ROPS Modification and Lights

[WayneB]

Interesting stuff! I take it that she would be much safer on the Kubota as the ROPS is much higher.............think Orange

 

[ozzie tractor]

BTW, my Kubota dealer informed me that the ROPS is good for three rolls. After that, all bets are off!

i have seen a 90hp fiat with the rops flattened to the top of the loader uprights. 3 rolls? not quiet, one big one, end first. they are not indestructable and depending on how things come down may not survive one roll. the best solution is to keep the machine rubber side down

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I take it that she would be much safer on the Kubota as the ROPS is much higher

Wayne, the height of the ROPS is a function of several factors. Even the placement and angle of ROPS can determine the height of the ROPS bar that is needed. It would probably be a mistake to assume that a higher ROPS bar automatically makes the tractor safer.

Consider the width of the ROPS bar . . . a wider ROPS bar, or a ROPS bar with a hard corner like a JD 790, might make a full roll over less likely than a ROPS bar with curved corners.

In the case of a ROPS bar that was cut down by 10", consider that if the tractor tips the shortened ROPS bar will not break momentium so a full inverted rollover may be more likely than if the ROPS bar was longer and able to stop the roll at a simple tip over.

I also plan on keeping my tractor upright

I think everyone PLANS to do that. The thing that has amazed me over the years is that I've gone up on 2 wheels more often on flat ground than on my slopes. When using something that engages the ground, it is amazing how fast the tractor can begin to tip. We are all aware of safety when working on slopes, near ditches, etc. but a tractor can be tipped over in the middle of a flat field, or on a flat driveway.

 

[Glowplug]

. . . the best solution is to keep the machine rubber side down

Thank you very much Professor Obvious!

I also plan on keeping my tractor upright and to still own it when I die.

You can own it and still be under it!

I wonder if the original poster knew he would get smacked so hard by the safety police. Should have put it in the safety forum.

Sorry, just had to join in on the "fun".

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I wonder if the original poster knew he would get smacked so hard by the safety police.

Just for the record, I'm not trying to be a safety cop. I'm just trying to discuss the concept of the ROPS bar as part of a larger system and how the whole thing works, why it works, and what the effects of a change may be. Further, just trying to inject a little objective discussion about the facts that accidents do happen, despite our intentions and precautions.

It si one thing to have an opinion on if something is safe, but when you have the facts on how a ROPS system is designed it becomes obvious that some things are simply not safe in a rollover. So all that leaves is the question of IF there will ever be a roll. Frankly, the odds are against it. But if it happens, it is likely to be fatal, let's not kid ourselves about that.

 

[Gomer]

Oh yea, gave everone something to do for a couple of days.

 

[WayneB]

Bob, I must say my first posting was done mainly joking, and I did not read all of the earlier postings regarding the subject. Sorry for that.

I do take ROPS systems as important issues and from time to time have found myself with one rear tire off the ground and wondering if it will go over on me. So far I can say I have always been back on all four with no problem.

With me it was a case of living in the country with very poor outside lighting and knowing that when we have a heavy snow storm I am forced to go out and do some plowing during the storm even if it is at night. The standard lights on the tractor are not good enough for working at night.

I have added lights that shine above the FEL and work great! Right or wrong the lights are there and will stay there. It certainly has made driving at night safer.

Regards,

Wayne

 

[Glowplug]

So all that leaves is the question of IF there will ever be a roll. Frankly, the odds are against it. But if it happens, it is likely to be fatal, let's not kid ourselves about that.

ROPS are like insurance policies. Chances are we won't need them. But if we do we're glad we had them.

I am a firm believer in ROPS. In my days on trauma surgery I saw too many probably preventable rollover deaths. In almost all cases it was an older farmer with an older tractor without a ROPS. And most of the time he wasn't doing anything drastic; just minding his business and tractoring as he had for decades.

 

[Glowplug]

the best solution is to keep the machine rubber side down

I'll bet that's what each of the 250 Americans who die in tractor roll-overs each year were thinking too.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

The most important item in safety is COMMON SENSE.

Casco, I'm not picking on your statement but I think that most people would belive a few things about tractors. First and foremost is that if they follow common sense then they will likely be safe. Second is that accidents happen to "other people."

While I freely admit that rolling a tractor is not common, it is far more common than most people think.

• National data suggests that 1 of every 10 tractor operators overturns a tractor in his or her lifetime.
• Tractors in the Northeast states have the highest rate of overturn deaths and the lowest percentage of tractors with ROPS.
• The use of ROPS and a seat belt is estimated to be 99% effective in preventing death or serious injury in the event of a tractor rollover.

 

[Hard]

Gomer, if you have the money for a very nice tractor, and you don't want to expend the energy it takes to put the ROPS up and down to fit your nice tractor into your garage why don't you enlarge you garage door or build a new structure that you can store your tractor without having to go to all that trouble of lowering your ROPS.

