Canopy - Clamp or Drill mount to ROPS??

[Henro]

Here's an old thread (one of many on this topic I expect) that covers a lot of the bases...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/33807-im-gonna-drill-my-rops.html?highlight=drill+henro

For what it's worth...

 

[browns40]

You know,

We just replaced 2 garage doors at work and I've been eyeing the tracks thinking they would clamp to the rops pretty easily if I ever wanted a canopy... would certainly be the "weak link" if it were to roll... wonder if doubled up on each side they'd do well supporting any mass... would be one ugly canopy... course then I could "wheel" the top in & out if I need to be rid of it for periods...

Course I don't really care if my "tractor's sexy"... it loses that as soon as I step aboard of her anyway!

 

[ctpres]

How about using threaded rod to make your own U bolts?

 

[Soundguy]

I've done that before.. a piece of allthread, a vice and a propane torch.. worked great...

Soundguy

 

[ehchvac]

just drill it.
I may not have posted much here, but I have been lurking for years, and this same topic comes up again and again.
when I get around to learning how to post pics here, I will post a pic of my tractor that will send the "ROPS COPS" into shock.
it has been drilled, cut, sliced and diced.
never once during all this has anyone posted a picture of a failed rops due to drilling and or cutting.
and you know if there was a picture to be had, it would have been posted time and time again, telling the tale of yet another senseless death due to rops drilling.
so that being said,...unless it is a rental, for use by others, drill it.

 

[Soundguy]

Why offer advice that will void a warranty or an insurance claim... Safer alternatives exist.

Soundguy

 

[IslandTractor]

Why offer advice that will void a warranty or an insurance claim... Safer alternatives exist.

Soundguy

It's always dangerous disagreeing with Soundguy but.....

Warranty on a ROPS? How many warrranty claims are there on ROPS'?

Insurance claim is different but it would still be up to the company to show that some minor modification somehow grossly affected the strength of the product. I doubt the places that you would drill holes for a canopy are the structurally weakest areas of a ROPS. I presume the manufacturers use square tube rather than a tapering tube for economic, not engineering reasons. The top section of the ROPS must therefore be "over engineered". Common sense in using the smallest appropriate bolt (hole) near the top of the ROPS would seem prudent and not drilling anything at the more highly stressed base of the ROPS also prudent.

 

[RG_Upton]

Lots of sensible advice given here.... Thanks to everyone who posted.

I took another look at the ROPS, and it is the factory one for the tractor. About 3/4 up on the right hand side, someone used a torch to cut a roughly 7/16" hole through on both the wheel side and seat side. Because of this, I certainly don't want to be drilling any other holes that direction on either side. I think I will probably try to round up some axle spring mounting kits for 2" square axles and work up a mount using them.

Russ

 

[MrJimi]

Russ, if you have square frame, try a trailer parts place with square bolts like on boat trailers
Jim

 

[ehchvac]

after reading all the doom and gloom posts on rops drilling, I told the wife if I should drop dead, that she should not try to sell the tractor, or give it to a family member, "don't want to open them and future gererations to unending lawsuits and other legal action do to rops failure from those 4 holes" , but, to make sure she douses the tractor with gas and toasts marshmallows over it.
then,... after the fire subsides, encase it in concrete and have turned into my headstone as an eternal reminder to all.