Because equipment, accessories and recommended usage methods fail. In my case, the bale was fixed to the forks with a heavy duty ratchet strap and when the lift arms unexpectedly and uncontrolably went up rather than leveling the forks the bale was virtually launched out of the restraint.
So, did the strap fail? If so, which direction was it wrapped around the bale in? Any pictures?
A properly sized and tensioned strap going around a pair of non-flip up forks (forks like
this or
this, not
this) should not come off no matter what your loader does.
Some people remove ROPS and PTO shaft guards and some people won't wear seat belts. Manufacturers are "obligated" where possible and reasonable to protect and warn about obvious risks. That is why there are warning bells with seatbelts and why it is against the law to drive without using them. That is why manufactorers must install shields and ROPS and why dealers must replace or repair shields or ROPS if not in safe condition.
Last I checked, dealers they are not required to repair shields or ROPS that are broken or missing when they get a tractor in to repair it. Sell it perhaps, but not when they just work on it.
Also, there are stickers warning about things coming back over the top of the bucket on most (all?) modern loaders (most of them even show a round bale coming back).
An after market hydraulic self leveling device costs less than a spear and spears that are recommended as OEM equipment for quick detach loaders are in fact very expensive.
Can you show some examples of prices of aftermarket self leveling devices?
Also, in my incident, the bale would have likely come off the spear and land in the same place causing the same injury.
Really? How far up will your loader roll back the bucket when all of the way up? There is a difference between a bale rolling backwards off of a set of forks and one coming off of a bale spear like this:
New Quick Attach Hay Spear / Bale Fork - eBay (item 230565259271 end time Feb-17-11 12:51:59 PST). The first is possible, the second not so much.
What you said is so obvious - the FEL related accidents without FOPS are actually common which stands to reason because in general with the tractors today (and with
RopS) it is pretty difficult to roll over.
What I can't believe is that manufacturers don't even supply after-sale or retrofit FOPS for tractors with loaders - not even an option.
Take a look at
this B7500 and tell me how you would put a FOPS on it that would do the following:
1. Not be in the way of mounting and removing the loader
2. Be able to drop down for areas where there is low clearance (like the ROPS is in the pictures)
3. Not impede the operator from getting on and off the tractor
Aaron Z