ROPS Modification

[kenmac]

You maynot have time to push the cluch in to stop a roll over. I read somewhere that it only takes 3/4 of a sec. for a tractor to reach the point of no return in a rear flip and only 1&1/2 sec to flip all the way over .Not enough time to react.

 

[Dave_Lilly]

I appreciate your reply, but I wonder how your customers died if the ROPS was not damaged. I was under the impression that the ROPS was to protect against a side rollover. I have been using a Ferguson TO30 and a Farmall A for many years and the only time I came close to a rear rollover was when I hooked a chain to the top bar on the Farmall A. The pull was too far above the center of gravity of the tractor, so the sucker reared before I pushed in the clutch. I have pulled a double 10" plow and a 5' bushhog with the Ferguson and have caught ground obstructions many times. The only problem was that the rear wheels spun and dug holes. My neighbor, who borrowed the Fergie, decided the grader blade would be a good tool to pull out stumps. He tore up my grader blade and never did a reverse rollover. The pull on a three point hitch is below the center of gravity, so if an inplement is snagged the tractor will tend to pull the front end down.

 

[Dave_Lilly]

Thanks Bigbear,
After looking at the attachment points for the ROPS (8 bolts through 1/8" fender and 1/8" bracket I wonder what would fail first, a rewelded ROPS or a tearout of the mounting bracket bolts.

 

[greg_g]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( After looking at the attachment points for the ROPS (8 bolts through 1/8" fender and 1/8" bracket I wonder what would fail first, a rewelded ROPS or a tearout of the mounting bracket bolts)</font>

Maybe this is a project you should reconsider. Fenders often use the ROPS as an attachment point, not the other way around. ROPS are almost exclusively attached to the rear axle housings.
Try looking at this from a different perspective. What would you do - if you bought a dog that was too big to fit through your dog house door?

//greg//

 

[TruChaos]

Buck makes some very good points here. When I bought my tractor, the ROPS was the last thing I considered. My tractor will be used on pretty much flat ground so the chances of rolling over are slim to none.

Or so I thought.

This afternoon. I was moving a crate across the driveway. I had to turn the crate slightly as I moved it. So I connected a tow strap to the crate and connected it to the FEL bucket.

When I connected the strap, one end had a little more play than the other. I thought the strap would slip and evenly distribute the load. So as I lifted the FEL, the weight of the crate was distributed to that side of the FEL with the short end of the strap but, the strap didn't slip. In half of a second, the tractor tipped up on to two wheels and nearly rolled over. I wasn't even moving!

I realized at that point how having the FEL in a raised position dramatically raises the center of gravity of the tractor and even moderate side loads can tip the tractor very quickly and unexpectedly.

The other thing I noticed was that I've never installed the seat belt. I could have easily fallen out of the seat and been pinned between the ROP and the ground had it rolled over completely. I'd say this would have been very likely.

The seat belt gets installed this weekend!

 

[Boltonpower]

Luckily you're O.K. but all to often the story doesn't have
a happy ending. ALWAYS wear your seat belt and as I do,
keep a clean pair of shorts in the tool box /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Graham