ROPS Clearance

   / ROPS Clearance #1  

JJPWAus

Silver Member
Joined
May 29, 2003
Messages
109
Location
West Australia
Tractor
Iseki TS1910, JD110
I am currently designing a ROPS for my tractor, as no local suppliers exist, just looking for some feedback on the amount of clearance above head height I should allow.
I was thinking of around 500mm (19.6"-20") or so. Any thoughts??
I am 5'9" and really the only person that uses the machine, so should I bother to allow for any 6's??
 
   / ROPS Clearance #2  
I think you need to think about it in different terms.

Under the worst case senario, the tractor is upside down and you are seat belted to the seat hanging there. The ROPS will be below your head and the front of the hood of the tractor will be the other point of contact with the ground. Depending on how your tractor is made, my guess is that in a roll over, the front of the hood will crush down to the radiator? Or some other semi-strong part as the sheetmetal (or plastic) of the hood is not going to support the weight.

SO, if it was me, I would flip open the front hood of my tractor and I would find the strongest thing under there that is likely to take the weight of the tractor in a roll over. I would assume that is the front support point. Then I would draw a line (run a string?) from that point to some point behind my head, but that still allowed clearance over my head of at least 6". That point, which is somewhere in the air both above & behind my head, is the lowest point that I would feel the ROPS needs to be.

I'm not an engineer, but make sure you have somewhere to mount that ROPS to. It will have to be a very strong point, not just bolt it to the fenders.
 
   / ROPS Clearance #3  
Bob,

I'd add that if you rolled it over, the top of the ROPS might sink a couple inches in the dirt--so add that into the equation to find the right heigth.

My two cents.
Ron
 
   / ROPS Clearance
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Thanks Bob & Ron for very sound advice, I am going out to lift the bonnet (hood) right now.
There are substantial mounting points on the rear axle that I intend to use to secure the ROPS to.
 
   / ROPS Clearance #5  
Another idea would be a plate wider than the ROPS (sort of a outrigger pad) welded to the top. This could serve as a bracket for lights and in the event of a rollover, prevent the ROPS from sinking as deep into the dirt. It could also serve as the bracket for a sun canopy. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Mr. Joe
 

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