Clean light bar on ROPS?

[DieselBound]

Not sure what Messicks' reasoning is, but I know that it's not just the removed material that is of concern in reducing the integrity of the material, it's the longer-term affects of rust. And something like this can precipitate rust internally, where it won't be seen. But, yes, how much can this really be a concern is pretty hard to say. Keep in mind that everyone's environment differs: I have a friend in Nova Scotia who regularly reminds me of this through his battles with rust on mechanical things.

I'd wager that Kubota treats the ROPS after drilling, just as nearly all manufacturers do.

My decision to use U-bolts is that I'd be able to move the lights if I found that my initial thoughts as to where they were "best" mounted proved to be less than best. One can fill holes via welding but there's the issue of internal rusting. Not that my environment is all that conducive to rust (very minor compared to other places).

 

[cold1313]

But for home use, a small hole? I don't think that bothers anything. Heck my brand new BX 80 series came with holes already in the rops from the factory.

How many legal "battles" are there going on out there over a hole being drilled into a rope for a light bar?

Your ROPS came from the factory with those holes, and therefore was designed and CERTIFIED by ANSI with those holes in the testing and certification process. So those holes are perfectly fine. Modify it yourself and you're on your own.

 

[dragoneggs]

How many legal "battles" are there going on out there over a hole being drilled into a rope for a light bar?

If there is a death involved, a legal battle and bad publicity is not what a manufacturer wants... but they will likely fight it. I had a relative die in an accident involving a bobcat where the FEL crushed him. The insurance company looked for anything that was done to the machine that changed the safety level whether it was related to the accident or not. Long story and a massive battle for the deceased family. Food for thought. I would avoid the possibility if other options are easily available.

 

[Old Red]

If there is a death involved, a legal battle and bad publicity is not what a manufacturer wants... but they will likely fight it. I had a relative die in an accident involving a bobcat where the FEL crushed him. The insurance company looked for anything that was done to the machine that changed the safety level whether it was related to the accident or not. Long story and a massive battle for the deceased family. Food for thought. I would avoid the possibility if other options are easily available.

Agree, but most of us are doing this kind of stuff for ourselves and my wife wouldn't be suing anyone if I turned the thing over and the rops bar crushed/folded up and I broke my neck. Actually a rops failure is not likely to ever happen and if it did, she would look into it and that is where Kubota would say it was modified and therefor they have no liability......


Messicks will not take that ROPS if it has been modified. They will not sell a machine with a safety device that has been tampered with. So that is where their strong warning comes in. But for most of us homeowners, small hobby farmers, and what not, a small hole drilled in the ROPS is not going to amount to anything at all. I am on a bunch of forums and there are always lots of very technical folks who over analyze stuff for the majority of common folk. I'm glad mine came pre drilled and I would not have drilled a hole in my ROPs, but that would not be fear of safety, that would just be my OCD. I put a remote on/off switch on my LEDs cause I wouldn't drill a hole in the dash for a switch. I think messicks saying that is the "worst" mistake you can make is way overkill. I would love to see statistics or legal cases on failed rops. The worst mistake is completely removing the rops or riding around with them unfolded.

I'm in the healthcare business so I know all about risk management and safety for the corporation....

Speaking of forums, if you want to see folks who are extreme in their analytics over stuff check out the flashlight forums and any type of audiophile forum. I get sucked into it myself, but if some guy wants to drill a hole for his LED lights I don't think it is a big deal.

 

[ArXane]

Here is what I did on my Kioti. I power cable from the battery to two relays. The relays then feed a marine grade switch panel. I have two LEDs mounted on the ROPS pointed forward, one mounted rear and one on a swivel kind of behind seat that I point at the PTO.

 

[crazyal]

I made my own brackets that clamp on. Since I'm in the woods quite often I made them out of 1/8" diamond plate steel so they can take a beating without putting any stress on the lights.

 

[dragoneggs]

I made my own brackets that clamp on. Since I'm in the woods quite often I made them out of 1/8" diamond plate steel so they can take a beating without putting any stress on the lights.
View attachment 532573View attachment 532574

I like it!

 

[bdhsfz6]

I was wondering how you all have made a bar to attach to the ROPS, to mount your lights on? I need something that will tuck in the ROPS so that when I brush against a tree limb, the limb goes against the ROPs and doesn't hit the lights.

Curious to see what people made and how their attaching to the ROPS. My current is just some angle iron, nothing fancy. Looking for a cleaner setup.

I made a bracket that sits on top of the ROPS. It's made from an old T rail from a garage door opener with a couple of pieces of channel iron tack welded on each end. It's a tight fit on the ROPS and stays put without fastening although I do occasionally use a hose clamp as a backup. The switch box and wiring are held in place by magnets and the whole rig removes in seconds without tools. I powered the lights via a cigarette lighter socket wired to the tractor aux lighting circuit.

I take the lights off when not in use so I'm not concerned about damaging them on branches. BTW, I did have an older setup with the lights mounted under the ROPS for protection but busted them anyway on a branch. Taking them off before going in the woods is the best protection. The ROPS can also be folded without removing the lights if necessary.

The pictures shown are with the lights on my L6060 but they also fit my MX5800. The ROPS on the two tractors have the same dimensions.



Drilling into or modifying the ROPS is never a good idea. The chances are slim to none that you would ever be involved in a legal matter but it could hurt you in your wallet. I was at the dealer a year or so ago and overheard a salesman explaining to a customer that the low trade in he offered was due to a modified ROPS. He said legally, the dealership could not resell a tractor with a ROPS that had been modified and it would have to be replaced. Horsepucky maybe, but why take a chance when U bolts and magnets work just fine.
.

 

[cold1313]

Nice setup!

It looks like a single wire going up to the lights? Do you have the front and rear on at the same time?

Mine are split, so I can avoid blinding someone driving by as I'm clearing the driveway.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Nice setup!

It looks like a single wire going up to the lights? Do you have the front and rear on at the same time?

Mine are split, so I can avoid blinding someone driving by as I'm clearing the driveway.

No, the front and rear are on separate switches to avoid blinding drivers when plowing the private road.

The single wire is a piece of an old extension cord with 3 conductors. Ground and one hot lead for front and rear lights.