Is the ROPS really needed?

[DarkBlack]

I sure hope my post doesn't incite the wrath of the safety police, but I would like to get a few thoughts on removing the ROPS. Here is my situation; I have a Grand L with FEL that I wouldn't dream of removing the ROPS from. However, I recently acquired a BX2200 strictly for mowing. During routine maintenance this weekend, I even removed the lift arms, and toplink.

I'm finding the ROPS sure hits a lot of limbs mostly on fruit trees, and even creates a situation causing more trim work. Have also lost a number of peaches recently from the ROPS hitting them.


I know the BX is considered a tractor, and is equipped just like it's big brothers, but, on the other hand, it's not much larger than the JD riding mower I have, which did not even come with a ROPS.

In short, I'm thinking of taking it off. Give me a good reason why I shouldn't.

K

I never read your original post. If it were mine, I'd take off the rops for sure, and store it somewhere. Put it back on if you ever sell it.

 

[DarkBlack]

Waxman,

I'm sorry something in life made you so fearful.
There's plenty of people like me that live, to live. For example: I live in a state that has no helmet law. According to you, we helmetless bike riders are stupid.
I guess my whole state must be stupid by your opinion.
I spent a large part of my life building and driving race cars. Now that's dangerous and stupid. A smart person wouldn't take such a chance...
"And what about if one of your welds failed after you sold it?" yes...how to sleep at night?

You really need to mature to the point where you can see the difference between stupid and risk taking...the later being, what historically smart people have done, for life's excitement, and for innovation. In fact without risk taking, many of the major technologies we enjoy would never had happen.

Myself and other have pointed out dangers by using ROP's around trees. Maybe someone like me who's not afraid to make change ( unlike you ) will come up with a better device...who knows?

Done.

 

[buickanddeere]

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?

There are countries that are charging smokers, the obese and other risk takers.
Do you have an issue with insurance companies that refuse to offer coverage on some persons due to their occupation such as crop dusting?
As for those actual conscious acts or lack of action that do cost . Yup bud, you should be out of pocket, not me.

 

[BlacknTan]

The Safety Police ...

ON STEROIDS!

 

[WaxMan]

I never read your original post. If it were mine, I'd take off the rops for sure, and store it somewhere. Put it back on if you ever sell it.

Hey how about that. Go back to my post days ago and I said the exact same thing you said above I think almost word for word. :drink:

Waxman,

I'm sorry something in life made you so fearful.
There's plenty of people like me that live, to live. For example: I live in a state that has no helmet law. According to you, we helmetless bike riders are stupid.
I guess my whole state must be stupid by your opinion.
I spent a large part of my life building and driving race cars. Now that's dangerous and stupid. A smart person wouldn't take such a chance...
"And what about if one of your welds failed after you sold it?" yes...how to sleep at night?

You really need to mature to the point where you can see the difference between stupid and risk taking...the later being, what historically smart people have done, for life's excitement, and for innovation. In fact without risk taking, many of the major technologies we enjoy would never had happen.

Myself and other have pointed out dangers by using ROP's around trees. Maybe someone like me who's not afraid to make change ( unlike you ) will come up with a better device...who knows?

Done.

Oh man this is soooo easy, why do you put yourself through this. Like fish in a barrel.

Darkblack Life made me Careful not Fearful

When you sell your bike the new owner buys or uses another helmet or doesn't use one at all. The helmet is separate from the bike.

When you cut, weld, change the certified Rops system and sell your tractor The Rops is part of the tractor. The new owner has no idea what you have done. The new owner is expecting the Rops to save his life as it was deigned and certified to do. The new owner didn't sign up for risk taken like you did in your race car. It's two very different things.

Because you drove race cars and took risks, it has nothing to do with Modifying a Rops on a tractor destroying the certification for all that follow for the life of the tractor.
And if you truly drove race cars all the safety devices would have had to be inspected and in complaance before they would even let you on the track.

You have to separate your feeling and your wishes to try and one up me on this subjuct and look at the big picture and the liability you can be opening yourself up to. You modify you own it. Your responsible for any deaths to follow. Which could have easily been avoided if someone didn't mess with it.

