Remove ROPS

[Dagoof]

I've had my 2520 for about ten years now, and I'm getting sick of not being able to now near my trees and bushes.

Any good reason to to take off the roll bar?

 

[ptsg]

"Any good reason to to take off the roll bar?"

Well, safety would be a good reason but it's your tractor and your life. Just be conscious if working in dodgy situations where rolling a tractor is a possibility.

Then again, over here, most ROPS tractors actually have a mid mounted ROPS so it folds all the way down, thus making the steering wheel/seat/small ROPS arch in the back the highest point, so we can work under trees. Technically it makes it an orchard tractor.

 

[beenthere]

No problem removing the ROPS, and you will just have to duck under tree limbs rather than having them hit you in the back of the head when they catch on the ROPS. I've left mine on but have seriously considered removing it. At the moment, I have lights, chainsaw holsters, and things fastened to the ROPS so would at most just cut it about shoulder high.

 

[Thomas]

Do you have good welding shop near by make hinges with locks.

 

[arto98607]

Do you have good welding shop near by make hinges with locks.

Could be little tricky to find a shop willing to do it?

Liability in case ........ you know.

 

[Dagoof]

I've thought about shortening them, but honestly I don't do much that gives me a reason to have them.

 

[loggin]

I've thought about shortening them, but honestly I don't do much that gives me a reason to have them.

It all depends on the terrain and the risk you are willing to take on hills. If you are operating on flat ground the risk of a rollover is very slight to non-existant. Plenty of peopple have survived hilly landscape without rops as well. The older tractors did not have rollover protection and those ones with the narrow tires up front were especially dangerous. Just need to be aware of not being perpendicular to a steep hill, especially if there are groundhog holes or other dips!!

I would not alter the rops in case you want to sell the tractor later, but if you want to take it off then that is your business.

Just sayin...

 

[Dagoof]

It looks like they'll unbolt right off my JD 2520

 

[hornett22]

You could trim the trees and bushes

 

[Dagoof]

You could trim the trees and bushes

In my part of dry windy Idaho, we've got to keep everything we can get.

 

[mo1]

I've had my 2520 for about ten years now, and I'm getting sick of not being able to now near my trees and bushes.

Any good reason to to take off the roll bar?

Which 2520 do you have, the late 1960s/early 70s New Generation utility tractor or the late 2000s compact?

There isn't a good reason to take the ROPS off of the late 2000s compact 2520 as at least the ones I have seen pictures of, the ROPS folds down if you need to get in tight spaces.

ROPS was optional on the New Generation 2520 and if present, it bolted to the tractor and didn't fold. You would have to unbolt it to remove it if it hits on low-hanging objects that you can otherwise fit under.

 

[Dagoof]

Mine is a 2011

Even folded down, the ROPs are big obstructions sticking out high and wide.

My ROPs are actually comically tall when folded upright.

 

[LD1]

Your tractor....just so long as you understand the risk.

Just make sure nothing else attaches to the ROPS. I removed the non-foldable rops on my L3400 'bota when I had it for the same reasons. But had to make some new brackets because the 3PH stabilizers attached to the bottom of the rops. not sure on your deere

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Only problem I see is if you take it to a dealer they will put one back on it before it can leave. Same for PTO sleeves. I worked at one, saw it happen. So, if you take it off, keep it around, just in case. Really, if you have rops, you should wear seat belt for every move you make. I have not myself, I won't lie. Not wearing seat belt is good for a non rops machine. I have never rolled one, but heard first hand from ones that had. But I'm alone, live alone, no neighbors, usually behind a locked gate, so my carefulness is top priority. I've killed a few 6'+ rattle snakes here, so that's another reason to carefulize my activities. I saw one 7'9"; and I've actually heard of a little bigger. No seat belt if no rops. Have you been wearing your seat belt with the rops?

 

[Jchonline]

I've had my 2520 for about ten years now, and I'm getting sick of not being able to now near my trees and bushes.

Any good reason to to take off the roll bar?

Not advised but if you do, dont wear a seat belt. You need to be able to jump off in a roll. Good luck.

 

[Zebrafive]

If you are not willing to trim the trees, I would mow around them, then finish up with something else that will fit under them or not mow under them at all.

 

[Dagoof]

Some ROPs are worse than others.

For some reason the ROPs on my 2520 are comically high. (not my pic)

 

[2manyrocks]

An engineer probably figured out how the operator would be exposed in a rollover and also evaluated how tall the ROPS needed to be to stop a complete rollover. Or they may have adapted a ROPS from a larger machine.

If your ROPS keeps you from getting under your trees, it might also be keeping you from getting a situation where tree limbs could poke you in the eye. That happened to a friend of mine. Almost lost his eyesight in one eye because of a tree limb.

So there is something to be said for trimming tree branches with a pole saw.

 

[beenthere]

Remove it if it is in the way... just sayin.... Be it limbs or ROPS

 

[bmaverick]

Some ROPs are worse than others.

For some reason the ROPs on my 2520 are comically high. (not my pic)

Where in Idaho? There isn't much flat land out there.