Replacing Bolts On ROPS With a Hitch Pin????

[AGTtactical]

I do not know if you have priced Kubota OEM replacements.
Kubota only sells the ROPS hinge bolt (fine thread) and the ROPS pinch bolt (coarse thread) as a two piece unit at about $45.00. No reason both could not be fine or coarse thread, making them interchangeable. Shame on Kubota.
I paid that once, thinking they were metric.
Then I went to my local Ace Hardware and found both bolts are inch standard.
Then I found the clevis on eBay for $2.03!

I would have though they were metric too.

I think that ebay pin might be Grade 1, which is low carbon, more malleable, less hard and shears more easily. Clevis Pin Universal 9/16 x 4 Low Carbon Steel Zinc Clear (8 Pieces) | eBay. Wish I could find one in Grade 8...what do you think Jeff? The factory bolt doesn't look like its any better.

 

[jeff9366]

I think 9/16" is a rare size.

Google search turns up several venders. I am not going to research grade.
Erected, the upper ROPS bears on the lower ROPS. The bolt/pin is only a hinge and alignment fitting.
I am happy.

LINK: 9/16" diameter clevis pin - Google Search

 

[AGTtactical]

Good point...thanks again Jeff...VERY helpful info. You are the best! Any rattling? Sounds like a pretty tight fit.

 

[jeff9366]

No rattling. NONE.

When I filed four of the fatter eBay clevis pins to remove burrs, they seemed medium hard, certainly not soft. ( EBay 9/16" clevis pins were manufactured in India. )

1/16" is only 6.25% diameter decrease. Kubota probably has the OEM hinge bolt spec'ed at 300% of likely stress load.

I am happy.

 

[aczlan]

Erected the upper ROPS bears on the lower ROPS. The bolt/pin is only a hinge and alignment fitting.
I am happy.

Unless you roll over while sliding down a hill or with any forward motion, in which case the bolt is critical to prevent the ROPS from flipping back and letting the tractor land on your head...

Aaron Z

 

[jeff9366]

ACZLAN: I respect your posts. But I come back to:

"If you quit erecting the ROPS because inserting the two kubota bolts at brow level is such a pain, you may get crushed in a tractor rollover."

 

[jeff9366]

From your... browsing.... at RK, do you have an opinion on the overall RK tractor construction?
There is no RK store anywhere near me.

No. I just browsed. I could not give a reasoned opinion.

My concern would be service. I do not know how many Rural King stores have competent tractor service. If your local RK has to trailer your ill tractor to a central repair facility, what will the repair time be? And who pays for that expensive transport?

I have purchased two new Kubotas from my local Kubota dealer, Suwannee River Kubota, six miles from home. Always a good experience buying. Always satisfactory service although expensive. RK may have cheaper machines but I prefer service near, even after seven years with two Kubotas.

There is a Rural King in Gainesville, 40 miles east of me and a Rural King in Crystal River, 40 miles south of me. So 80 miles round trip, to visit either Rural King.

 

[WranglerX]

I would have though they were metric too.

I think that ebay pin might be Grade 1, which is low carbon, more malleable, less hard and shears more easily. Clevis Pin Universal 9/16 x 4 Low Carbon Steel Zinc Clear (8 Pieces) | eBay. Wish I could find one in Grade 8...what do you think Jeff? The factory bolt doesn't look like its any better.

Stop using ebay and go to Grainger or MCMASTER or some industrial supplier that specialized in bolts and nuts of all grades... Stop buying unknown grade bolts/pins on ebay where quality may be nonexistent...

I am of the opinion if you cant find it at MCMASTER it probably does not exist...

Dale

 

[jeff9366]

Along with "chasing" the threads and lubrication so the bolt turns easier I'd put a nail or something through the hole in head of the nut to give more leverage to turn it.

The hole was 1/4" before bolt was plated with rather thick zinc. I drilled out the hole in two stages to 1/4" then inserted a 1/4" X 2" roll pin for leverage. Better, but still a struggle to position and screw in lubricated Kubota bolt while lining up the ROPS with one arm.




Interesting that one of the "cup holder" type bays on the operator's console has a channel cut on the inner side, so two ROPS bolts will fit in the bay with an inch of the bolts and perpendicular hairpin clips protruding through the channel.

 

[fried1765]

No. I just browsed. I could not give a reasoned opinion.

My concern would be service. I do not know how many Rural King stores have competent tractor service. If your local RK has to trailer your ill tractor to a central repair facility, what will the repair time be? And who pays for that expensive transport?

I have purchased two new Kubotas from my local Kubota dealer, Suwannee River Kubota, six miles from home. Always a good experience buying. Always satisfactory service although expensive. RK may have cheaper machines but I prefer service near, even after seven years with two Kubotas.

There is a Rural King in Gainesville, 40 miles east of me and a Rural King in Crystal River, 40 miles south of me. So 80 miles round trip, to visit either Rural King.

Thank you for the response.

Nearest tractor dealer (of any type) is 100+ miles away, so dealer proximity is essentially a non issue for me.

I have a 3 year old 14K equipment trailer.

Maybe not convenient, but basically I could go anywhere for a dealer/warranty repair.