Foldable ROPS problem

[gusg]

Just got my 7510HSD today and I have a ROPS problem. I had a hard time getting the bolts out to fold it down. The left one goes back in easy but the right one appears to be stripped and I can only get it in about 3/4 of the way. I can't tell what condition the nut is in. Has anyone had this problem? It looks like it is easy to get a new bolt from the dealer and install it myself. Hopefully the nut is O.K.

The second part of my question is has anyone traded a foldable ROPS for a fixed ROPS after delivery? I heard it is quite a job to change (I would think that only the top part needs to be changed (4 bolts). One dealer told a poster in an earlier thread that the Serial Numbers of the tractor and ROPS are matched and submitted to Kubota so it is too late to switch. I didn't think that a fixed ROPS would fit in the garage but at a height of 75.5 inches a fixed will fit. The foldable ROPS is about 2" too tall to get into the garage without folding it. It is a pain to put it down and take it up everytime I take it out of the garage and I do not intend on getting a BH. It appeared that the dealer only sold his tractors with foldable ROPS.

Did about an hour of dirt moving today. Love this tractor as much as I did my 7500. In fact Kubota has changed most of what I had a problem with on my 7500.

 

[bugstruck]

If the bolt won't go into the nut it could be a thread issue -or- more likely an alignment problem. Often the nuts are welded just a little off the hole centerlines or angled slightly. That puts the bolt on a bind to the nut. If that's your problem and it's threading in 3/4" (and not destroying the threads) it's nearly in align. Mine was binding in a very similiar description to your's when new. I put some spray lube on and each time it worked in a little more. It's fine now. I'm certain a little metal was lost from a few surfaces and threads but nothing visible.

If your tearing up or stripping the threads as you suspect, you have a more pronounced alignment issue.... which needs the dealers attention. Either way, it shouldn't be a big deal to correct.

HTH

 

[JeffRey30747]

There is only one "sweet spot" where the bolts will go into my foldable ROPS by hand. I use one hand to wiggle the ROPS around til I find it and the other to run the bolts in. I can't see how you could strip the threads on either the bolts or nuts with no more torque than is available "by hand". If you have to use a wrench or pliers, things are out of alignment.

Jeff