ROPS securing bolts

ctgoldwing · Oct 20, 2020

As I keep my 'new to me' L3800 in a garage I am constantly raising & lowering the ROPS (1" too tall for the door, ask how I know). The hardware was rusty when I picked up the machine so I ordered new from Messicks. I have attached an image of what they sent.

There has to be a better / faster way. There is no handle. I am thinking of cutting the keeper cable and welding a handle to the bolt that screws into one of the 2 welded nuts. It does seem backwards to me that the pivot bolt just slides through and is pinned, not threaded.
Did I miss something obvious?

WranglerX · Oct 20, 2020

Does inside (no visible in pic) only have welded on nut for locking pin and no nut for pivot? Did I understand it correctly?

If it were me I would weld a loop or bar across the locking pin to spin in or out of nut and provide a better swivel arrangement for lanyard... Think I would replace pivot pin with grade 8 bolt and use nylock nut ...

Dale

ctgoldwing · Oct 20, 2020

sorry I should have included this pix of the welded nuts

s219 · Oct 20, 2020

That is not what is on my L3200, which is the same tractor except for the engine. Mine has a loop you can grab onto for a handle. I found that I needed to chase the threads in the ROPS with a tap before the screw could easily go in/out. Even brand new it was already rusted and sticky. I forget the thread size, but it's metric. I know it's been posted here on TBN before.

JethroB · Oct 20, 2020

Take a look at this thread. Jeff has a solution.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/415874-swap-rops-bolt-pin.html

WranglerX · Oct 20, 2020

ctgoldwing said:
sorry I should have included this pix of the welded nuts

View attachment 673807

Still think I would replace pivot pin with Grade 8 bolt and nylock nut.... Not sure about the situation with the locking "bolt" other than make sure it threads freely, maybe weld on a lever so it does not require a wrench and be sure its "R" pin is inserted and on a tether so it does not get lost, a lost pin might tend to no get replaced.......

Dale

ctgoldwing · Oct 20, 2020

Well, it looks like Jeff's solution is certainly easy and solves the problem

If the heads had some kind of handle this would be a non issue. Even a 1/4" X 3" rod welded onto the bolt head would have worked.

jeff9366 · Oct 21, 2020

JethroB said:
Take a look at this thread. Jeff has a solution.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/415874-swap-rops-bolt-pin.html

The 9/16" X 4" clevis pins referenced are a simple solution. Other tractor brands use smooth pins as ROPS hinge. Kubota is one of the few to use threaded bolts in an unusual size, encouraging purchase from Kubota at a very high price.

Measure to be sure 9/16" X 4" pin dimensions are appropriate for your L3800, though I am pretty sure all Kubota ROPS hinge bolts are the same.

Owner frustration with threaded ROPS hinge bolt appears here regularly if not frequently.

The ROPS alignment fittings mentioned in the reference are standard on Kubota Grand L tractors, absent on economy models.
"On the front of the ROPS there is a welded on nut on each side, there so one can insert a bolt as a stop, to line up the ROPS pin holes perfectly."

ctgoldwing · Oct 21, 2020

Thanks Jeff

I ordered the pins last night - and unlike the usual for me I actually measured the ROPS to be sure. There must be some reason for the way Kubota did this but it's beyond me why

Zebrafive · Oct 21, 2020

I think I would weld a rod to the end of the special bolt to make it easy to loosen and tighten. Put a "Z" bend in the rod so your hand clears the pivot pin. I see no need to cut the lanyard cable. I also see no need to replace the hinge pin with a bolt and nylon locking nut.