4X20 ROPS Removal

[sunnyside360]

Have a 4320 with 485 BH and must fold down the ROPS to put in the garage. I tried removing the top half of the ROPS by removing the pins but could not remove after taking off the locking pins. Tried light tapping with hammer and block of wood but still no dice.
Is there a trick to removing the pins with the circle clips? Sure would be nice to not have to bother with the ROPS since I don't work on hills with this tractor.

 

[LBrown59]

Have a 4320 with 485 BH and must fold down the ROPS to put in the garage. I tried removing the top half of the ROPS by removing the pins but could not remove after taking off the locking pins. Tried light tapping with hammer and block of wood but still no dice.
Is there a trick to removing the pins with the circle clips? Sure would be nice to not have to bother with the ROPS since
* I don't work on hills with this tractor.

Hills aren't the only place to roll tractors.

 

[Uncle Wayne]

I have the same tractor and had the same problem. I used a hammer and a piece of rod to drive the pins out. They are tight and even harder to put back when you need to raise it again. The pins need a little more bevel on the ends to help get them started back through the 4 holes.

 

[LBrown59]

A rops folds so you can get the tractor in the garage .
So why defeat the purpose by trying to remove the rops ?
Don't make no sense to me.

 

[sunnyside360]

I have the same tractor and had the same problem. I used a hammer and a piece of rod to drive the pins out. They are tight and even harder to put back when you need to raise it again. The pins need a little more bevel on the ends to help get them started back through the 4 holes.

Wayne, many thanks for your helpful response. I don't plan on leaving the ROPS off 100% of the time. Based on your experience, I think I will file the holes slightly and bevel the pins a little more prior to replacing the top half.
Actually, my JD dealer already filed the holes for the pins/holes with safety pin type lock to make it easier to tilt the ROPS when entering/exiting the barn which only has 7.5' high overhead doors.

 

[sunnyside360]

A rops folds so you can get the tractor in the garage .
So why defeat the purpose by trying to remove the rops ?
Don't make no sense to me.

On the 4X20 series tractor with 485 backhoe, the folding ROPS is very heavy and lays against the BH controls when lowered and could/would damage the levers.

 

[B8FISH]

If you put the pins back in their holes after you fold the ROPS does it still hit the controls? If not--you could drill a small hole in the ROPS bracket to put a pin in that would hold the upper 1/2 of the ROPS off of the control tower.

 

[sunnyside360]

If you put the pins back in their holes after you fold the ROPS does it still hit the controls? If not--you could drill a small hole in the ROPS bracket to put a pin in that would hold the upper 1/2 of the ROPS off of the control tower.

Good idea. I'll check it out.

 

[Uncle Wayne]

Wayne, many thanks for your helpful response. I don't plan on leaving the ROPS off 100% of the time. Based on your experience, I think I will file the holes slightly and bevel the pins a little more prior to replacing the top half.
QUOTE]

That helped me. Another thing that is aggravating about the ROPs is the height. I have lots of trees to mow under and the ROPS catches limbs that actually make it more dangerous in the up position than when it's in the down position. If it was 12" to 18" lower that would help tremendously.

I guess I'll have to crank up the old chain saw to help that situation.

 

[sunnyside360]

That helped me. Another thing that is aggravating about the ROPs is the height. I have lots of trees to mow under and the ROPS catches limbs that actually make it more dangerous in the up position than when it's in the down position. If it was 12" to 18" lower that would help tremendously.

I guess I'll have to crank up the old chain saw to help that situation.

I considered shortening the ROPS about 12" and the dealer strongly advised not to do that for liability reasons. Also, the tractor trade-in value would be significantly less because the ROPS would need to be replaced prior to re-sale. So, decided to live with it the way it is. I dread the day when I forget to lower the ROPS prior to entering the garage.