hugh

[kubotab1550]

Have a Kubota b1550 gear with 1100 hours and 54 mmm. Came to this site trying to figure out if I should keep it or trade for a new scut. Want a front end loader but up here in Canada cost $5000. Now have a problem that if I get a new tractor the rop system has to fit in a door opening that is 70" high, so has to be a tractor with folding rops. Was looking at a massey 1705 but it is going to be 2" too high. The b1550 doesn't fit either but a new one needs to go in the garage. I'm retired now so have lots of time to do searching that is why I've come to this site. Live on 2 acres with a couple of horses so a fel would be a definite asset. Live in Canada 60 miles north of miniot nd.

 

[ArlyA]

I can't answer your qestion but nice to have you here. Our buddy used to reside in Rugby ND so we've been there and Minot before. Oh yea, Peace gardens to.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Welcome to TBN from Virginia. Ed

 

[TBN Support]

Welcome to the forum! :welcome:

I'm going to move your thread on over to our buying, pricing and comparisons section to see if we can get you some advice.

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Enjoy the site.

 

[Grandad4]

For a starting point, check out the Kubota BX1870. Probably similar capability to your B1550 and has a published height of 69.4" with the ROPS folded. If it were me and the clearance needed was that close, I wouldn't take anyone's word for it; I'd be over at a dealer's showroom with a measuring tape, but on paper at least, it "should" just fit. There may be something offered by another brand of course. We've had a BX for more than 10 years now. Trouble-free and hardworking. Good luck with your search!

 

[paulfun9]

I would simply buy which ever tractor I liked best and modify the ROPS to fit.

Its not hard to cut 2 or 3 inches out of the ROPS and weld it back together. Almost any welding shop should be able to handle the job for a few bucks.

 

[stuckmotor]

:welcome:
Could you put in a taller door?

 

[varmint]

I have seen several guys who neatly cut several inches from a ROPS, welded, ground and repainted, and you would never realize it. A new tractor might be a different story if the servicing dealer saw it- the lawyers rule. Of course, a foldable ROPS that is left down isn't much of a ROP device, anyway.

If clearance is very close, be careful in checking actual clearance: a slight incline or drop on either side of your door can cause the ROPS to rise up. I know this.

 

[GManBart]

I would simply buy which ever tractor I liked best and modify the ROPS to fit.

Its not hard to cut 2 or 3 inches out of the ROPS and weld it back together. Almost any welding shop should be able to handle the job for a few bucks.

Normally that would be a great idea, but maybe not with the Massey GC1705 he's looking at. It has a one-piece ROPS (doesn't fold) that is quite short...barely over the head of most operators. It's actually pretty surprising how short the ROPS is since most seem to err on the side of too tall these days. They list the height at 72.8" so he'd have to take 3+ inches off, and that might make it too short to be useful. In this case it might be better to get a welder to add a hinge which would make it a couple of inches taller when extended, but short enough when folded. I don't know if anybody sells that kind of hardware, but it's got to be possible.

 

[Grandad4]

You can hear all kinds of opinions on TBN; mine would be that modifying the ROPS on a brand new tractor is probably not such an all-fired great idea. I wouldn't do it, and the concerns would be: possible voiding of warranty, safety of a shortened ROPS in a rollover and possible impact on resale value. To each his own, of course.

 

[GManBart]

You can hear all kinds of opinions on TBN; mine would be that modifying the ROPS on a brand new tractor is probably not such an all-fired great idea. I wouldn't do it, and the concerns would be: possible voiding of warranty, safety of a shortened ROPS in a rollover and possible impact on resale value. To each his own, of course.

I can see an alteration to the ROPS voiding the warranty on the ROPS, but no way on the rest of the machine. One of the ideas is to make the ROPS taller, but add a hinge so it can be folded for parking, so it wouldn't give up anything in the safety department.

 

[terryknight]

i like gman's idea. or instead of a hinge you can sleeve it and add a through bolt/pin

 

[paulfun9]

Normally that would be a great idea, but maybe not with the Massey GC1705 he's looking at. It has a one-piece ROPS (doesn't fold) that is quite short...barely over the head of most operators. It's actually pretty surprising how short the ROPS is since most seem to err on the side of too tall these days. They list the height at 72.8" so he'd have to take 3+ inches off, and that might make it too short to be useful. In this case it might be better to get a welder to add a hinge which would make it a couple of inches taller when extended, but short enough when folded. I don't know if anybody sells that kind of hardware, but it's got to be possible.

Yes its very possible! We have done it for some folks already. Just ask your local welding shop and be careful with your measurement as we did one for a guy and he had to come back and get it cut a second time. He measured it with low air pressure in the tires and some real weight hanging off the 3 point but found when he inflated the tires back up and tried going in with nothing on the back he was too high.