Remove ROPS for mowing?

[Bob_Young]

I've come to the same conclusion, ddRick. Even with the ROPS folded, I've done far too much damage with it on my B7610...and I've only put 3.5 hrs. on the tach. I bought the tractor to mow under and around the trees....the trees aren't there for the tractor. My goal is to get the ROPS off before next weeks mowing. I have LOTS and LOTS of small trees to mow around.

I've been operating tractors since the mid 60's, some with FELs, and, until last year, never operated one with a ROPS. In all that time there was never a rollover; neither myself nor anyone I worked with. And many of these were high CG Ag tractors operating on hilly terrain. No one can make me believe a ROPS is necessary for safe tractoring. What is necessary is caution, close attention to what the tractor is doing, and good sense. However, you can spread your attention only so thin. If you're constantly watching for what the ROPS might hit, a good bit of the attention you should be devoting to where the wheels are going has been diverted. In this sense the ROPS detracts from safety in spite of the good intentions behind it.

Sorry about the rant. I get upset everytime I think about how much I just spent to buy something that, for me, is purely a problem. For years I've endured mowing with tall tractors with tall stacks while dodging the limbs and branches that whipped back in my face. All the time promising myself that if I ever bought a tractor it would be low with side exhaust. Now I've got two tractors like that and what:
-limbs hit the ROPS and lever forward to hit me in the back of the head
-limbs hit the ROPS and break off to fall between the ROPS and my back
-big limbs or a tree leaning toward the tractor hit the ROPS and raise the front end while getting the bark torn off them
---and all this with the ROPS folded. If the ROPS were up, the machine would be nearly useless for my purposes. If this is safety, I don't need it.

As to the comment about dealer service; that's just one more reason to buy Kubota. Once they're out the dealer's door, they don't need to go back.
/rant off
Bob

 

[Bob_Young]

I've come to the same conclusion, ddRick. Even with the ROPS folded, I've done far too much damage with it on my B7610...and I've only put 3.5 hrs. on the tach. I bought the tractor to mow under and around the trees....the trees aren't there for the tractor. My goal is to get the ROPS off before next weeks mowing. I have LOTS and LOTS of small trees to mow around.

I've been operating tractors since the mid 60's, some with FELs, and, until last year, never operated one with a ROPS. In all that time there was never a rollover; neither myself nor anyone I worked with. And many of these were high CG Ag tractors operating on hilly terrain. No one can make me believe a ROPS is necessary for safe tractoring. What is necessary is caution, close attention to what the tractor is doing, and good sense. However, you can spread your attention only so thin. If you're constantly watching for what the ROPS might hit, a good bit of the attention you should be devoting to where the wheels are going has been diverted. In this sense the ROPS detracts from safety in spite of the good intentions behind it.

Sorry about the rant. I get upset everytime I think about how much I just spent to buy something that, for me, is purely a problem. For years I've endured mowing with tall tractors with tall stacks while dodging the limbs and branches that whipped back in my face. All the time promising myself that if I ever bought a tractor it would be low with side exhaust. Now I've got two tractors like that and what:
-limbs hit the ROPS and lever forward to hit me in the back of the head
-limbs hit the ROPS and break off to fall between the ROPS and my back
-big limbs or a tree leaning toward the tractor hit the ROPS and raise the front end while getting the bark torn off them
---and all this with the ROPS folded. If the ROPS were up, the machine would be nearly useless for my purposes. If this is safety, I don't need it.

As to the comment about dealer service; that's just one more reason to buy Kubota. Once they're out the dealer's door, they don't need to go back.
/rant off
Bob

 

[RobJ]

Consider something about the trees and how you want them to look in 15-20 years. If there is a limb at 6' off the ground it will always be about 6' off the ground. Best time to trim it is when the tree is young so the growth energy can be used in the parts of the tree elsewere. Remember a tree grows from the ends, the trunk only gets bigger around.

So if you have oaks or something that you will eventually trim up to 6-8 feet, best to do it now. Otherwise remove the rops and mow away!!

 

[RobJ]

Consider something about the trees and how you want them to look in 15-20 years. If there is a limb at 6' off the ground it will always be about 6' off the ground. Best time to trim it is when the tree is young so the growth energy can be used in the parts of the tree elsewere. Remember a tree grows from the ends, the trunk only gets bigger around.

