never liked the ROPS now i have a reason

[EastTexCowboy]

I fully understand the logic behind a ROPS and in some cases a seat belt, depending on the situation and equipment. That said, and I know I'll catch flak over this, the first thing I do with a new ROPS tractor or mower is completely remove the ROPS. I've had plenty of injuries when they first added ROPS and none without, with almost 60 years of operating equipment. I'm not recommending this to anyone else, but we're all responsible for our own safety and decisions regarding it.

 

[tjus77]

I don't know where you would put them, but I've knocked off my turn signal lights at least three times each by ninja limbs. I finally stopped buying new ones and just zip tie them back onto the ROPS. But I always leave the ROPS folded down.

 

[Gord Baker]

I was nearly flipped over backwards by the too high ROPS on a Zero Turn. I didn't realize the limb would catch it. Now it remains folded.

 

[charlessenf]

We keep the ROPS down 100% of the time on our eXmark mowers because if a tree limb grabs the ROPS it'll flip you over in a split second. Extremely dangerous.

You blame the tree? You blame the ROPS?
If you read the manuals, I suspect you'll find several points in them that remind you to "be careful."

I would not be at all surprised to find advice similar to "Be aware of your surroundings," or "Watch where you're going" between the covers.

 

[Gord Baker]

You will note that I did not assign blame. Operator error would fit.

 

[charlessenf]

"You will note that I did not assign blame. Operator error would fit."

My apologies, I was responding to the general 'feel' of many of the anti-rops comments over the pages and pages of comments engendered by the guy driving into a tree and indicating it was a ROPS ISSUE.

I had an uncle kill himself on a simple 42" riding mower by driving too close to a recently pruned bush, a limb of which pierced his thigh and femoral artery. He made it onto his porch, sat down and bled out.

Damned lawnmower!

 

[Gord Baker]

"You will note that I did not assign blame. Operator error would fit."

My apologies, I was responding to the general 'feel' of many of the anti-rops comments over the pages and pages of comments engendered by the guy driving into a tree and indicating it was a ROPS ISSUE.

I had an uncle kill himself on a simple 42" riding mower by driving too close to a recently pruned bush, a limb of which pierced his thigh and femoral artery. He made it onto his porch, sat down and bled out.

Damned lawnmower!

So sad. My Condolences.

 

[CliffordK]

Is speed an issue for dangerously whacking into things?

There was a recent post under Safety about a couple of zero turn mower fatalities, presumably without ROPS.

Zero turn fatality

https://www.wmur.com/article/winchester-accident-lawn-mower-fatality/60769686

www.tractorbynet.com

The first with the mower falling over an embankment, and the second with it falling into a ravine.

If you have a manicured flat lawn or field then perhaps the ROPS isn't necessary on the zero turn.

There is an element of torque flipping a tractor over backwards that a zero turn may be susceptible to, but also likely hill, or perhaps obstacle related, or doing something stupid like trying to power out of being stuck.

 

[WinterDeere]

The issue with the ROPS on a zero turn is that it creates a half dozen new hazards, while attempting to eliminate just one. You could argue severity versus frequency, and I’m sure several already have, but it’s just a terrible, unimaginative, and frankly poor solution to the problem.

Manufacturers are going to do the bare minimum of what is required, in most circumstances, and thus we have the standard ROPS. It really doesn’t take a genius to imagine better but more costly solutions to rollover protection.

 

[ray66v]

There is no perfect solution.

Being aware of your surroundings is one of the most critical steps, if not the most critical step, in safe operation of equipment.

I'm willing to bet the ROPS program has done far more good than harm.