I'm Gonna Drill My Rops...

[Youare]

Re: I\'m Gonna Drill My Rops...

Henro

Go get the drill and put a couple of holes in the ROPS for your lights!!!

I drilled and tapped two 1/4-28 holes to mount a rear light on my ROPS without a second thought. Those holes are not going to make any difference in the performance of the ROPS
should you tip the tractor on it's side, just be sure you are wearing your seat belt.

As far as any rust problem you may create if the holes are on the under side of the ROPS how is water going to get in around the screw threads. Put some silicone RTV around the screws before you install them. I doubt whether the inside of the ROPS is painted anyway and there are other openings where mositure can get in.

As far as safety is concerned you are probably creating a less dangerous situation by installing those work lights. They may keep you from backing into something in the dark.

Get the drill and go for it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Randy

 

[RonR]

Re: I\'m Gonna Drill My Rops...

Ret, I was told a new ROPS for a 2200 is about $500 + shipping, if I recall correctly.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Re: I\'m Gonna Drill My Rops...

Your sig picture doesn't even HAVE a ROPS!!

 

[Wal]

Re: I\'m Gonna Drill My Rops...

Henro,

I installed my rear worklight in place of the orange triangle a few months ago. I have discovered that it would be much better located higher up, so I am going to hang it on the bottom side of the rops top (if that makes sense /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif)
Anyway , I will attach the light bracket using the following product:

http://www.liquidnails.com/adhesives/en-113.html

Over the years, I have had very good sucess using the various products made by this company. I have no fear that the bracket will ever come off /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. Plus, the method satisfies the laziness portion of my work ethic by not having to get the drill out /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[tc35dforme]

Re: I\'m Gonna Drill My Rops...

If you have a folding ROPS there is plenty of space for water vapor to enter anyway. So long as there is available ventilation ( through the hinge point and the weep holes at the bottom...look they are there !! ), condensation shouldn't be that big of a problem. I guess you could always foam the inside of the ROPS with a closed cell urethane foam and be done with the concern of moisture /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[WCarlson]

Re: I\'m Gonna Drill My Rops...

Not to pour gasoline on this fire, but I ordered my tractor with work lights. The tractor came from the dealer with lights that were mounted in accordance with JD instructions with bolts through holes in the folding ROPS.
Bill

 

[Henro]

Re: I\'m Gonna Drill My Rops...

<font color="blue"> You started this thread knowing it would get a lot of results didn't you. Your at home and board with nothing to do so you just thought you could get some controversy going!! </font>

Well...Murf...hummm...I had just got home after driving all day when I posted that... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

But the truth of the matter is that I remembered seeing ROPS with holes in the top, for mounting lights or whatever, being supplied on new tractors.

A mechanical engineer could evaluate how much a hole in the side of a rops would weaken the rops. Common sense, backed by actually seeing holes put in rops by manufactures, tells me a hole here and there would not be a safety issue at all.

Now the counter argument might be that the manufacturer who puts holes in the rops from the start, compensates by using thicker gage metal...

I guess I just realized last evening that using safety as the reason not to drill a couple small holes in the rops is...well...not likely to be a valid reason not to do it.

And it surprised me that I accepted as gospel the statement that absolutely no modification should be made to a rops, period.

 

[normde2001]

Re: I\'m Gonna Drill My Rops...

True, Mike, that's because my tractor doesn't have a ROPS /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. I also wouldn't drill a hole in the hood, fender, dash, or anywhere else if there was an alternative.

 

[jpr62902]

Re: I\'m Gonna Drill My Rops...

There's a post on another discussion board from a user named "AV8R" who's got a BX and drilled the ROPS for his lights too. Seems this guy actually was somehow involved in ROPS design for Case/IH, and he had no problem drilling the ROPS (no structural integrity loss, etc.).

I drilled two 1/4" holes for the mounting bolts all the way through and two 7/16" holes through the bottom of the ROPS for the wires to exit. No worries here, mate.

 

[RET]

Re: I\'m Gonna Drill My Rops...

Ya'll were talking about mounting lights in differing locations where they wouldn't be in the way of tree limbs, bald heads, etc.
I have several 'concept sketches' that I'm considering. I want to build a bracket (be it welded, bolted thru ROPS, or glued) that will swing. When I want the lights on top, I can swing the lights up and latch them in place (maybe even a 'friction fit' so that the lights will be pushed back if I hit something solid). When I need overhead clearance, I can swing them back down where they will face to the rear of the tractor (like for rear work after dark) or can be twisted around to face forward from underneath the ROPS.
I want to get this done in next several weeks. Will post pics if I am not too embarassed by my handywork.
r