Is the ROPS really needed?

[BlacknTan]

Government is for the sheep that need it ...

I prefer to figure out what's good for me for myself

 

[WaxMan]

I sure hope my post doesn't incite the wrath of the safety police, but I would like to get a few thoughts on removing the ROPS. Here is my situation; I have a Grand L with FEL that I wouldn't dream of removing the ROPS from. However, I recently acquired a BX2200 strictly for mowing. During routine maintenance this weekend, I even removed the lift arms, and toplink.

I'm finding the ROPS sure hits a lot of limbs mostly on fruit trees, and even creates a situation causing more trim work. Have also lost a number of peaches recently from the ROPS hitting them.

I know the BX is considered a tractor, and is equipped just like it's big brothers, but, on the other hand, it's not much larger than the JD riding mower I have, which did not even come with a ROPS.

In short, I'm thinking of taking it off. Give me a good reason why I shouldn't.

K

Here is the first Post in this thread way back in 5/6/2012
I see nothing wrong if you the owner of the tractor take it off put it in the shed and when the time comes to sell the tractor put it back on.

Nobody get hurts except yourself, but when you screw with your Rops cut weld change the size on the tractor you own, then sell your tractor to a son or family member of any one of us here on TBN,
Do you still have the right to do what ever you want to the most important safety device on the tractor. Then sell it?
I also don't see anything wrong with cut and weld and buy a new section to install when you sell it.

Everybody has an opinion and this is mine, Mess with it all you want while you own it and put it back that way it was when you sell it meaning a new Rops system for the new owner. But how many will do that. So just don't mess with it.

Its funny as long as I have been following 4shorts that was always his advice also, Don't mess with it.

Just think about it for a minute in the last 20 years look how many Kubota's John Deere's etc were sold. Mostly used by un experienced new operators, how many people do you hear of getting hurt or killed from a Compact tractor rolling over?

It's not that they don't roll over its because they don't get hurt when they do. So its not news.
Why don't they get hurt, Rops. It's the experienced operators that get hurt the ones that know it all.

 

[LD1]

Should I have put a tops on my 1950's international before I sold it?

Should I do so on my 9n before I sell it?

I don't see anyone trying to hide anything. If a buyer were that concerned about it, they would inspect the rops, ask questions about the rops, and if in doubt, replace them.

There are those of us who take responsibility for our own safety, and can only blame ourselves if things go wrong. Then there are those of "you" who want to blame everyone else.

 

[buickanddeere]

Government is for the sheep that need it ...

I prefer to figure out what's good for me for myself

Fine sign away any assistance from police, fire, ambulance , hospital and rehab first. I'm tired of paying upkeep on risk takers that can look after themselves.

 

[buickanddeere]

Here is the first Post in this thread way back in 5/6/2012
I see nothing wrong if you the owner of the tractor take it off put it in the shed and when the time comes to sell the tractor put it back on.

Nobody get hurts except yourself, but when you screw with your Rops cut weld change the size on the tractor you own, then sell your tractor to a son or family member of any one of us here on TBN,
Do you still have the right to do what ever you want to the most important safety device on the tractor. Then sell it?
I also don't see anything wrong with cut and weld and buy a new section to install when you sell it.

Everybody has an opinion and this is mine, Mess with it all you want while you own it and put it back that way it was when you sell it meaning a new Rops system for the new owner. But how many will do that. So just don't mess with it.

Its funny as long as I have been following 4shorts that was always his advice also, Don't mess with it.

Just think about it for a minute in the last 20 years look how many Kubota's John Deere's etc were sold. Mostly used by un experienced new operators, how many people do you hear of getting hurt or killed from a Compact tractor rolling over?

It's not that they don't roll over its because they don't get hurt when they do. So its not news.
Why don't they get hurt, Rops. It's the experienced operators that get hurt the ones that know it all.

The newer tractor have a real drawbar instead of the three point hitch drawbar. The newer tractors also have a lower center of gravity. The newer tractor have more weight and pulling power which reduces the temptation to connect a towed load to the three point hitch top link.
Per make and model of tractor out there. The Ford N series is the most successful operator crusher out there.,

 

[buickanddeere]

If somebody had suggested some safety concerns to the operator 5 minutes before the wreck. Without a doubt the concerned person would have been told by the operator to go away and mind their own business.With the operator also adding that they knew what they were doing.

 

[tcartwri]

Every single commercial mower and tractor I see being used has the rops folded down. Every one.

 

[Citydude]

Every single commercial mower and tractor I see being used has the rops folded down. Every one.

I would hate to be the owner of the company if there is an accident. Liability issues through the roof....

 

[MHarryE]

Industry, not government, was the main driver in ROPS. When people were being seriously injured or killed in rollover accidents, the lawsuits would be against the company with the deepest pockets, usually the manufacturer. Industry, through SAE and ASAE, lobbied to get ROPS and FOPS requirements, and created the standards. And their is no universal requirement that every piece of equipment have a ROPS. There are companies, however, that insist that their machines go out with ROPS even if mot required.

I have had to make all to many trips to investigate fatal or critical injury accidents. ROPS removed or modified? Document and go home - lawsuit will end in summary judgement - thrown out. Seat belt not used? Police reports and medical examiner reports can be gruesome documenting the injuries of people who tried to jump free only to be crushed by the rolling machine.

If you do want to remove your ROPS, like somebody said, remove it and store it in case you want to sell the machine. Any modification will result in decertification.

So if you feel safe driving your tractor without a ROPS, remove it. Nobody is going to come after you. If you, however, hire someone to drive that tractor in its modified form, think twice.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

While the OP was talking basically a riding lawn mower without 3-PH or FEL it is a touchy subject. My late BIL was on 60 year old Ford 600 and he was found under the steering wheel. On the other hand I have had some close calls with large falling limbs when the ROPS on the MF 265 caught a low limb. I have been bush hogging in a few places and made sure I had my seat belt own but now I just let that place (at a neighbor's place) grow up. There is no need to be a cowboy when it comes to unnecessary risks.

I am at the point if it comes with one I will leave it on. I think my BIL got to sliding an a railroad bank (picking up pulled cross ties for a fencing job) and the lower tire dropped in a hole perhaps and flipped. Sadly he had a 1066 parked at the house with an enclosed cab. At age 8 I was operating a Ford 600 solo in remote hilly places and have been lucky and now at 63 I do not feel as lucky I guess knowing what I now know. It is so easy to get killed around even a riding lawn mower. As we age we must keep our minds when driving equipment that weights more than we do.

Just learned from a farmer in WI three weeks ago about using tractors to pack silage. I like to have freaked just thinking about it then just watched the video. I have done my share of dumb tractor driving on steep hills but was able to get headed down nose first with plenty of space to let the tractor run to a level spot. The Multi-Power in LOW can get you killed on the MF 265 when it free wheels down a steep hill before you know it. My son has been told never to run it in Low on hills unless it is to unlock the transmission so you can change gears and then you do it with both feet on the brakes until you get it back into High Multi-Power. My concern is I still forget to do that and so he may as well as a new tractor driver.