The only thing I said about stupid people was a Rops will save the life of a Stupid person or a Smart person, Rops does not discriminate. They just have to use the Rops and seat belt and 99% of the time their life will be saved. FACT. That is a pretty damm good record for someone to be playing with.

As for around trees, they make Rops that folds down. Or there are shops that certify the Rops they make. Or you can just take it off and reinstall it If you sell the tractor. Just like what you and I both agreed the original poster should do. I'm not against people doing what they want to themselves. I think if you go back my position is very clear. Not anything like what you're trying to make me out to be with what you said above.
Is your choice man. I'm not your keeper.

I thought you posted I was too extreme for you to argue with?
Now go back and think of something better, to come at me with.

Please read, watch video and read again.
This video right here Sums it up for me.
Nothing to do with risk takers, No need to take risks on a tractor.


Can anyone even imagine thats your boy on the tractor, You the Dad took the Rops off, how could you live with yourself after that.
One part your looking at your dead son. The other part your hugging him.
How much, would you pay, wish or give if you could be hugging him if he died. How much? No going back at that point. Life is precious.
Look at the fear and then relief in the father.
Which would you want to happen to you?

Then what do you need to do, to make the outcome happen the way you want.
You have a choice, right now, its yours to make, which outcome do you want.

 

[ultrarunner]

I went to an auction of logging equipment in WA State to see what I could find.

In the disclosures I found custom modified ROPS

Was not sure what had been done so I asked and found out the two bars from the front of the dozer to the canopy were added as was all the heavy mesh screen on the Deere 350 Dozer I was looking at.

In MY opinion the modifications made the dozer safer for tree work... of course it was a 35 year old machine...

Which begs the question what happens should someone need to repair a ROPS and parts are no longer carried... tractors last a very long time...

I would seem a colossal waste to toss or part out a tractor simply because a manufacturer certified piece of foreign made steel is no longer available...

 

[WaxMan]

I went to an auction of logging equipment in WA State to see what I could find.

In the disclosures I found custom modified ROPS

Was not sure what had been done so I asked and found out the two bars from the front of the dozer to the canopy were added as was all the heavy mesh screen on the Deere 350 Dozer I was looking at.

In MY opinion the modifications made the dozer safer for tree work... of course it was a 35 year old machine...

Which begs the question what happens should someone need to repair a ROPS and parts are no longer carried... tractors last a very long time...

I would seem a colossal waste to toss or part out a tractor simply because a manufacturer certified piece of foreign made steel is no longer available...

You will always be able to get Rops. Click Rops seatbelt Safety Program Put your tractor model and serial number in for any Older tractor and get your price.
Kubota Safety - Rollover Protective Structures

 

[yelbike]

Waxman, your right!

Are you trying convince us or yourself?

Now....again, YOUR RIGHT!

 

[ultrarunner]

You will always be able to get Rops. Click Rops seatbelt Safety Program Put your tractor model and serial number in for any Older tractor and get your price.
Kubota Safety - Rollover Protective Structures

Thanks for the link... good information.

I went and checked it out and then clicked on a grey market Kubota link and found this:

These "gray market" units are different in several important respects from the tractors that Kubota makes for the United States, and which Kubota Tractor Corporation sells in the United States. These tractors are not ordinarily equipped with important safety equipment such as ROPS and seatbelt, PTO shield, safety decals, or operator's manual

Kubota Tractor Corporation - GrayMarket Find Out

Kind of makes me wonder why safety is not universal???

 

[k0ua]

Kind of makes me wonder why safety is not universal???

Safety is not a concern in many regions in the world.. Case in point, some Russian military weapons are almost as dangerous to the end user as the intended target.. RPG7 if not carried muzzle up, can have the rocket fall out and kill the user and all nearby. The obvious answer to the problem is "don't do that" But still American weapons usually will incorporate safety features upon introduction, or if deficits are found then a rework/redesign is called for. Russian weapons, not so much.