ROPS coming loose!

[chanceu]

I was just swapping implements and I noticed that when I pulled the 3 point arms in and out, the whole bracket moved. The ROPS are attached to the axle and the turnbuckle that adjusts the 3 point arms in and out is attached to the bracket that attaches the ROPS to the axle. Anyone else seen this?

 

[thcri]

What model tractor do you have??

 

[MikePA]

What model tractor do you have??

His profile indicates a New Holland TC24DA

 

[chanceu]

Yes, it's a TC24DA with around 105 hours. I should also mentions this thing with the ROPS is something that has happened over time.

Is this something that happens with normal wear and tear or is this something I should let the deal handle?

 

[Soundguy]

If it's under warranty.. and the rops are loose.. I'd call the dealer... If they have been loose. that may have egged out holes or damaged other parts that are not readily evident unless taken down and reinstalled.

This is a safety device.. don't mess around with it.. get it repaired 1 way or another ASAP.

Soundguy

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I was just swapping implements and I noticed that when I pulled the 3 point arms in and out, the whole bracket moved. The ROPS are attached to the axle and the turnbuckle that adjusts the 3 point arms in and out is attached to the bracket that attaches the ROPS to the axle. Anyone else seen this?

I have a TC24D, which is nearly identical to your TC24DA. I think you are mistaken to say the ROPS is coming loose. I think what you are seeing is the natural flex in the system. The ROPS is designed to work with the tractor and there is some flex, or movement, to it. You can also see it if you drive up to a stout tree and catch the corner of your ROPS on a low limb. Now that said, I can also see the ROPS flex on the B2910 under different conditions. And when I say flex, I am not talking about the ROPS bar bending and returning to shape, I am talking about the whole system moving. It is designed that way.

Disclaimer, since I have not looked at my TC24D for the specific issue you mention, you may have a bolt or two that has come loose? If all your bolts are tight, and everything else is in place, then I believe you are looking at the natural flex built into most ROPS systems. Every tractor will flex, deflect, or whatever you want to call it, in a different way, depending on how the ROPS is designed. Some may flex more, others may flex less.

Check your mounting bolts. If the bolts are tight and all else is normal, I'm sticking with the flex explaination. If the bolts are loose, then you have real issues.

 

[Soundguy]

Uh.. Bob.. unless this guy has the strength of 100 men.. (grin ) then i don't think -anything- should be flexing by him putting his 'hands' on it and moving his 3pt lift arms. If I read his message correctly, his limit chains on his lift arms attach to a bracket that is held to the bottom of the axle with the same bolts that hold the rops on... My NH 7610s is the same way.. just about 4 times bigger... If those brackets and his rops are moving by hand.. while he is hitching an implement then there is some big time issues.. like loose / missing bolts.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[RollingsFarms]

is it loose at the frame of the tractor or at the "knee" where the pins are?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

then i don't think -anything- should be flexing by him putting his 'hands' on it and moving his 3pt lift arms. If I read his message correctly

Chris, I may have easily misunderstood what he wrote. I do know that every tractor I've used has some flex in the ROPS, but as I wrote, you see it when it is pushed up against something like a tree. I did suggest he look for loose bolts, but if all the bolts are tight, and there are many, because it bolts to the axles and then again there are more bolts up at the rear fenders (at least on the TC24D model) so he has places to look.

 

[chanceu]

Soundguy is exactly right. I've attached a parts diagram of the ROPS. Parts #19 and #20 are the brackets that wrap around the axle and you can see on part #20 where the 3 point limit chains attach. When I move the 3 point arm left or right far enough to put tension on the limit chains, I can see these brackets move on the axle. I can also push and pull the ROPS forward and backward and see those brackets move on the axle.

My question wasn't whether this was right or wrong, but whether this was normal wear and tear or not. When I saw it, I knew it was wrong, but I didn't know if I should tighten it myself or make the dealer do it. I will call the dealer tomorrow and see what they say. The biggest problem I have is that I didn't buy it from a local dealer. The dealer I bought it from is about 90 miles aways and the closest dealer (if you call one side of Atlanta to the other close) mainly deals with commercial stuff. The last time I had it there, I felt like a kid with a toy.