So if you have oaks or something that you will eventually trim up to 6-8 feet, best to do it now. Otherwise remove the rops and mow away!!

 

[Tom_H]

JD's largest "garden tractor" is a 25 HP diesel, comes with FEL, rear Cat 1 3ph and PTO, and is actually larger than their smallest Sub-Cuts. The slightly smaller Sub-Cut comes with ROPS. The slightly larger "garden tractor" does not.

Also, someone mentioned that there is now an aftermarket foldable ROPS available for BX18xx, 22xx, and 23xx series models. I wouldn't think swapping this out would void a warranty or prevent a dealer from working on a tractor, but thats just MHO.

 

[Tom_H]

JD's largest "garden tractor" is a 25 HP diesel, comes with FEL, rear Cat 1 3ph and PTO, and is actually larger than their smallest Sub-Cuts. The slightly smaller Sub-Cut comes with ROPS. The slightly larger "garden tractor" does not.

Also, someone mentioned that there is now an aftermarket foldable ROPS available for BX18xx, 22xx, and 23xx series models. I wouldn't think swapping this out would void a warranty or prevent a dealer from working on a tractor, but thats just MHO.

 

[teachdocs]

Use the ROPS and seatbelt for safety.

With that said, safety is defined differently by different folks.
I can be much "safer" on my BX with the ROPS removed than my wife can with using the ROPS and seatbelt. It has to do with experience, common sense, and paying attention. She just doesn't have as much experience. (the other two qualities are debatable) /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

One of the reasons I purchased a ZTR mower was for the trees. I have several hundred trees that I mow around and I had to remove the ROPS to get it done effectively. There is only so much pruning you can do to a tree. It became a hassle to remove and install the ROPS for mowing vs. other work. I found myself "scheduling" similar tasks so I wouldn't have to deal with the ROPS as often. My mowing does not require a roll over protection, but my other FEL and BH work does. Folding it down seemed to damage just as many trees.

Now, I leave the ROPS on almost all the time and do the tree mowing with the ZTR.

You can see my previous solution in this picture. I purchased the yellow slip covers from Lowe's. They are ladder protectors. Fit perfectly. Put a little grease on the insides and they slip off and on easily.

BX ROPS protectors

Remember - if you use the ROPS then use your seatbelt. If you do not use your ROPS or use it in a folded down position, then do not use your seatbelt. The owner's manual for my ZTR is pretty clear about that safety point.

Be safe. Accidents happen to experienced operators as well.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[teachdocs]

Use the ROPS and seatbelt for safety.

With that said, safety is defined differently by different folks.
I can be much "safer" on my BX with the ROPS removed than my wife can with using the ROPS and seatbelt. It has to do with experience, common sense, and paying attention. She just doesn't have as much experience. (the other two qualities are debatable) /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

One of the reasons I purchased a ZTR mower was for the trees. I have several hundred trees that I mow around and I had to remove the ROPS to get it done effectively. There is only so much pruning you can do to a tree. It became a hassle to remove and install the ROPS for mowing vs. other work. I found myself "scheduling" similar tasks so I wouldn't have to deal with the ROPS as often. My mowing does not require a roll over protection, but my other FEL and BH work does. Folding it down seemed to damage just as many trees.

Now, I leave the ROPS on almost all the time and do the tree mowing with the ZTR.

You can see my previous solution in this picture. I purchased the yellow slip covers from Lowe's. They are ladder protectors. Fit perfectly. Put a little grease on the insides and they slip off and on easily.

BX ROPS protectors

Remember - if you use the ROPS then use your seatbelt. If you do not use your ROPS or use it in a folded down position, then do not use your seatbelt. The owner's manual for my ZTR is pretty clear about that safety point.

Be safe. Accidents happen to experienced operators as well.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ESM]

How about adding mulch around the tree so you don't have to mow under it. I've pruned most of my trees high enough to so that they do not interfere with the ROPS but I have a few fruit trees where I didn't want to remove the lower branches so I just added mulch out to the drip-line of the tree. Mulch is good for the tree, it keeps your ROPS out of the branches and it makes mowing easier.

 

[ESM]

How about adding mulch around the tree so you don't have to mow under it. I've pruned most of my trees high enough to so that they do not interfere with the ROPS but I have a few fruit trees where I didn't want to remove the lower branches so I just added mulch out to the drip-line of the tree. Mulch is good for the tree, it keeps your ROPS out of the branches and it makes mowing easier.