Aux lights on Rops

Tom_W · Oct 7, 2003

Will drilling into the roll bar cause any problems? I want to add some lights but I see here on this site, the wires run on the outside of the roll bar as well as the lights tie wrapped on.
I'd like to either weld a plate on for a light mount or drill through as well as run the wires through a hole and run it inside the rops.

Deerlope · Oct 7, 2003

DO NOT drill into the roll bar. Any thing that you do to alter the structure of the bar(welding, drilling etc) voids any calm that you may want to make in the future if you have a rollover and the bar fails to protect you. Instead use 'U" bolts to secure your lights. All you need is 2 flat steel plates and a couple of bolts fasten lights to the plate.

rambler · Oct 8, 2003

You probably never will use your roll bar.

And a couple small holes probably won't cause it to fail.

But - if - then you are squat out of luck, because if you modify it, you won't recover any claims. Insurance companies likewise will put the blame on your head.

It gets a bit of a problem when you sell the tractor, should the next owner have a roll bar failure, your modification could draw you into the lawsuit.

Now, we all like to gamble a bit. But do you feel like gambling on this? Some do, most don't.

Not telling you what to do.

--->Paul

Mrwurm · Oct 8, 2003

I drilled several small holes in mine. I'm not concerned in the slightest. If you decide to do this, just use good judgement as to where you place the holes and keep them as small as possible. You don't need large fasteners to attach a light bar.

Note: After an exhaustive search, I have finally found one small sentence in my owners manual that says 'do not modify, drill, weld the ROPS'. There are no warning stickers or plates on the ROPS. I think if this was a big deal, New Holland would make the warnings 'big, bold, and numerous'.

jpr62902 · Oct 8, 2003

I drilled into mine, and my manual says the same thing as Mrwurm. Ironically, Kubota saw fit to attach a serial # plate to the ROPS with FOUR rivets. Plus, at the base of mine there are two 1/4" holes. I fished my ROPS light wires through one of those.

Soundguy · Oct 8, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( just use good judgement as to where you place the holes )</font>

Good judgement???? Good judgement would dictate -not- modifying the holes.. that would be a hard defense in court.

Assuming you or the owner isn't an engineer... I'd guess you are open for liability once you modify it.. and can't prove it that it was safe.

As for the tag.. not sure what model you have.. but my factory installed rops was a plate attatched to it stating the designed application for the rops, and a 'don't modify warning'. right on it.

No advice here, but Do whatever your lawyer feels comfterable with.

Soundguy

jpr62902 · Oct 8, 2003

My whole point was that Kubota put four holes in the ROPS to install a serial number plate and then say, "Don't drill into the ROPS." These four holes (close to the base) are more critical to the structural integrity of the ROPS than the holes I drilled through the cross bar at the top for my lights. Anyway, I'm sure my lawyer (me) won't mind. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Mrwurm · Oct 8, 2003

Chris, I know that we have conversed on this topic before and we are unlikely to agree. Your comments are always well spoken and appreciated. I was just letting the original poster know that a few of us have elected to drill anyway and ignore the warnings. Sometimes those of us who live on the edge are comforted to know that we are not alone.

Wildman1 · Oct 9, 2003

I used the factory drilled holes on the top crossbar of my ROPS on my JD2210 for lights. Those holes were apparently for the factory umbrella.

CTyler · Oct 9, 2003

The Mfg's could take a hint here and place a few strategic holes in the ROPS so it doesn't need to be drilled.

It seems as though most peeps on this board have a reasonable amount of common sense. Its' the ones that drill or torch out 2" holes on thier ROPS or drill multiple holes cus they didn't get it right the first time that are likely to cause problems.

Speaking for myself I would not be concerned about drilling a couple 1/4" chamfered holes for wire on the flat.