PT Safety Modifications

[BobRip]

Bob, do you do much work in the woods? I was just wondering, because I'd likely rip off a mirror mounted where your new ones are, banging it on trees, etc. I've actually punched the right headlight hard enough with a tree limb to knock the bulb loose and back into the rubber housing -- and the headlights are INSIDE the ROPS...

Kent, you got me thinking. I wonder if mouting the mirror inside the ROP pole would help. It would block a little forward vision, but might be alright. I will try it. Should only take a few minutes to change. Thanks for getting me thinking. That's what we do here isn't it.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Kent, yes I do go through the woods a lot. Nine of my 10 acres is in woods. I will try to be careful. I really only intended to use the mirror on the road since you have a good view behind normally. I have the lights mounted under the ROPS and so far none have been destroyed. I did have to replace the flashing light on the back top of the ROPS once. That's in a sucide postion. I probably should have shopped around for a cheaper mirror and may regret spending $45 on this one.

You could do something like this

Pegasus - Wink Jr. Mirror: 3 Panel - 21 inches Long
Or
Legends Racing 975000X047 Rear View Mirror@ RACEPARTSUSA.COM Oval Track Racing Parts and Accessories

Or if you decide to put spinners on your 425 and maybe lower it you could go this route...
Dual 4.2" LCD/TFT Rear View Mirror/Reverse Parking System w/Camera

 

[BobRip]

Kent, you got me thinking. I wonder if mouting the mirror inside the ROP pole would help. It would block a little forward vision, but might be alright. I will try it. Should only take a few minutes to change. Thanks for getting me thinking. That's what we do here isn't it.

I tried putting it inside the pole and I go a good view of my left shoulder. I put it back and adjusted the backet so that the mirror can fold backwards quite a bit if hit by something. This should help. You know it's inside the tire outer dimensions, so it might be a little difficult to hit something really solid. Overhanging branches may hit it of course. I will drive through the woods tomorrow and see if I can expose to hazards, hopefully without damaging it.

 

[RegL]

I plan on getting some kind of mirror for on the road but I'm afraid a nice one like that would last me about 2 minutes mowing under brush in the woods . If the PT wasn't all steel it would be in the scrap heap by now. How about a mirror attached to some kind of large spring clamp so you could just use it when on the road. As for as backing up, I would rather just turn around and look directly where I am going.

 

[BobRip]

I plan on getting some kind of mirror for on the road but I'm afraid a nice one like that would last me about 2 minutes mowing under brush in the woods . If the PT wasn't all steel it would be in the scrap heap by now. How about a mirror attached to some kind of large spring clamp so you could just use it when on the road. As for as backing up, I would rather just turn around and look directly where I am going.

It can now fold back if it hits some thing.

 

[J_J]

I plan on getting some kind of mirror for on the road but I'm afraid a nice one like that would last me about 2 minutes mowing under brush in the woods . If the PT wasn't all steel it would be in the scrap heap by now. How about a mirror attached to some kind of large spring clamp so you could just use it when on the road. As for as backing up, I would rather just turn around and look directly where I am going.

To all. Why block your view? Why not put a large mirror under the ROPS, center, or one in each corner It has worked for cars for a long time now. That's where mine is. Mine is curved, good for seeing if anyone is behind the machine. For backing, I turn my head and look.

 

[BobRip]

To all. Why block your view? Why not put a large mirror under the ROPS, center, or one in each corner It has worked for cars for a long time now. That's where mine is. Mine is curved, good for seeing if anyone is behind the machine. For backing, I turn my head and look.

J_J how about a picture. I have a center mirror and I need to drop it a little because I have a light handing down from underneath the back of the ROPS.

I am reasonably happy with the new mirror I have added. Ten minutes of use and it has not broken yet. And actually it has been in the garage all night and not broken yet.

 

[ddonnell]

I have one of those Pegasus type mirrors on my golf cart (See Woodlandsfarm post #12) and it works great there. It's tight to the top so no vision obstruction and mounts to the vertical canopy struts. I don't know if they make one that would fit exactly between the ROPS supports but I doubt if that would pose much of a problem with anyone in this group.

 

[KentT]

I guess I'm cheap -- I used one of the cheap soft plastic trailer-towing mirrors that you strap on to existing mirrors. I mounted it up under the center of the ROPS, just behind the cross-bar. Though this picture doesn't show how it's mounted, it does show its location:

http://www.simpletractors.com/subsite/2_IMG_0099.JPG

It doesn't really obstruct my view since it's higher than my line of sight, and gives a reasonably good view of what's behind me when I'm tramming in a straight line -- which isn't very often, or very far.