I'm Gonna Drill My Rops...

Mrwurm · Feb 20, 2004

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

You go Henro !

I've drilled a few small holes in my ROPS and I'll do it again. Heck, I may even drill some holes just for ventilation. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Oh see, now you've gone and got me worked up /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

OkeeDon · Feb 20, 2004

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

Just remember, as you mentioned in your first post, it is not the safety of the ROPS you have to worry about if you modify it. Drilling a couple of holes or welding a tab or many other things will not make it any less safe than it is now. Which, in my opinion, having rolled over a race car, is not very safe. A square tubing ROPS, with a hinge in the middle, bolted on, with no diagonal bracing and no additional bracing, will not stand up to much stress. The only thing we have going for us is the relatively slow speeds and the fact that it probably won't roll all the way over.

Getting back on subject, the only thing we have to worry about in drilling a couple of holes is the fact that we provide an escape clause for the manufacturer's liability. The moment we do something to their ROPS, even if we improve it, they're off the hook. So, modify away, but if you get hurt, even though your modifications had nothing to do with it, expect them to be able to duck liability based on the fact that you modified their tested design.

jpr62902 · Feb 20, 2004

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

Don't know about being able to rotate the lights from on top to the bottom of the ROPS, but I simply used nylon washers between the mounting bolts/nuts and the ROPS and my lights pivot just fine from front to back. I also used nylon lock nuts.

rockyridgefarm · Feb 20, 2004

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

Now, if you look closely at my sig picture, you will notice there are NO safety compromising modifications whatsover on the ROPS. You never know what could happen....

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

jpr62902 · Feb 20, 2004

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

Okay, I'm a workers' compensation attorney, and I still don't quite follow the concept of the manufacturer being able to duck liability on this issue.

My first question is, "Liability for what?" Afterall, I would be the one who tipped the tractor over in the first place.

My second questions is, "Why would it be so hard to discern whether the ROPS failed because of an inherent design flaw or my modifications?" Seems to me, if the thing collapsed at the base, my tiny holes at the top would not have been the cause of that.

My third question is, " What kind of outrageous thing would you have to be doing to make the ROPS fail/collapse in the first place?" I doubt that a simple rollover would be sufficient. At normal tractorin' speeds, rollovers just don't generate that kind of force/inertia unless you're rolling multiple times -- but how do you make a BX do that?

Of course, if a rollover were to happen, AND the ROPS collapsed, undoubtedly Kubota would deny liability categorically which would then trigger the need for litigation. At that point, everybody loses ...

AAAhhhhhh, its all becoming clearer to me now. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

zuiko · Feb 20, 2004

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

Why not just use a bracket and U-bolts? Seems to me that would be a good way to mount stuff to the ROPS... and you could move it around if you wanted.

My worklight is not mounted on the ROPS, it's on the the back of the tractor. It works pretty good for me and I can adjust it while I'm sitting if needed.

Old_Hickory · Feb 20, 2004

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

Jim,
I am glad you stepped forward and offered your opinion. Nice to hear a point of view from a pro on technical matters. Thats one of the great things about this forum,it brings people of all walks of life together and puts us all together on common ground . /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Now if I can find my Hilti drill,I have a few projects on my tractor I have been putting off that I need to attend to. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

fivestring · Feb 20, 2004

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

"My first question is, "Liability for what?" Afterall, I would be the one who tipped the tractor over in the first place." 

I asked that same type question when that lady spilled her coffee in her lap and won a 3 mil. settlement from Mickey-D's.

Coffee is, well, DUH - hot!
Spilling coffee is not Mickey-D's fault.
But yet, there was a lawyer that took it to court.
What's really crazy is that Mickey-D's lost! We surely have some mentally-challenged folks on juries.

thcri · Feb 20, 2004

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

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

I do hope you realise I was just giving you a hard time. As far as drilling in the roll bar, go for it. I don't have a problem with it and may end up some day doing mine. And I know you don't just sit around looking for trouble.

murph