3033R ROPS %^*(*%$#!

[tree grower]

Interesting thread and comments. That's why I never buy new vehicles. My JD 1050 is a 1986, and my newest machine is a 1995 Bobcat. The garage door and tree limbs difficulty would still apply, but there would be no reason not to modify the equipment if necessary.

 

[WinterDeere]

Thanks for the comments, everyone. Yes, I agree keeping the ROPS upper on the machine, even if folded back, is the way to go. In the event I do manage to roll this thing, it still adds substantial strength by tying the posts together, versus a stand-alone side post which would likely just fold under.

Maybe over time I’ll trim some of the trees up to ROPS height, but that would serious affect our privacy, and others (eg. Cherry blossom trees) have a majority of their branching down low. This machine is used lawn care all summer and moving firewood all winter, so it may be possible for me to settle into one routine for summer and another for winter.

 

[dodge man]

If I'm not working on hills, I keep my ROPS in the head banging position, but when I mow or work on hills, I put it up and put my seat belt on. I've really only brained myself once on the ROPS and a had a couple of bumps into it also.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I truly dont understand the tall height. It seems to me that a ROPS only needs to be slightly higher than the operator when seated. It seems the smaller the tractor or lawnmower the taller the ROPS is. My Kubota B26 FOPS 4 poster is not nearly 9 feet tall but it is tall enough to get on the tractor without bumping your head when standing an yet still fit thru my shop doors.

 

[Gary Fowler]

After hanging several limbs with my mower and nearly tipping over backward not to mention damaging the trees, I removed it completely. I found that even on my steepest slopes, it will not flip over or turn over to the side so I am not worried about the danger of not having a ROPS on my lawnmower.

 

[Rebeldad1]

easy solution would be to take the roll bar to a fabrication shop and have it shortened.

maybe slow down around trees if you dont want to limb them for mowing

 

[Billrog]

Used the distance from the seat of my backhoe and previous tractor to determine the height of the rops . The one that came on the tractor was ridiculous so high it would hit the over hang on the house if I got to close.

 

[WinterDeere]

Nice shop, Billrog!

 

[ovrszd]

Tie one end of a string on the top crossbar of the ROPS in the center. Stretch the string forward across the top fromt of the tractor hood. Tighten the string and tie it to the grill or whatever that keeps it firmly on the top fromt of the hood.

Now sit on the tractor seat. Note where the string is over your head. That's the survivable space given to you by the ROPS.

Then decide whether you want to shorten the ROPS.

 

[RalphVa]

I keep mine folded on the 2025R and did on the 1025R. The 4010's was non folding but fit nicely underneath all the garage doors. Yeah, I've occasionally bumped my head on the folded ROPS, but I've learned to avoid it.

Ralph