never liked the ROPS now i have a reason

[Gord Baker]

doing a little grading with the box blade over a path i have graded multiple times before without issue and then a tree jumps out and grabs the rops broke off and landed on me in the tractor. I was lucky, it hit me in the back and not the head and only took out the LH turn signal.
It could have been much worse.

 

[Gord Baker]

I have had a similar experience with a large zero turn. Nearly flipped it backwards.

 

[tjus77]

I feel the same way, I’ll take my chances jumping off if it rolls. I hate where they mount the turn signal, I’ve busted three. Now I just use tie straps to keep them attached.

 

[WinterDeere]

I hate where they mount the turn signal, I’ve busted three. Now I just use tie straps to keep them attached.

The Deere 3-series turn signals are plastic housings either side of the ROPS, just destined to snap off at their mountings with the slightest bump. So, they sell brush guards that go around them, standard dealer upgrade, and those brush guards are actually required if you want the high-intensity LED lighting option.

But they made the brush guard as a stupid "C" shaped bit of metal, that when it catches the branch pivots as a parallelogram around the two mounting bolts in either end of the "C", and cuts the wiring harness clean thru. Dumbest design I've ever seen, as it could have very easily been resolved by just welding a segment of the "C" ends together.

That particular "mod" has been on my "to do" list a few years now, since first catching a branch and cutting my own lighting harness, but it never rises to the top of the priorities at a time convenient enough to remove the lights and do it.

 

[Gl Dansk]

This sounds very much like the debates about seatbelts in cars: “I e heard of so many people who got saved by being thrown clear of the rolling car” and similar things.

Well, I’ve worked ambulance for 25 years, run about 20,000 911 calls and I have NEVER seen anyone saved by not using a seat belt. But many by using one!

Fortunately I’ve never rolled my tractor, but anyone who thinks they can jump clear (the opposite way of the roll!) is dreaming! And if your ROPS is down, you will get squashed! It works! Use it, and your seatbelt. And pay better attention to branches.

 

[FERLING]

I've got an idea! Put a spring release on the ROPS. There. Problem solved.

Doesn't help in a roll over.

 

[charlessenf]

a tree jumps out

Lucky you.
But, don't cut your ROPS off because you hit a tree branch, just watch where you're going next time.

 

[DaBear3428]

What would have happened if you didn't have the rops would it have slammed you instead and broke something?

no it missed me completely and would have been a non-issue without the ROPS

 

[Ghost River Retrievers]

I understand the PITA that the RPOS can be ... I've been subjected to a couple beatings by limbs knocked off by the RPOS on my compact tractor (I simply misjudged the height of the branches) and had the RPOS on my ZTR knock apples off my orchard. Nonetheless, except when I have to mow very close to the fruit trees, the RPOS is up and my seatbelt is on when I'm in the seat of either my ZTR or my tractor ... this is why:
About 15 years ago, my brother-in-law, who ran a VERY successful lawn care business, was on one of his Scag ZTRs with the RPOS down and no seatbelt on ... was mowing his own property when he hit a relatively small stump or culvert which was hidden by the grass, the mower flipped and he ended up with a good portion of the weight of the mower on his chest ... he could not breath, he could not move, his son was riding a dirt bike on the property and saw what happened, the son rode over to his dad and heard his father's last words ... "get help" ... his son did so, but it was too late and my brother-in-law passed away, under the mower, before help could get there.
Every time I get on the mower or tractor, I can hear Mark tell me, "Hey, don't forget the seatbelt and make sure the bar is up." I always thank him for the reminder....

 

[dieselscout80]

You might also ask how much replacement glass costs, and the availability of the glass in the future.

It’s not just the glass as the top of the cab gets damaged often too and requires replacing it.

My neighbor hit his on a a tree limb and it was like a $9k repair bill good thing for insurance he said.

I have also seen doors damaged too.