ROPS Bolts

Jag · Mar 14, 2001

Hi guys, a quick question. Was under my tractor checking the bolts and came to the ROPS bolts and they were loose.. Checked with the local dealer who has done work on the tractor and they said to torque the 5/8 bolts to 130 foot-pounds... Sound Ok to you all. Need to check the thread on broken rear axle housing...

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by JAG on 03/14/01 10:14 AM (server time).</FONT></P>

Harv · Mar 14, 2001

Jag -

I just replaced one of my own ROPS bolts a couple of days ago. When I noticed that two of them were loose a while back, I was only able to tighten one of them. The other had bunged up threads and I was barely able to get it off for replacement. Had to order the bolts through a dealer, but no real problems. I don't have a torque wrench at this point, but you guys are making me think I need to get one. A big one. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

We ran an entire thread on this topic a few months ago. You might want to review the "Loose ROPS Bolt" thread.

GlueGuy · Mar 14, 2001

Gee, I know the ROPS is important, and probably undergoes a lot of stress if ever "pressed into use" as it were. However, I would think that 130 ft-lbs is way too high. The ROPS isn't made of that heavy material, so I would think that 130 ft-lbs would crush it quite a bit. Since it's not a rotating part, I would opt for something more in the 25-50 ft-lb range.

The GlueGuy

Pks · Mar 14, 2001

IMHO

I'm not certain that 130 FT-lbs is a safe value. The bolts should be able to handle it but what matters is the parts of the tractor that are being held by the bolt.

On the B2400, the bolts thread into the aluminum trasmission housing. A torque of 130 Ft-lbs would kill the internal threads. If the bolts are U-bolts clamping around an iron axel housing, then maybe 130 is justified.

Also, if the bolts are pinching the ROPS tube, then I suspect 130 Ft-lbs will greatly distort the tube.

Please check with TWO dealers and make sure they know what model tractor you are refering to.

Peter

RobS · Mar 14, 2001

Good idea to double check the torque value but 130 ft-lbs is not an unreasonable torque for a good sized bolt on a tractor. The ROPS tubing could be sleeved to prevent distortion.

The hitch ball on my trailer hitch calls for 450 ft-lbs! No need for a torque wrench... that's just me, standing on a 2 1/2 foot breaker bar /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird · Mar 14, 2001

Jag, I see that some folks think that's too tight, and they may be right; I don't know. I don't find specific torque values in my manual for the ROPS, but in the general specifications for different size bolts, that would be within the proper range. It'll be interesting to see whether you double check it with someone else, but I'm betting that 130 ft./lbs. is going to be about right.

Bird

DFB · Mar 14, 2001

Jag,

I got this info from a chart in my shop manual.

The torque values given for a 5/8 bolt are:

Grades 5, 5.1, or 5.2
125 ftlbs Lubricated
160 ftlbs Dry

Grade 8 or 8.2
160 ftlbs Lubricated
225 ftlbs Dry

On a M16 bolt
Class 4.8
73 ft lbs Lubricated
92 ft lbs Dry

Class 8.8
140 ft lbs Lubricated
175 ft lbs Dry

The manual also states DO NOT use these hand torque values if different torque or tightening procedure is given for a specific application. Torque values listed are for general use only and include a +/-10% variance factor.

In the section on the ROPS installation for my machine no other specific torque values are called out.

Hope it helps.

DFB

Jag · Mar 14, 2001

Thanks guys for the imput.. I checked with a different dealer and the answer came back the same... GlueGuy and others my ROPS tube comes down to and is reinforced welded into a 3/8 inch bottom plate that sits on top of a square axle housing. The four 5/8 bolts on each plate pass by the housing and through a 3/8 plate on bottom of the housing. This bottom plate has a heavy strap that come back form the FEL bracket on the bottom center of the tractor. These bottom plates does not have a reinforcement but has two 1/4 inch backing plate that catches two bolts each... Again THANKS

Anonymous Poster · Mar 14, 2001

And here I thought it was just me ... I found a couple of those ROPS nuts missing and the rest of'em loose when I did the once-over on my newly purchased L2850, with 1500 hours showing.

I used the German torque spec ... "Gudentite" (aka air impact wrench)