b3030 tlb, adding LED lights w/o the upgraded alternator

[Firefighter Kubota]

Should never drill or weld to ROPS. It can weaken it.

Mounting lights to the ROPS is fine and not going to structurally compromise it... If you swiss cheese it with 50 holes maybe... Its just steel...welding light tabs won't either. Assuming you know how to weld.

**** I cut my ROPS down 2 " at the hinge and rewelded it so I can fit in my garage. Warranty issue - maybe . Structural Integrity - No way

 

[dragoneggs]

Mounting lights to the ROPS is fine and not going to structurally compromise it... If you swiss cheese it with 50 holes maybe... Its just steel...welding light tabs won't either. Assuming you know how to weld.

**** I cut my ROPS down 2 " at the hinge and rewelded it so I can fit in my garage. Warranty issue - maybe . Structural Integrity - No way

A welder that really knows what he is doing... sure the weld can be as strong, but to advocate this to anyone but a professional is not wise.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

A welder that really knows what he is doing... sure the weld can be as strong, but to advocate this to anyone but a professional is not wise.

My point was Broncorm's comment that Shatter42580 had weakened his rops by drilling (3) 3/8" holes to mount his lights was silly...

And I did say...Assuming you know how to weld... But welding a 2" light tab to a ROPS be by an amateur or professional is not going to change the structural integrity of a 3/16 - 1/4" thick 3 x 4 tube steel roll bar...

 

[Code54]

I personally put a 6" light bar on the underside of my Rops. Makes plowing snow at night a breeze. It is unreal how much light I have to the front and sides and I am pulling so little power that is a nonissue. I would say it was the best $65 I ever spent on the tractor (that even included my wiring harness and switch)

 

[dragoneggs]

My point was Broncorm's comment that Shatter42580 had weakened his rops by drilling (3) 3/8" holes to mount his lights was silly...

And I did say...Assuming you know how to weld... But welding a 2" light tab to a ROPS be by an amateur or professional is not going to change the structural integrity of a 3/16 - 1/4" thick 3 x 4 tube steel roll bar...

Understand where you are coming from. However good luck convincing an insurance company or an engineer that a weld 'cannot' change the structural integrity of the metal. As I think you are expressing, the real answer is probably not in the case we are discussing... but depending on what is actually done and how it is done, heat can change the strength, ductility, etc and hence the performance of original engineered structure. I know, I know... being a bit **** here but... caution is almost always a good thing.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Understand where you are coming from. However good luck convincing an insurance company or an engineer that a weld 'cannot' change the structural integrity of the metal. As I think you are expressing, the real answer is probably not in the case we are discussing... but depending on what is actually done and how it is done, heat can change the strength, ductility, etc and hence the performance of original engineered structure. I know, I know... being a bit **** here but... caution is almost always a good thing.

Well, an engineer would know better and well, insurance companies are idiots!!:laughing:

And yeah, the heat generated buy my 110V welder on small light tab isn't changing the overall ductile strength of the ROPS.

But I agree, be smart about what one does... To many cliff note mechanics out there