The ROPS is coming off this winter...

   / The ROPS is coming off this winter...
  • Thread Starter
#11  
That works on deciduous trees, and large conifers, not so much on arborvatie and I have a long row of them along the western edge of one of my hayfields and I've taken to using the F series to trim a clear path around all my fields. That way I can keep the offside edge of my discbine away from fence posts. Easier on the sheetmetal.
 
   / The ROPS is coming off this winter... #12  
We do not have big hills on our property and I removed my F-mower ROPS couple of years ago in order to have a better access under our fruit trees.

It would take some serious effort to tip over this thing on our property.

Tractor with a front end loader filled with wet clay is a different story...


IMG_5565.JPG
 
   / The ROPS is coming off this winter... #13  
My M6040 is open station. I only have the ROPS because it is where the canopy attaches. Yes - the ROPS/canopy can be a REAL pita when navigating thru/around my pines.

Nothing wakes you up like a pine limb slap across your face.
 
   / The ROPS is coming off this winter... #14  
My M6040 is open station. I only have the ROPS because it is where the canopy attaches. Yes - the ROPS/canopy can be a REAL pita when navigating thru/around my pines.

Nothing wakes you up like a pine limb slap across your face.
It's even more fun when they have thorns;
flowering crab, quince, locust and such.
opps, forgot one of the worst wild rose bushes, they reach right out and grab you.
 
   / The ROPS is coming off this winter... #16  
My GR2120 has no ROPS, but I absolutely HATE the fact that ALL the "better" lawn tractors now have hydrostatic drives - NOT because I hate hydro but because they force a higher seat on the tractor and it makes it a nightmare to cut under our semi-dwarf orchard. The old Wheelhorse sat low to the ground, and I would love to own a decent quality gear drive tractor that sat that low now, but - they don't make 'em. This was true 9 years ago before I bought the Expletive Kubota. I bought it because it seemed a little lower in height than the John Deere model with the diesel engine and 4 wheel drive, along with being a little less expensive.
I don't understand why it's impossible to buy a decent lawn/garden tractor that doesn't sit so high.
In many other respects, the GR2120 has been a nightmare but this particular one isn't Kubota's fault - it's EVERY machine out there.
Years ago I used to sit behind a Locke 75 inch reel mower on a sulky that was just off the ground. The Locke didn't even require hand steering because it had a bar that allowed you to steer it with your feet. I didn't use the sulky much because it was only good on level ground and the Locke was a pleasure to walk behind anyway, it was mostly a novelty thing.
It seems the lawn care thing has only degraded over the past 50 years, and things have only gotten worse.
 
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   / The ROPS is coming off this winter... #18  
My GR2120 has no ROPS, but I absolutely HATE the fact that ALL the "better" lawn tractors now have hydrostatic drives - NOT because I hate hydro but because they force a higher seat on the tractor and it makes it a nightmare to cut under our semi-dwarf orchard. The old Wheelhorse sat low to the ground, and I would love to own a decent quality gear drive tractor that sat that low now, but - they don't make 'em. This was true 9 years ago before I bought the Expletive Kubota. I bought it because it seemed a little lower in height than the John Deere model with the diesel engine and 4 wheel drive, along with being a little less expensive.
I don't understand why it's impossible to buy a decent lawn/garden tractor that doesn't sit so high.
In many other respects, the GR2120 has been a nightmare but this particular one isn't Kubota's fault - it's EVERY machine out there.
Years ago I used to sit behind a Locke 75 inch reel mower on a sulky that was just off the ground. The Locke didn't even require hand steering because it had a bar that allowed you to steer it with your feet. I didn't use the sulky much because it was only good on level ground and the Locke was a pleasure to walk behind anyway, it was mostly a novelty thing.
It seems the lawn care thing has only degraded over the past 50 years, and things have only gotten worse.

Not sure how low the branches are in your orchard, but perhaps one of these would help?
It works pretty good for us.

1993 Grasshopper 721D.JPG
 
   / The ROPS is coming off this winter...
  • Thread Starter
#19  
I've taken the foldable part of the ROPS off already because that was easy and the rest will get removed this winter when I refinish the floor pan and the hood.

I needed to replace the molded rubber bulb gasket around the cowl that supports the radiator and oil cooler because it was shot and Kubota wants an arm and a leg for it so I went searching on Amazon and found the exact replacement for 1/4th the cost, right down to the metal clips that secure it plus I got a 20 foot roll which is enough to replace it 2 times. Cost was 35 bucks versus a hundred for the OEM Kubota part. Got free shipping too.

Replacing it really cut down on the vibrations produced by the 3 cylinder motor in my unit. I also upped the base idle RPM which also cuts down on the shaking at idle.
 

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