(FOPS)FALLING OBJECT PROTECTIVE STRUCTURES

[blueriver]

A FOPS would have prevented a serious injury I sustained from a round bale coming off the loader pallett forks. I recently saw that both Vermont and New York have a rebate program in place to help encourage the installation or retrofitting of ROPS or FOPS in tractors. In NY the number is 1-877-767-7748.

I hope you are alright ... how serious was that injury? I have read about this killing folks ... Be carefull using pallet forks.

 

[Pauchik]

Better to be smart (you, with FOPS factory installed) than lucky (me, now looking to install one after the fact). These should be included in any tractor with FEL.

 

[eepete]

Because of the front and back posts, the FOPS also helps when the tractor is parked at an extreme (and not recommended) angle... Between the FOPS, loader mounts, wheels, loader bucket, and backhoe stabilizers my B21 made a 7 point landing, nothing broken but my pride.

Sure makes sense to me to have a FOPS on anything with a FEL.

Pete

 

[BruceWard]

Maybe this thread should be titled "Hay bails are dangerous".

 

[troutsqueezer]

Because of the front and back posts, the FOPS also helps when the tractor is parked at an extreme (and not recommended) angle... Between the FOPS, loader mounts, wheels, loader bucket, and backhoe stabilizers my B21 made a 7 point landing, nothing broken but my pride.

Sure makes sense to me to have a FOPS on anything with a FEL.

Pete

The ground looks fairly flat there, what caused it to flip? I've taken a screen capture of that shot to remind me.

-T

 

[Duffster]

A FOPS would have prevented a serious injury I sustained from a round bale coming off the loader pallett forks..

So would have the use of a proper tool for handling round bales. Pallet forks is not one. :confused2:

 

[eepete]

And to add to Duffster's comment, neither is a backhoe.

There is a sharp drop off just behind the tractor. I was grabbing a round bale with the backhoe when my rear tire dropped down. The round bale slowed down the tip over, and that helped with the no damage. The area was not mowed, the grass was about 18 inches tall, that hid a lot of the terrain. The position of the hay bale made me have much more of a angle/slope than I would normally have.

So lots of stupid mistakes, I walked away, learned a lot.

Don't use a backhoe to man handle a big round bale.
Do use a proper bale spear.
Don't go into areas where you can't see the terrain.
Sideways operations on a slope are a bad idea.
Have a cell phone with you on the tractor.
Calibrating you internal inclinometer can be rough on you and your equipment.

Pete

 

[BethesdaEC]

I am going to be doing a lot of work in heavy woods and would love to have a FOPS for my JD2520 tractor, but there does seem to an aftermarket source for these. Any idea where to order one from?

 

[Pauchik]

I'm looking for an aftermarket source. Probably will have to go to a fabricator and have it special built.

 

[TripleR]

You might want to check with a salvage yard or tractor auction site if one is near, we got ours off of an old IH and did a little modification.