Now call me naive or just plain dumb but I was under the impression that all ROPS made for commercial sale in the U.S., whether by an aftermarket company or the OEM, had to be "certified". Is this not the case because everything I have ever read on this subject indicates that depending on the use of the piece of equipment it has to meet one of the certified testing requirements for that machine? The thing is, there are "several" respectable engineering bodies that have certifying standards for ROPS. OSHA is a good and reliable certification but not the only agency or approved engineering standard to certify ROPS. Their standard was developed for companies whose machines were being operated by employees. A machine that is owner operated does not have to have OSHA certified ROPS but that doesn't mean if a tractor has an ISO certified ROPS that an "employee" wouldn't be safe in a roll over. I know that ANSI is a common certification and probably as good as any since they try to standardize many bodies. ASABE, BS, CEN, ISO, MSHA, OECD, SAE, CSA are also ROPS certifications used in the U.S but it appears there are other standards that are accepted as well..
If this guy is selling ROPS that don't have an OSHA sticker it doesn't mean that they do not meet one of the established engineering standards....honestly even if it isn't one of the U.S. engineering bodies standard, it doesn't mean it is inherently a shoddy ROPS. Apparently there is some recognition of certification or engineering standards outside the U.S. also since Hercules ROPS are advertised as being certified and tested to Australian standard AS1636 but nothing pertaining to American Engineering standards...does this mean they are crap? The Chinese tractors use the OECD certification standard, which I think about 30 countries including the U.S. are members of ( even though China and coincidentally Indonesia/VN are enhanced engagement OECD countries but not members of OECD) does that mean you will die if they roll over? I've owned a Jinma ( check out the avatar) and the ROPS are very sturdy and well built so personally....I don't think so.
1danny and LMTC, I have a great deal of respect for you guys and think you are at the top of the list of dealers (along with some of the others here on TBN). I didn't mean to step on any ones toes by posting that ebay auction. I meant only to pass along what I felt was a good deal to fellow TBNers in an act of goodwill. I think ROPS are an important consideration for all grey market owners and a lot of owners cant afford them so when something like this comes around, I thought it might be worth sharing. Honestly, I didn't know the seller was a VN dealer and believe me when I say I dislike the VN tractor sellers as much as anyone and think they are ruining a segment of the tractor market that I am closely involved in and love dearly but if you want to try to lynch him for selling cheap ROPS I don't think its fair to automatically imply that if his ROPS don't have an OSHA sticker you might as well put a gun to your head. If you really think he is selling a dangerous product, either buy a set and have Custom Products test them or even better yet, help everyone out and just turn him in to the Feds now for selling substandard, dangerous ROPS. If it turns out he is selling a good product "way below wholesale price", buy some from him and resell them at a modest mark up and help everyone out that way.
I will post this, if you put " YANMAR TRACTOR ROPS FOR 2000 2310 2220" in ebay's search it should bring them up....$360 is by far the cheapest price I've seen on them anywhere.
