Is the ROPS really needed?

[MHarryE]

Unless the standard has changed since I retired, certification requires a destructive test. The frame is secured in a rigid mount (usually very rigid anchors through a thick concrete floor) and the ROPS is loaded with hydraulic cylinders in the side to side and fore-aft directions. Force applied is based on the maximum machine weight (which should be displayed on the ROPS certification plate). Once the design is certified the ROPS can be built by any shop as long as it meets the print specs and is welded by a certified welder. The steel must also be certified.

One thing - I have never checked an accident where the machine had a ROPS and the a ROPS had failed. I have visited several where the machine was equipped with a ROPS yet the victim was fatally injured. In every case the victim was not wearing a seat belt. Accident reconstruction experts are amazing in how they can determine what happened. I was involved in determining the cause of one such accident. All we had to go by were pictures the police had taken, the coroner's report, and the machine. Police report stated other crew members told them the victim often stepped on the clutch going down long, steep grades in order to get back to the chop quicker. In this case we estimated the machine reached 45 mph (max travel speed 24) when he lost control and was thrown from the machine. Victim died of a broken neck. Accident reconstruction specialist had me pace off the distance from where the machine crashed to where he thought the body landed. Sure enough there on the roadside were a couple covers from heart needles - the long needle syringes that can inject medication directly into the heart. The machine was intact. They had rolled it back upright and drove it off. Victim may have survived if he had been using his belt but at that speed a person can get whipped around pretty bad on a non-cab machine.

Yes, that victim was stupid, but in many of the cases something unexpected happens like a bank gives way or you hit something that blows a tire.

 

[TomSeller]

45 mph on a tractor, oh my God! Wow. I appreciate your professional comments on such a serious matter.

 

[yelbike]

Unless the standard has changed since I retired, certification requires a destructive test. The frame is secured in a rigid mount (usually very rigid anchors through a thick concrete floor) and the ROPS is loaded with hydraulic cylinders in the side to side and fore-aft directions. Force applied is based on the maximum machine weight (which should be displayed on the ROPS certification plate). Once the design is certified the ROPS can be built by any shop as long as it meets the print specs and is welded by a certified welder. The steel must also be certified.

One thing - I have never checked an accident where the machine had a ROPS and the a ROPS had failed. I have visited several where the machine was equipped with a ROPS yet the victim was fatally injured. In every case the victim was not wearing a seat belt. Accident reconstruction experts are amazing in how they can determine what happened. I was involved in determining the cause of one such accident. All we had to go by were pictures the police had taken, the coroner's report, and the machine. Police report stated other crew members told them the victim often stepped on the clutch going down long, steep grades in order to get back to the chop quicker. In this case we estimated the machine reached 45 mph (max travel speed 24) when he lost control and was thrown from the machine. Victim died of a broken neck. Accident reconstruction specialist had me pace off the distance from where the machine crashed to where he thought the body landed. Sure enough there on the roadside were a couple covers from heart needles - the long needle syringes that can inject medication directly into the heart. The machine was intact. They had rolled it back upright and drove it off. Victim may have survived if he had been using his belt but at that speed a person can get whipped around pretty bad on a non-cab machine.

Yes, that victim was stupid, but in many of the cases something unexpected happens like a bank gives way or you hit something that blows a tire.

I believe seat belts are still underestimated and under used. I personally use mine 98% and I'm on flat land, but I still have drainage ditches. I could not get my dad to wear his for the longest time, than one day i explained to mom the importance of the seat belt. Now he wears it! Lol. 66 years old and does NOT like to learn anything from his sons.

 

[tcartwri]

Personally I would rather have a cage that had much lower profile than the ridiculous tree snagging, door smashing loop behind my head.

 

[buickanddeere]

DB

Go to local racetracks and see all garage/hand built roll cages, with most of high quality. Joining multiple round tubes at various angles for high speed protection pretty much makes welding a simple ROPs tube child's play in comparison.

