B7800 ROPS Question

[Bob_Skurka]

Art, regarding "illegal" and "OSHA" and modifying a ROPS, I do hope you understand that those types of words and worries only come into play when the tractor is commercially used by a business with employees operating the "modified" piece, and even then, the modifications may not be illegal under OSHA guidelines even if it is against the recommendation of the manufacturer.

For anyone who personally owns a tractor and chooses to do things like drill into the ROPS to mount lights (my dealer actually told me to do that despite the warning in the manual he gave me) it is perfectly legal to modify bolts, ROPS, etc. Heck, you can even choose to take the entire ROPS unit off and sell it for scrap. I live on hilly property and choose to keep mine on, but there is no law or regulation that prevents it. If I roll over and the tractor lands on my head, my widow would not have a very good chance of suing the tractor manufacturer and winning any award, and I might void my warrenty with some tractor modifications, but I can do what I want with my own equipment.

 

[narcnh]

Hey AV,

Like other parts, it hangs to the left. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Many thanks to everyone for the great ideas. I'll probably start low tech and use some grease this weekend. Heck, I got so much on me from playing with the 3PH, I could probably just lube the pins by rubbing them on my Carhartts.

 

[art]

I know what you are talking about on the roll bars as far as what your individual concerns are. When you trade your unit it in, that leaves a trail thru the dealer back to you. You know what you have to do to get by but don't tell the dealer that you didn't Know. The dealer might not allow you what you like. This is real life and i just want to let you boys know what the other side of your use is. I'll tell you both sides like them or not! I'm just giving you the facts of the issue.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Art, I totally agree with the trail back to you. The best protection against any future liability is to disclose modifications when you sell the tractor, it can be written on the bill of sale stating the buyer understands these modifications are not recommended by the manufacturer and may cause a safety issue and the buyer accepts full responsibility and waives all rights against the seller. It is pretty simple and pretty standard, not unlike when a "hot rod" is sold.

In any case, none of it is illegal in any way and OSHA's only involvement would come into play if the unit was sold for commercial purposes and the modification CLEARLY defeated the purpose of a safety device, but OSHA would probably have no problems with 99% of all the modifications to the tractors I have seen on this website.

Understand, OSHA doesn't even require a ROPS, or a seatbelt or a PTO shield to be on a tractor. However, a commercial operation that intentionally REMOVED an existing safety device would probably be liable for any injury that should occur if it operated the equipement without the safety device.

 

[chim]

Check this................chim

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10957

 

[Bob_Skurka]

chim . . . that proves my point.

The only ROPS needed, according to OSHA website are those that were originally on the tractor when the tractor was manufacturered and then the ROPS must meet their certification standards, further any ROPS that was REMOVED must be REINSTALLED (as per the OSHA clause in (b)(5) and then ONLY on commercially used equipment and then it is EXEMPT when the tractor is used inside a barn, greenhouse or out in a vinyard or orchard or when using equipment that interfears with a ROPS, none is necessary on privately owned equipment used by the owner for non-commercial purposes.

 

[chim]

Must have misunderstood your statement that "OSHA doesn't even require a ROPS....". It looked like a blanket "none ever required" statement. Sorry. They do get involved when there are employees, and let Harry Homeowner do as he pleases.


Years ago we had a project where the inspector was going to have us stop trenching work because the subcontractor's backhoe didn't have a ROPS. The excavation was being done in a courtyard, and access was through smallish OH doors through a corridor. There was enough trenching to be done that it eliminated "toy" diggers. When we were able to prove the hoe was manufactured prior to the ROPS requirement, everything was AOK...................chim

 

[Kelvin]

I also have a B2910 (probably the exact same folding ROPS as your B7800) that is sometimes difficult to turn the bolts by hand.

As was mentioned already, I find that moving the top half of ROPS back and forth will intermittantly take the pressure off of the bolt such that it can be turned by hand. More times than not I can find a point to hold the upper portion of the ROPS where I can turn the bolt continuously and freely.

I have not used any grease.

Kelvin