Anyone ever had their ROPS top part cut down?

[ovrszd]

I'll jump in; lilranch is SPOT ON. There are all manner of parameters that dictate ROPS height. Most decent sized CUT ROP structures are jut a tad higher than the standard 7' garage door. Good luck finding a professional welder to modify yours. Be thankful yours is folding, and practice pinning it in operating position when you use your tractor.

Hmmmm, the ROPS on my M9540 is maybe 2" above my head. If you draw a straight line from the top of the ROPS to the top of the tractor's hood, you would definitely cut 2/3 of my head off. Not sure that can be geometrically explained. I rather believe the height is directly related to the weight of the tractor and is designed to handle the rollover without collapse, with little to no regard to where the operators head fits into that equation. So shortening the ROPS would actually improve it's ability to survive said rollover. Which when considered, plays exactly into the litigious society we live in regarding the manufacturer. Their only concern is that the ROPS does not fail to hold the tractor's weight. Again,,,, with little or no regard to where the operator's head is at the time.

 

[DarkBlack]

RickB, I strongly disagree.
ROPs are a simple structure, and do not have massive engineering efforts that can account for all possible outcomes.
That's why there are ROPs failure shown right here on this site. A good welder/fabricator can change the fold point and keep the predicted safety up to par. Custom roll cages are welded modified, and built all across the country by welders for race cars that flip and hit walls at 100 mph. A tractor ROP is a pretty simple roll over tube for anyone of decent competency.

 

[RG1]

JD is plain nuts. Why did they design a foldable ROPS that is too tall to fit underneath normal garage doors?

For this reason, I've kept mine folded. It's above my head even folded, but I keep bumping my head on it when working back there. So, I'm thinking about taking the top part off and getting it cut down (only about 2" needed to be removed) and, or course, put back together minus the cut-outs.

Anyone done this?

Ralph

OP-
the reason for the ROPS height is definitely geometry. The manu's make the height whatever it needs to be to work in conjunction with a point at or near the front of the tractor that would also make contact with the ground in the event of a roll over. The idea is to create a safety zone large enough under those two points that a person wearing their seatbelt would not be crushed by the tractor should it roll over or end up upside down..

 

[RickB]

All well & good. Now go find a professional welding shop to modify a ROPS. Let me know how that works out.

 

[ovrszd]

Here's a couple pics to support my opinion.

First is my M9540. Second is a SCUT. Note how much taller the ROPS is on the SCUT.

 

[murphy1244]

I'll take the Orange one please

 

[rsallen]

I cut mine off below fender line.
Plugged and welded the open ends on both parts. Then made some sleeves out of 1/4 inch angle iron, welded them to the top part of the ROPS and drilled a couple of holes for stay pins. Now I have a ROPS I can remove or put back on at will.

It'll stand up to anything that the intact ROPS would.

 

[ovrszd]

All well & good. Now go find a professional welding shop to modify a ROPS. Let me know how that works out.

It won't work out well at all. Not because of fear of structural failure. Again, the fear is of our self described litigious society. The owner, rather than take personal responsibility for their actions that caused injury, will rather look for anyone to blame. I'm afraid we have been taught that by our own government. And now have created an entire generation that lives that philosophy.

 

[DarkBlack]

All well & good. Now go find a professional welding shop to modify a ROPS. Let me know how that works out.

My first tractor didn't even have ROPS. Have you never seen how people totally modify trucks, jeeps cars?

 

[ovrszd]

I'll take the Orange one please

You need quackers with that Murph???