DB . There is no way that Bubba can walk up to any old tractor, a pile of steel and a welder then manufacture a certifiable rops.
A ROPS frame is one component of the total protective system. The mounting points on the tractor and the integrity of the entire chassis comes into play.
A rops can be made too stiff without some energy absorbson which will break a tractor axle or belhousing for example.
Unless the welder has been certified after sectioning and inspecting his welds. It doesn't matter who or where the welds are performed. Nor how pretty the welds appear on the surface.

 

[buickanddeere]

For those of you who think you can do what ever you want "because it only affects yourself" are the most deluded bunch of liars I've heard since the last White House press release. Your wreck , injuries, rescue, investigation, treatment and rehab if you survive are paid out by every other tax payer.

 

[Kanook]

Years ago I enquired of my dealer what the implications would be if I shortened my ROPS on the B1700 that I owned then. I was informed that when it came trade-in time that the cost of returning the ROPS to original would need to be deducted from the trade in value as he could not resell it in the modified state due to legalities..I didn't proceed with the mod and got top dollar on the trade 16 years later for my B2650HSDC....BTW I never rolled it in the 16 years I had it but came darn close once.

 

[CobyRupert]

For those of you who think you can do what ever you want "because it only affects yourself" are the most deluded bunch of liars I've heard since the last White House press release. Your wreck , injuries, rescue, investigation, treatment and rehab if you survive are paid out by every other tax payer.

Interesting line of logic. I've heard people use that argument for seat belt laws, motorcycle helmet laws, and other "victimless" crimes, etc..
So by that logic, I assume you would support a law that everybody has to:
1) Brush their teeth 3 times a day. (I mean, gum disease can get serious and " treatment and rehab if you survive are paid out by every other tax payer".)
2) Only eat healthy food. High fat and sugar foods should be outlawed. (Again, obesity diabetes and heart disease are serious killers and "treatment and rehab if you survive are paid out by every other tax payer".)

If not please explain why?

 

[WaxMan]

I can't speak for him, but I think he was talking about people cutting and modifying their Roll Over Protection Systems without a care what happens to themselves or the person that buys the tractor.

Guys do you really want us to agree and advocate yeah, everyone cut weld and disable their Rops systems, Really! Talk about Logic.

Come on guys pick a fight about something you can win. This is like Good vs Evil, Batman vs the Villain
Answering some of your statements is like shooting fish in a barrel. Easier than that even.

I think most people do not want to get involve in an auguring match on line. Only a brave few venture on. All you guys that want to mess with the Rops, Show me your facts and figures how it's a bad idea to leave them intact.
I'll show you a world of Certifications, death, sorrow and loss of families to back up what I say, You guys got squat. Just talk and feeling thats all you got. It's too hard to lower the Rops.

Some of you guys with the make believe Rops are going to let your son or grandson drive the tractor one day.
Do you really want them to test your home made Hack Rop.
Hacked Rollover Guessing System it may or may not work , feeling lucky boy, take the tractor around the yard a bit.
I sure hope you guys never have to live with a loss like that Especially if it was something you did. How does one live with that?
Its one thing if its an older tractor and never had a rops but to remove or modify is another thing.

The title of the thread is the rops really needed
Is it needed or not? Tell us if it's NOT NEEDED and back it up. Lets see how far you get.

I think moving it along to Brushing your teeth and gum disease might be getting off the subject. Thats the best you guys got? Show us some facts. Stop trying to ignore the facts.

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

I think this post has gone full circle. I keep my rops folded won't go in shed and low hanging branches probably not real smart on my part but I don't use my seatbelt either. I guess could start a new thread on seatbelt use. If people are considering the safety aspects of this thread then maybe it has done some good. It has made me rethink some of the things I do. but beating this dead horse is not going to change some peoples minds they are entitled to there opinions and I respect that BE CAREFUL.