Backhoe bent rops

[montelatici]

It tales quite a bit of force to bend a ROPs.

 

[IdahoTractor]

O.K. lets cut the crap here. The guy is a liar, by now we all know it. Its just a matter of how mad you want to make the guy and your sister.

You could always ask the guy to borrow a sledge hammer and "accidentally" drop it on the hood of his vehicle. Oops..... :confused2:

 

[twinsticks]

well I got a text he could not show up to look at his handy work he said he will be here on friday morning.... He also said to send him the bill so he could order the parts..... we will see......

Called dealer back you can not order rops seperatly only together that is what kubota told them so it looks like around 550 will know more tommorow

 

[aczlan]

Well, it has to be fixed. Not safe to trust for a rollover as it sits, I would get several quotes for the ROPS parts (at least the lower half), then show them to him and ask him if he is going to pay cash or file with his insurance co. If your Sister is taking his side and it looks like it will be getting ugly, I would drop it. I am all for having him pay for what he broke, but there is a point where a good relationship with ones family is worth more than a $500 ROPS. If it looks like it will be getting to that point, I would put him on my "not allowed to even touch any of my tools" list and let the matter sit until the next time he wants to borrow something.

As the the actual work, I would install it myself if the shop wants $175/hr. That much will buy a set of 1/2" impact sockets, a breaker bar and a set of wrenches. It appears that the replacement of the lower part entails pulling 8 bolts from the tractor and 2 from the ROPS hinge. You and a helper shouldn't have any problem swapping it over.

Aaron Z

 

[hawkeye08]

Sounds like the dirtbag has a lead deficiency. Try injecting him with 124 grns of copper jacketed lead and see if that helps.:thumbsup:

 

[KubieTwo]

At this point, I agree with Dodge. Order the parts and fix it yourself. Responsible people would have brought it home with the copy of the invoice with the part on order. Dirt bags will forever dodge the issue. Spend the $600 and chalk it up to poor judgment on your part for loaning your tractor.

Good luck on changing it out.

 

[kuboman]

Just reminds me of my own rule to never lend nor borrow equipment.:thumbsup:

 

[Lockport]

... Maybe had dug a pit or hole, and the rig fell backward into the hole..

That makes sense. The ROPS's weakest point is not its rollover absorption point of design so he hasn't done that. I cannot see getting enough speed and hitting, say, a large tree limb as I don;t think it goes fast enough to do that type of damage. It couldn't have rolled over back wards as the BH is in the way. However digging a hole and falling into it...I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to lift something out of a deep hole or water reservoir and, being unfamiliar with the Hoe's control, pulled the entire SCUT off balance and right into it.:confused2::confused2:

 

[lawn_king]

Hit something while towing to his location?

Im onboard with this, something VERY BAD occured during transport?

 

[KubieTwo]

Im onboard with this, something VERY BAD occured during transport?

It has been discussed several different ways but I do not think it would take much to bend it while on the trailer. I do not remember reading whether it was loaded facing forward or back. It is possible pulling forward the person forgot to allow for ROPS height and got something without even knowing it. If he was also inexperienced towing anything and as big a klutz driving as he operating a tractor, I could give him that. He couldn't be stupid enough not to realize the position of the ROPS when he unloaded, and how he as acted regarding the accident has not won any favor from this group.

I still say order the parts and fix it. Whatever happens after that simply happens. If he comes to and decides to pay, we would all be surprised.

 

[Baby Grand]

Well, it has to be fixed ... If your Sister is taking his side and it looks like it will be getting ugly, I would drop it. I am all for having him pay for what he broke, but there is a point where a good relationship with ones family is worth more than a $500 ROPS. If it looks like it will be getting to that point, I would put him on my "not allowed to even touch any of my tools" list and let the matter sit until the next time he wants to borrow something ...

Aaron Z

Good advice, Aaron. Give him some space - sometimes pride makes otherwise rational people do really stupid things. If he's a man he will man-up and make it right with you. If he's the slippery type, let's hope your sister figures it out quickly, for her own sake.

-Jim

 

[dodge man]

Yeah, I guess I could understand if you hit something while towing, you might not know it. It is possible.

 

[jnjpream]

If you want to see what kind of force it takes to bend it that way.. Try to bend it back and see what it takes. In actuality it would probably take less to bend it back due to the pre-stressed steel.

Kubota will not sell separate parts of a ROPs (as you now know), ROPS are registered and have serial numbers such that if a liability case came up they can trace materials, factory, etc for evidence.

Definitely get rid of the bent one, like I said before, stressed steel will bend easier than steel right from the forge. If you bend it back to it's upright position, it will bend the third time even easier still. And you sure don't want to be in the seat when that happens.

And as for the sack that bent it, I'd bet your sister will probably put some pressure on him so as to not ruin your and her relationship. That may be the only reason he agreed to "look" at the bill.

Good Luck.

Jeff

 

[chopped]

'''i heard a wise man say if you loan someone $20 and for the rest of your life they avoid you so as not to pay the money back - That is the best $20 you could ever spend!'''
THATS a good one..

 

[Dead Horse]

While perhaps unexpected, and disappointing, $500 is a pretty cheap tuition bill for learning the guy is a scoundrel, now.........

With any luck your sister figures it out...............

Shake the dust of that jerk from your feet and never visit again

 

[lawn_king]

The top five words you never want to hear, (can i borrow your tractor) !!!

 

[twinsticks]

I will never agaign lend my machine out ever !!!!!!!!!!!! You can go rent one , buy one or pay me to do it....

 

[955er]

What ever happened to "blood is thicker than water"? I read this whole thread. Where is your sister sitting on this one? How about she applies a little pressure?

I agree with several earlier statements. The next time he saw the machine, I would have had the part on order and a sincere apology.

Unfortunately, this is what our society is becoming. Nobody wants to be responsible for anything. Say the lie enough times and you start believing it as truth.

This whole thing sucks, but is all too common.

 

[twinsticks]

My sister said he would pay for it but I have yet to see the money!!!

 

[ChuckinNH]

Well, we all know that the ROPS wasn't bent by gently backing into something. (I've "hooked" big branches enough to bring the wheels off the ground on a BX without leaving a mark on the ROPS), but that isn't important at all. We all know the guy isn't an an honest person, or this thead wouldn't exist. We all know too that the tractor was lent in good faith, but with an understanding of the risks involved in loaning things. Some of us also understand that although you may modify another person's behavior, the odds of changing them are very slim so where does that leave us? A damaged tractor that needs to be repaired, and no amount of blame, or talk will change that. Get some other quotes on the parts, and getting it fixed, choose one, and move on a wiser man.