GPintheMitten
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Speaking of which, are you allowed to fold other than on the perforated edges?
ROPS Tubing: Drilling Holes
- Thread starter npalen
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Speaking of which, are you allowed to fold other than on the perforated edges?
Gary Fowler
Super Star Member
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- 2009 Kubota RTV 900, 2009 Kubota B26 TLB & 2010 model LS P7010
I have responded to this many times in the past and will say again, if the ROPS is so weak that putting a 1/4-1/2" hole in in compromises the safety then it isnt designed properly to start with. With the middle of the ROPS bracket being the area with the most force in a roll over (just like the center span of a bridge or building truss) this would be the area to avoid drilling holes. Upper or lower ends would be better if you are concerned. The same goes for welding on them. If you dont undercut the area welded on then you strengthen the area rather than damage it. Most folks here on TBN talk like the ROPS is a space shuttle or something. FOLKS its just a piece of common steel tubing bent to shape with mounting attachments WELDED on. Not exotic material, not special in any way other than designed to stop the weight of the tractor from continuing to roll and tested to verify. It will bend in a catastropic roll over just like any other piece of steel but should protect the operator from getting crushed if he is belted in. ROUND holes dont contribute significantly to strenth reduction where as anything with a corner is bad as it gives a good starting point for a crack to begin.
One other thing, if you think you can sue a ROPS manufacturer for something after a roll over, think again. They arent responsible for the roll over, you were. If the operator gets hurt because the ROPS bent, then YOU exceeded the limits of the protection. You cant drive a car off a 100' cliff and then sue the manufacturer because the air bags and safety harness didnt keep you from getting killed.
This is my opinion and all you safety freaks can flame away with your opinion which is all it is. No one has produced anything showing that drilling a hole compromises the integrity of the ROPS other than opinion. With all the engineers here, I would have expected someone to have calculated the effects of a hole on reduction of strength in at least a typical sized ROPS frame for CUT's.
GPintheMitten
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So it's ok to fold the toilet paper anywhere you want? Just kidding.
I tend to agree with you. But something about it pushes me to try to come up with other ways to attach stuff, as a personal challenge to myself.
I tend to agree with you. But something about it pushes me to try to come up with other ways to attach stuff, as a personal challenge to myself.
Gary Fowler
Super Star Member
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- Bismarck Arkansas
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- 2009 Kubota RTV 900, 2009 Kubota B26 TLB & 2010 model LS P7010
I do the same thing, look for ways to mount without drilling or welding but I am not afraid to drill a hole or weld on it if I need to. A few months ago, I wanted to mount a tool box on my B26. Unfortunately there just isnt a lot of places to put one without it being in the way or in danger of getting damaged. I found that I could remove part of the bracket that was for the SMV plate since I dont use it anyway and weld my tool box mount to part of the bracket that was already welded to the ROPS. I made some more brackets and attached them to the ROPS with self-tapping screws. Then moved the SMV bracket to the opposite side of the tractor from left to right and screwed it back on. Since I dont use it anyway I didnt see that moving it to right side of tractor would seriously compromise safety if I did highway it. I also have one(the bracket) on the backhoe which stays on the tractor all the time, so if roading it, that would be where the SMV would be. By using the existing bracket and welding on to it, I didnt burn off the paint on the ROPS and using self tapping screws was easier than removing the paint, finding a good ground etc to weld on the SMV bracket.
mvwicker
Silver Member
U-bolts have the advantage that you can move the old doodads around later when you add new ones.
Common sense is the key element. Don't overload the ROPS with so many extra holes that it looks like Swiss Cheese. When I raced 4x4's (Jeeps, etc), Michigan Hot Rod Assoc. required us to drill a 1/4" hole in the vertical tube of our roll cages so that the tubing thickness could be verified. Several vehicles tested the strength of the cages during roll-overs and the tiny hole did not compromise any of it's integrity. YMMV!
PILOON
Super Star Member
Yeah, 'Caution, may contain peanuts!'
crazyal
Super Member
Let's face facts. A number of us would never think about blaming "insert brand name here" because we tried to do something that was beyond what the tractor was designed for and the end result was being able to see the underside of your tractor without having to look up. But for the few out there that would adding a simple sticker gives the mfg one more out. Think of it like the sticker on a lawn mower saying not to stick your hand into the blade. My lights are clamped on but I drilled small holes for wires.
Look at it from the other side. If the manufacturer didn't say that, there would be some guy who drilled enough holes to make his ROPS look like Swiss cheese and get squished when his machine rolled over. He'd say, "You never told me not to do it!" We had a case in Maryland where a manufacturer was sued successfully when cologne was poured over a burning candle. The manufacturer failed to warn that the cologne was flammable.
SuperCobra
Silver Member
I probably shouldn't ask but I've learned so much on this forum. Why do you fold it? I just toss it in and flush it.