Canopy Install Advice

[Ranchofla]

The only issue at this point is that the whole ROPS/canopy rocks fore and aft slightly as I traverse rough ground. Tightening the screw at the ROPS base helped but did not eliminate this motion. Based on inputs from NC Redneck, I'll try to fashion some metal wedges to eliminate slack at the ROPS bottom pivot. Redneck advises that this motion will destroy the stock screw before long. I may also try a bungee (from the canopy to the loader cross piece) to eliminate the fore-aft rocking. Any other suggestions are welcome.

I did the same thing to my ROPS as I found the knob did not tighten enough to keep mine from rocking, here's a picture.



Here's a picture of the fan I added to my golf cart canopy on my tractor, it has a switch on it. Makes mowing in May through Sept. much more comfortable



Rancho

 

[ritcheyvs]

Rancho:

Many thanks for the photos.

It looks like you still use the stock screw/know. Redneck felt it necessary to switch to a stronger/higher-grade screw. Maybe the stock screw is OK if there is no movement. Any comment on the stock screw?

Nice fan. What is the source? It Looks like a radiator fan from a car.

Cheers.

 

[k0ua]

I have had 0 movement in the ROPS with the canopy mounted with the stock screw for 2 years and 250 hours

 

[ritcheyvs]

I have had 0 movement in the ROPS with the canopy mounted with the stock screw for 2 years and 250 hours

Good to know. I tightened that screw using only hand pressure on the knob. So maybe just using a wrench will be sufficient. I still think I'll get a wedge to better distribute the screw force on the ROPS. In the mean time, I'll just try to tighten more.

 

[k0ua]

I can't remember if I put locktite on it or not, but I remember tightening the "pee" out of it and it hasn't loosened up yet.

 

[Ranchofla]

Rancho:

Many thanks for the photos.

It looks like you still use the stock screw/know. Redneck felt it necessary to switch to a stronger/higher-grade screw. Maybe the stock screw is OK if there is no movement. Any comment on the stock screw?

Nice fan. What is the source? It Looks like a radiator fan from a car.

Cheers.

I do have the stock screw and knob on one side and used the nut on the back of the knob to snug it up, the other side was broken off when I bought the tractor so I drilled it out and tapped it then put a grade 8 bolt in it (also with the shim). Snug and no wobble. As for the fan yeah it is the cheapest 12 volt car fan I could buy on e-bay 12" diameter I think.

Rancho

 

[nc redneck]

I did the same thing to my ROPS as I found the knob did not tighten enough to keep mine from rocking, here's a picture.

View attachment 380309

Here's a picture of the fan I added to my golf cart canopy on my tractor, it has a switch on it. Makes mowing in May through Sept. much more comfortable

View attachment 380308

Rancho

I really like your fan idea plus I think I have one laying around. I did a 12 volt RV fan but it never moved enough air, after many trailer rides at 70 MPH shaft broke. I am going to copy your idea on fan
For me I did grade 8 bolt replacement first of factory knobs, that caused dimpling or ROPs wedges came second. Factory knobs may very well be fine with spreading out the load.
Thanks
Scott

 

[ritcheyvs]

OK, so here's my "final" solution to the rocking canopy/ROPS.

Using suggestions from others here (thanks), I replaced the stock screws with hardened (12mm x 1.75mm x40mm as I recall) number 8 bolts and glued (shoe goo) a small piece of hardened steel plate on the ROPS where the bolt contacts the ROPS.



Number 8 screws are commonly available (e,g, Lowes, Tractor Supply, etc) and 30-35 mm length may have been enough but I used 40mm. For the hardened steel plate, I sliced off two pieces from an old powered edger blade using a grinder/cutoff wheel.

I should add that the original bolts were significantly mushroomed at the ends from pressing against the ROPS and the ROPS was noticeably dented. I needed to grind off that mushroomed area with a Dremel tool before I could remove the original bolts.

Finally, it seems to me that some movement is unavoidable. The bolt does a great job of preventing movement at the upper pin. But it looks like movement at the lower pin is unavoidable considering the screw location.



But it's good enough, I think.

 

[Ranchofla]

OK, so here's my "final" solution to the rocking canopy/ROPS.

Using suggestions from others here (thanks), I replaced the stock screws with hardened (12mm x 1.75mm x40mm as I recall) number 8 bolts and glued (shoe goo) a small piece of hardened steel plate on the ROPS where the bolt contacts the ROPS.

Number 8 screws are commonly available (e,g, Lowes, Tractor Supply, etc) and 30-35 mm length may have been enough but I used 40mm. For the hardened steel plate, I sliced off two pieces from an old powered edger blade using a grinder/cutoff wheel.

I should add that the original bolts were significantly mushroomed at the ends from pressing against the ROPS and the ROPS was noticeably dented. I needed to grind off that mushroomed area with a Dremel tool before I could remove the original bolts.

Finally, it seems to me that some movement is unavoidable. The bolt does a great job of preventing movement at the upper pin. But it looks like movement at the lower pin is unavoidable considering the screw location.


But it's good enough, I think.

Looks good!

Rancho