rear. So far I haven't seen any advertised anywhere.

 

[careyo63]

Tractor Tires For Sale

Ran into this add the other day maybe alittle out of the way :laughing: Might check never Know.

Carey

 

[California]

$10,000 to test and certify each model ROPS sounds about right when you include the cost of tractors smashed in the first few tests of each different model!

But really - hiring a design firm to design the thing, obtain tractors, then design and observe the testing, plus the cost of liability insurance proportioned across each unit sold, must really jack up the per-item average cost for a relatively low-volume item like this. It isn't a simple materials & labor + markup situation.

 

[PILOON]

Back to heaters, LOL!

I found a magnetic 200 watt at a yard sale (new in box) real cheap so I bought it 'just in case'.

My 400 watt frost plug type died out on me (corrosion) and I was stuck as we had a bad snow dumping to clear up.

The frost plug unit always only required about ONE HOUR of heating to fire up my tractor but the magnetic 200 watt unit was totally useless even after leaving it on all night.
Luckily temps raised to near thawing and I got her fired up.

My take on all this is 400watts (or more) is needed at a bare minimum for a diesel engine.