never liked the ROPS now i have a reason

[WinterDeere]

Here's one more observation; if the ROPS were in front of you, you would be less likely to forget it's there. It would also push a branch away from you rather than whack you in the back of the head. I don't like surprises, another reason I keep it down.

Plus, when folded back, it would still make a nice protective halo around you, rather than just giving you an extra thing upon which to bang your head when hooking up a rear PTO driveshaft.

You gotta wonder why tractor companies have not thought of shifting the ROPS at least a bit farther forward.

 

[ptsg]

Plus, when folded back, it would still make a nice protective halo around you, rather than just giving you an extra thing upon which to bang your head when hooking up a rear PTO driveshaft.

You gotta wonder why tractor companies have not thought of shifting the ROPS at least a bit farther forward.

They do. It's called mid mounted ROPS and I wouldn't want a tractor without it. Those are mostly offered in orchard/vineyard tractors because when folded, it makes for a really low profile.

The only con I see, is that on some models, you have to lift if to open the hood. Not really a big deal, specially since 2018-ish, all mid mounted ROPS in Europe have a gas strut to aid lifting. You can literally lift it with one finger. Branson actually updated the hood design to correct this minor issue with this style of ROPS.

Other than that, you won't get a ROPS to bang your head when hooking implements, also it's within your view range, so you tend to be aware if you're going to hit something.

 

[DaBear3428]

bottom line for me is that after 50 years of using tractors the closest call i have personally had was caused by the ROPS being up.

 

[SARG]

I need them up for the three canopies.

 

[WinterDeere]

I need them up for the three canopies.

View attachment 868089View attachment 868090

How do you expect to ever achieve that Jack Palance leathered tough-guy look, while riding around under a canopy?!?

 

[SimpleSimon]

and this is what you look like after a branch smacks you

 

[DaBear3428]

no this is what it looks like after a branch smacks you

 

[SimpleSimon]

no this is what it looks like after a branch smacks you

yes, that's really bad. I was trying to be funny, but it isn't.

 

[DaBear3428]

lol I took your comment as humor and was responding with my twisted humor. all good in the neighborhood.
if i cannot laugh at my self then I would truly be in trouble.

 

[CliffordK]

I've started mowing into my No-Go zone!!! 30° to 45° slope.

The ROPS stays up. And while I'm not a big fan of seat belts, on this tractor, there is not a chance of safely jumping free.

However, I'm now thinking a FOPS cab with expanded steel mesh windows would have been better than plunging through blackberries and watching blackberry vines brush past my face.

So, a home workshop project is coming up shortly.

 

[CliffordK]

no this is what it looks like after a branch smacks you

Not even a scratch in the paint... well, that I can see.

 

[DaBear3428]

Not even a scratch in the paint... well, that I can see.

its a dozer and it is suppose to have scratches

 

[Rhino35]

I'm looking at new Cub Cadet zero turn mowers and these new ones, especially their Pro Z series, look like a high sitting height compared to my past smaller zero turn mowers. They have ROPS that can go straight up, or lay back flat, at at least one middle position.

In one middle position I saw in a YouTube video review my head height looks higher than the ROPS bar - so it shouldn't catch on a tree branch.

My question is...can an intermediate position with seatbelt really save you in a rollover?

 

[Runner]

I'm looking at new Cub Cadet zero turn mowers and these new ones, especially their Pro Z series, look like a high sitting height compared to my past smaller zero turn mowers. They have ROPS that can go straight up, or lay back flat, at at least one middle position.

In one middle position I saw in a YouTube video review my head height looks higher than the ROPS bar - so it shouldn't catch on a tree branch.

My question is...can an intermediate position with seatbelt really save you in a rollover?

JD says don't wear the seatbelt if the ROPS is down. What I get from that is that they must think you have a better chance getting off/away from the machine than by staying on with folded ROPS. Still, folded or deployed, it has to be better than nothing. ZTR's seem to have such a wide stance, it's hard for me to see how you could roll one, but it can happen, I guess.

 

[Jims1025R]

A seatbelt once saved my life,literally, and I still broke it off the structure - but that's a different story. If a rollover is the slightest risk, wear the seatbelt. As a firefighter, I attended many too many rollover accidents of farm equipment, and road vehicles where the use of a seatbelt would have kept the victim near to the center of the machine, so it did not crush them. Sadly, human's natural reaction is to try to prevent an anticipated rollover, so sticking out some body part, thinking they have the strength to overcome the rollover forces. On your bicycle, fine, anything bigger, have yourself already held in centered against your own instincts!

 

[WinterDeere]

ZTR's seem to have such a wide stance, it's hard for me to see how you could roll one, but it can happen, I guess.

I can see rolling one over backwards, much more than to the side, but there's actually quite a few photos, videos, and news stories of people rolling them sideways.

I will say, I had the mower deck off mine last winter for some work, and the front is so light without the deck mounted that I could life the tires off the ground with two fingers. When I had to move it from shop to shed, it was tempting to punch the control and see if I could ride it wheelie, but figured I'm not that lucky.

 

[DaBear3428]

tractor roll over with out ROPS and a seatbelt in use == dead operator. and a clear case of the equipment manufacturer negligence, so they are not going to recommend it in the safety labels, the chances of getting away from a rolling tractor is slim at best but at least it is your negligence not the safety equipment.

 

[70chevellegsp]

Had an experience with my ROPs yesterday while folded down. A buddy gave me his old rusted out cone spreader. I spent a few evenings cutting fabricating and welding new metal at the bottom of the cone. My ROPs was folded down and I guess I must have adjusted my hydraulic top link too far in and folded the top of the cone when I raised the spreader. (hit the folded ROPs) Didn't care too much until I was cleaning out the spreader and noticed that it also dented in 2 area below the rim. Pounded those out and that effected the lower area. I'll have to get out the body hammers today and hope I don't have to break it all down again to repair. I spread 2000# of lime and fertilizer yesterday.

 

[CliffordK]

I saw this on Facebook today. I think it is the perfect solution for your ROPS dilemma.

 

[Gord Baker]

I think it would have worked.