why not hose clamps

[schmism]

Wouldn't the liability issues only matter if the ROPS failed (e.g., collapsed)? If someone got injured or killed and the ROPS didn't collapse, would it matter if the ROPS had a work light welded to it (assuming the work light didn't injure the operator)?

Even then it doesnt matter. it ONLY matters if you think someone wants to sue a manufacture for something YOU did.

If you simply take responsibility for your own actions, and are comfortable operating the equipment you modified, then there are ZERO liability issues.

 

[ninefinger]

Even then it doesnt matter. it ONLY matters if you think someone wants to sue a manufacture for something YOU did.

If you simply take responsibility for your own actions, and are comfortable operating the equipment you modified, then there are ZERO liability issues.

Yes, There is another out there that believes in a perfect world. Sadly, there are just not enough of us. We are greatly out numbered.

 

[canoetrpr]

Soundguy pointed me in the direction of hose clamps and I have used one to relocate my SMV sign to the ROPS - away from behind the seat where it made it hard for me to access snowblower controls.

It has worked nicely.

 

[Soundguy]

I like em.. I've used hose clamps to hold lamps to an old loader fram with round posts..

soundguy

 

[dqdave1]

Just for thought; If you put a "u" bolt around the ROPS; and attach a light to the "u" bolt; isn't that a modifacation to the ROPS. You "may" have stressed the ROPS at the point of the "u" bolt. See; a lawyer can do anything they want. When the tractor rolled over, the attached light and "u" bolt snapped which hit my client and caused injury. How could the jury argue? I guess anything you touch on your tractor could be a liability.

 

[Soundguy]

Just for thought; If you put a "u" bolt around the ROPS; and attach a light to the "u" bolt; isn't that a modifacation to the ROPS. You "may" have stressed the ROPS at the point of the "u" bolt. See; a lawyer can do anything they want. When the tractor rolled over, the attached light and "u" bolt snapped which hit my client and caused injury. How could the jury argue? I guess anything you touch on your tractor could be a liability.

The only hitch there is that some of those non-drill mods are dealer approved.. IE.. adding a canopy.. which on my fords, either 'sandwhiches' the rops.. or uses u-bolts...

soundguy

 

[rustyanchor]

The curiousity question becomes: Is "Dealer approved" Ford, or any manufacturer approved, and would Ford or 'other' stand behind it as an approver modification in court?

 

[Soundguy]

I'd guess it would depend on who spec'ed the parts.. IE.. if the kits for the canopies are a manufacturer supplied item.. I'd have to say ( as a nonlawyer ) that they are 'defacto' approved. Can't say as to the aftermarket stuff, unless the manufacturer maintains an approved list of equipment.. IE.. I've seen some tell you what backhoe you can or cannot use, with respect to warranty.. etc..

soundguy

 

[dqdave1]

If "dealer" installs it; dealer would probably be held liable; if you install it; you will probably be held liable. ie- how tight did you torque the bolts?

 

[LBrown59]

If "dealer" installs it; dealer would probably be held liable; if you install it; you will probably be held liable. ie- how tight did you torque the bolts?

I don't think such liability applies to the consumer just the dealer/Manufacturer.
~~ ~~~~~ ~~~
I'm not in the business of building or selling tractors therefore such rules don't apply to me.

 

[2manyrocks]

I wouldn't think that hose clamps would be as durable as a U bolt. I don't see a U bolt causing the ROPS to fail, but I could foresee someone being injured if some part of their body hit either the end of the hose clamp or the protruding end of the bolts in a rollover.

I could also see where the light assembly could come loose in a rollover and cause injury--or you could run into a low limb and have the light assembly break off and hit you. It might not be life threatening, but if it cost someone an eye, then there's the liability--as one example.

Neither manufacturers nor dealers want to assume any more risk of liability than they already have for something that they didn't engineer and sell in the first place.

My lights are bolted through factory holes in the ROPS. The benefit of having the lights outweighs my concerns about who to sue if I roll over. Now if I could just figure out how to keep the lights from drawing bugs--

 

[dqdave1]

To keep bugs from lights- do NOT turn them on! LOL