ROPS

[Lazy]

Hi
ROPS web page that didn't pass the test. Be careful out there.

charlie

 

[BB_TX]

Sad story. You know the old guy has to be devastated. Just another example of why you should never try to invent your own safety device. Who would have ever guessed the axle housings would have split.

 

[JRobyn]

Can you just imagine how the Dad feels, particularly after he obviously put a lot of care into re-building the original ROPS! Tragic!

 

[btolle]

For those who may be unaware of it, most tractor maunfacturers have a program where you can buy, at a discounted price, a factory ROPS for older model tractors that did not have them.

"The grandfather yelled, but the boy had no time to react, and the
tractor rolled completely over backwards."

For those who prefer not to wear a seat belt there may be a lesson in the above sentence. The theory that "I can jump clear before it rolls" doesn't work too well in the real world.

Bill Tolle

 

[keeney]

RE: <font color="blue"> Just another example of why you should never try to invent your own safety device. Who would have ever guessed the axle housings would have split. </font>

That is why part of the certification process of most safety equipment designs involves actual testing of real machines representative of each design in tests designed to be as "real" as possible. Crash-test dummies, and all that. (with tractors, I think they just use 200lbs of sand-bags strapped in the seat to make sure the CG is about the same as with an operator). As the incident report mentions, its really not feasible for an individual to roll their tractor over to test a home-built (or modified) ROPS.

Many people also don't realize is that the ROPS is designed to protect from rear-flips of the tractor as well as side over-turns. As was mentioned, many ROPS are angled back so as to prevent the tractor from going completely over, and/or to protect the operator somewhat from direct impact with the ground.

- Rick

 

[mark777]

I am always compelled to read any ROPS posts...this one reaffirms my belief that there is no substitute for anything less than tested side to side or end-over roll over protection.

Very sad story.

Regards, Mark

 

[Henro]

I remember reading about this accident a while back, but without the detail that is givin at the site referenced.

Was the real issue seen or not? I should read the report again, but somehow I think an important point was missed.

The retrofitted ROPS was as good as factory issue. It did not fail. Had a factory rops been put on that tractor by the owner the result would have been the same. BECAUSE HE OBVIOUSLY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT SOMEONE HAD REMOVED THE LONG BOLTS THAT WERE NEEDED TO GIVE THE MOUNT FULL, TESTED STRENGTH!

There truly is an important messsage here. If you buy a used tractor, do yourself a favor and make sure the ROPS is mounted properly, as designed, even if it is factory equipment.

Why someone would torch the rops off AND remove important parts of the mounting hardware is a mystery to me. But it was done.

The home-made ROPS did not fail in this case. Whoever removed the mounting hardware (long bolts, etc) is really the guilty party in my view. IN THIS CASE.

One would be crazy to use other than a factor rops in most cases. I don't mean to sound like I am promoting doing that. But in this case the only thing the owner added, was metal above the factory ROPS mounts, to replace what was torched off (you can see the weld in the first photos).

If you buy used, check to see that all factor ROPS mounting brackets, bolt and hardware are still installed on the tractor. I think that is the most important message coming out of this tragedy...

Granted, had the missing hardware been there, the weld on the ROPS might then have become the weak link and failed. Use factory equipment, but if you buy a used tractor don't assume because a factory ROPS is on the used tractor that all is well. Check the mounting system to make sure it is up to factory standards too...

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

Saftey items like a ROPS are well and good, but the most valuable saftey feature ANY piece of equipment can have is a safe operator.

The way that tractor was being used was extremely dangerous, to say the least. Compound that with the fact the 14 year old was the LEAST experienced operator on site. The Grandfather no doubt feels terrible. Rightfully so....In light of what they were trying to do, he should have been operating the tractor. Irregardless, neither one of them should have attemted what they were doing. I've seen that very same thing done, only using the wheel as a "winch" to free a stuck tractor.

THINK before doing.......Always consider just what MIGHT go wrong. Sometimes it does /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[slowrev]

yep a safe operator. The automobile industry concluded after years of extensive research into auto accidents that in almost all of them one piece of hardware caused the "accidents". Which part ? The Nut holding the steering wheel.

 

[goodoleboy]

I bet he will never enjoy working on his place again, and he was just trying to spend sometime with his grandson.

 

[caylor]

goodoleboy,

Your quote says it all...Life is a tough teacher