I just don't understand why someone would alter a very important safety feature such as a ROPS. You are not smarter than the engineers that designed the ROPS for your tractor. Now you, or someone you loan or sell your tractor to may die because you don't feel like getting off your tractor to lower your ROPS before you drive into your undersized garage.

Happy New Year

 

[whodat90]

Won't somebody please think of the children!

Rops mod looks good.
whodat

 

[MDM]

Use your ROPS how ever you like...JMO. None of the tractors I grew up on had one. How my grandpa ever got by without one, I'll never know. Common sense goes a long way I guess.

 

[Glowplug]

Use your ROPS how ever you like...JMO. None of the tractors I grew up on had one. How my grandpa ever got by without one, I'll never know. Common sense goes a long way I guess.

This just drives me completely crazy!! I almost never go on a rant but . . . . . None of the cars from the '70s had air bags either and they've been proven to save countless lives. Your grandpa got by without one like most people did, they just got lucky and didn't have a roll-over. Chances are you won't have a rollover. But if you do, and you don't have a ROPS, chances are you're gonna DIE! If you happen to have a rollover and you have a seatbelt and ROPS chances are the only thing that'll be hurt is your pride. Common sense has something to do with avoiding a rollover but not a lot. Sure, if you go down a 40 degree hill at 20mph with a full load you're asking for trouble. But I don't think that any of the hundreds of people that die in rollovers every year wake up that morning and think that they are going to die on their tractor that day. As I said earlier, I am a surgeon. The time I have spent experiencing trauma surgery at a level I trauma center totals countless months. I have seen my fair share of tractor rollover debilitating injuries and deaths. And they are usually someone who has no ROPS and is not doing something crazy but just going about their business operating the tractor as they always have. Things can change in the blink of an eye. You could be out enjoying the day on your tractor then something subtle, and seemingly benign, happens to cause a rollover. Next thing you know, you're dead. It's tempting even for me to think that it'll happen to someone else. But I've seen too many people's lives altered or ended suddenly, tragically, and unexpectedly to not take safety precautions with the absolutely utmost seriousness.

Good day.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

It strikes me that, in this specific case, the owner is TRYING to be safe.

• He apparently realized he should have a ROPS.
• He analyzed the situation and gave it a lot of thought.
• He did an excellent job in his work.
• He modified his ROPS so it could be easily returned to factory specs.
• His modified ROPS allows the ROPS bar to be in the UP position.
• He probably believed this was a safe alteration.

All that said, it is not a safe modification for a whole bunch of reasons but mainly because the triangle of safety is dramatically reduced and it is very likely that a rollover will result in a crushed head (unless the owner has a body with an extremely short torso).

Now in my mind, the owner would be better off just lowering the ROPS and not using it all. It would have saved him time and effort and probably been no more unsafe. He could have then kept it down when doing chores like flat land mowing, but raised it up for higher risk tasks like using the FEL to move materials in the front bucket or pulling a sub-soiler on the 3pt, etc.

Personally I feel that this is America and if people want to ride motorcycles without helmets, drive without wearing seatbelts, or operate their tractors without the benefit of a ROPS that is all fine with me. I do think, however, that they should understand the risks they take. Again, in this case I think the owner BELIEVED he did the right thing to protect himself. I simply want to show that it is not so. Beyond that, I don't care to debate the situation if he should be made to do something.


Here is a thread worthy of some thought. A person experienced in the task he was doing. Seriously injured in the blink of an eye. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/92693-i-hope-my-story-will.html

 

[Glowplug]

Personally I feel that this is America and if people want to ride motorcycles without helmets, drive without wearing seatbelts, or operate their tractors without the benefit of a ROPS that is all fine with me. I do think, however, that they should understand the risks they take.

Good point Bob. All this talk makes me want to change my mind and get a tractor with a CAB!!

 

[MDM]

Don't worry. If a surgeon stops by our farm and wants do drive one of our tractors, you can rest assured this country boy will put his butt on one with a ROPS and it will be in the up position.

 

[Glowplug]

Don't worry. If a surgeon stops by our farm and wants do drive one of our tractors, you can rest assured this country boy will put his butt on one with a ROPS and it will be in the up position.

Touche'. Fair enough!

 

[MDM]

I know your intentions are good and I understand what you are saying. Just having a little fun.

Good day. Enjoy your new ride when you get it.

 

[Gomer]

It strikes me that, in this specific case, the owner is TRYING to be safe.

• He apparently realized he should have a ROPS.
• He analyzed the situation and gave it a lot of thought.
• He did an excellent job in his work.
• He modified his ROPS so it could be easily returned to factory specs.
• His modified ROPS allows the ROPS bar to be in the UP position.
• He probably believed this was a safe alteration.

Bob,
You are correct and I appreciate your comments and suggestions