grey marker kubota - how to retrofit for safety

[victoriafarm]

brand new owners of a kubota which does not have seat belts or ROPS (really, really brand new - i'm reading the safety section posts and I'm not even sure what rops is - a roll over bar of some kind?)

Has anyone retrofitted a grey market kubota with seat belts or other safety features??

thanks
carol

 

[GaryE]

Carol,

I have never retrofitted a grey market tractor, but the FIRST thing I would do is talk to your local Kubota dealer and find the the right parts. Yes the ROPS is basically a roll bar. After owning a B6000 without a ROPS that I almost rolled / flipped several times I would NEVER get on my L3710 without putting on my seat belt before I even start it. It is just to easy to get hurt in one of these things.

I have always worn a seat belt when driving. It has saved me many times racing. I will always remember an ad by (I think) the national safety console that read, "They have a name for people who don't wear seat belts...... Stupid"


Nuff said /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Welcome to TBN. There is a bunch of really good people here... Take advantage of thier colective input


Gary

 

[KiotiJohn]

Carol, I'm afraid you may have a hard time getting a Kubota dealer to help you out in any fashion as they loathe the gray market tractors. They are not permitted by Corporate orders to sell parts for grays and you often have to give them the model of the closest equivalent US model, if there is one. Even then, the parts may be different than your tractor's.
Kubota went to court and won to keep the gray markets out of the states under their brand name. Now they are usually imported under the Zen-noh rebrand and there are parts sources, but it's not always easy.
i hope you can find a way to get a roll over and seatbelts on the tractor, especially since your husband and you are so inexperienced with tractors.
I would never have recommended you buy a gray market tractor unless your husband or you are able to work on it, and very aware of the contingent problems that come with owning a gray. Hopefully, someone who has added a ROPS to a gray Kubota will be able to point you to a solution. John

 

[Henro]

In addition to what the others have said, be sure to do a search of the archives and read ROPS related threads.

There has been at least one fatality reported when a ROPS failed on a tractor...because it was retrofitted and not done properly. In this case some mounting hardware was missing and the owner did not realize it. Young teenage boy lost his life while working with his grandfather...

It is VERY important that the ROPS be able to protect if called upon. A false sense of security is much worse than a true feeling of insecurity (which may cause one to be more careful).

Along with the safety forums here, if you do an internet search for tractor safety sites, you will get an even better idea of how dangerous a tractor can be. Being aware of potential dangers will make you safer in the long run.

Gee, I sound like I'm singing a sad song! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I guess all I am trying to say is that it is the operator that makes the tractor dangerous. Being knowlegable about possible dangers makes one more able to operate as safely as possible... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BobCorazza]

I retro fitted a B8600 (non-grey) with ropes & a seat belt through a Kubota safety program. I had to provide serial numbers etc... to get the parts near cost. I suspect you will have problems with Kubota on a grey machine. Perhaps an outright purchase of the US equivalent ROPS, or have an experienced welder / fabricator make one up for you.

 

[BB_TX]

Carol - I replied to your other post, but I will answer here also. (best to have only one post on each subject). Here is <font color="blue"> a web site </font> of some ROPS manufacturers. If Kubota cannot or will not help you, you might try some of these companies.

 

[kenmac]

Retrofitting a rops to a grey has been discussed on the other grey tractors also. I own a yanmar without rops. The dealer that I purchased my grey from told me rops will be ready for my tractor in approx. 6 weeks . I can't wait. I would advise you to contact your dealer. You need to use a rops designed & tested for your mod. tractor. Did you purchase from a dealer? If so, try contacting him/her.

 

[BrettW]

you might could find a good welder to do it, but you'd have to call is something else and sign a release stating that you understand this in NOT a ROPS, and release any liability. Call it a sunshade system and put a sun blocker on it. bw