Found this "Don't Modify ROPS" lesson

[herdfan]

Found this \"Don\'t Modify ROPS\" lesson

Doing some web surfing during a rare slow-down at work and found this story. Pretty scary.

Skid Steer Head Crush

 

[slowzuki]

Re: Found this \"Don\'t Modify ROPS\" lesson

The modified rops didn't fail I see. Too bad the fellow didn't have his seatbelt on.

Those skidsteers can be very tippy.
Ken

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Re: Found this \"Don\'t Modify ROPS\" lesson

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The modified rops didn't fail I see. Too bad the fellow didn't have his seatbelt on. )</font>

N o mechanical failure, but apparantly the shortening made it less safe. Sad, because he was actually trying to be safe...

 

[Henro]

Re: Found this \"Don\'t Modify ROPS\" lesson

It seems that without a screen or something else across the top to keep the person within the safety zone, the result could have been the same even if the top was 2 feet higher... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

For me, the strongest message in that report was the importance of wearing the seatbelt when on a ROPS tractor.

 

[Renze]

Re: Found this \"Don\'t Modify ROPS\" lesson

..The skid steer was still in use ??

I would have sold it right away, if there were marks of the fatal accident on it that make you remember the accident every day...

I know of someone who had a Belarus articulated tractor, the brakes failed, and at 40 km/h he was driving into a Mercedes car at a narrow road with trees on both sides. The Mercedes was crushed, and the owner didn't use that tractor for 5 years. After those 5 years, a contractor in my area bought it.

 

[herdfan]

Re: Found this \"Don\'t Modify ROPS\" lesson

True. He'd may have walked away if the seat belt was used.
I saw another one where an 80 year old man was using his 3 point hitch to raise and lower himself onto the tractor since he was too feeble to get into the seat on his own (uh - how did he steer and stop), slipped off the 3 point and got his ankle pinned. He was found 3 days later, dead from exposure.

 

[RonR]

Re: Found this \"Don\'t Modify ROPS\" lesson

I drove tractors without ROPS for 40 years (on and off) and never worried it. Then the safety cabs came out, and ROPS on all newer tractors. Now, I wouldn't want to operate anything bigger than a riding lawn mower with a ROPS. Most manufaturers offer reasonably (I hope) priced ROPS for earlier models of their tractors. If I ever buy an older model tractor, one of the conditions of purchase will be if I can find a ROPS to fit it. No ROPS available, I won't buy it.

I do feel strongly about them.

Best wishes.
Ron

 

[herdfan]

Re: Found this \"Don\'t Modify ROPS\" lesson

One reason I just bought a new tractor was for the ROPS. Second was for 4WD since I'm in "hill country." My old 2WD Ford w/o ROPS will still be used for the flat areas, but after using ROPS and seat belt, I'm even more aware of grades when using the Ford. Now I only wish I had FOPS since a tree limb almost konked me on the head while pushing over a tree - guess a hardhat will have to do for the time being /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif