Hardware cloth or plexi on ROPS when brush hogging?

[Teikas Dad]

I got my Woods rotary cutter and before I use it I want to make sure I'm taking reasonable safety precautions.

I'm going to get a woodcutters helmet with face shield and ear protectors to wear while cutting brush.

I'm also thinking about adding either a sheet of plexiglass or welded steel hardware cloth (1/4" opening) to the back of the ROPS as an added safety measure.

The other thing I thought about, at least on the lower half of the ROPS is to get some of the thick rubber mat that TSC sells. Figured cut it to the width of the ROPS and zip tie in place.

Any suggestions, comments or advice? Does one method work better/safer than the other?

Thanks

 

[whistlepig]

All of these are excellent safety precautions. I have safety chains on the front of my Woods rotary cutter and I have never hit anything that got past them.

 

[creekbend]

Whatever choice you make, please don't apply a method that will diminish your rear vision. Just a thought.

 

[Teikas Dad]

All of these are excellent safety precautions. I have safety chains on the front of my Woods rotary cutter and I have never hit anything that got past them.

Mine came with the rubber flaps - is it better to have the chain guards or are the rubber guards as good?

 

[Teikas Dad]

Whatever choice you make, please don't apply a method that will diminish your rear vision. just a thought.

That's why I was thinking along the lines of hardware cloth. Won't scratch or hold on to dirt and dust the way plexi will.

 

[whistlepig]

Mine came with the rubber flaps also. I didn't like them. There was no way for the heavy grass to get out and it was constantly choking down the mower. I like the chains much better. They allow the cutter to throw out some of the heavy grass but won't let anything fly out high out of the mower. You can try the rubber flaps. I just know after about one hour of mowing with the rubber flaps that they just weren't going to work for me.

 

[newbury]

Mine has heavy metal screening attached.

 

[Soundguy]

i'd make a brush guard that ran in front of the mower and warded the opening from throwin stuff at me.

 

[1bush2hog]

Plexiglass or wire mesh on your ROPS is a good idea especially if you are hogging brush and trees by backing your tractor into and lowering your cutter, however replacing those rubber guards with chain guards on the front and rear is also a great idea. You may find using the chain guards on the cutter will be sufficient.

 

[compact]

In my brief experience most of the stuff that hits me has bounced off the back side of my front tires first, and comes in from the front of the machine. I have a 5 foot RC2060 with chain gaurds.

 

[davedj1]

Please DO NOT use plexiglass! It will shatter and leave sharp jagged pieces. LEXAN is what you want, darn near bulletproof at 1/4" thick. I'm not saying Lexan is un-breakable but it is a whole lot better than plexiglass. Lexan can be found at Lowes and such places depending on size needed a good glass shop should be able to fix you up.You can also use a brake to bend Lexan. I used 1/4" Lexan for skidplates on my Kawasaki Teryx and I beat the crap outta that thing! I even had 2" holes drilled in it for cooling.

 

[davel8257]

IF you are making chains up from scratch, be sure they don't get caught in the blade when backing up. Lexan or other poly material might block some breeze and create some unwanted warmth when the sun is shining through it.

The best wisdom is to not hit the stuff in the first place. GO slow on the first pass, look ahead and to the sides on each round.

 

[Wagtail]

There was an unrelated thread, I'm pretty sure it was yesterday, regarding some sort of ROPS storage container... Anyway, one contributor included a picture where he tie-wrapped chain-link fencing to his ROPS. It looked really good & he could still lower his ROPS if need be as the chain-link just bent with it.

Very good rear visability too.

 

[RoyJackson]

View attachment 320767

Mine has heavy metal screening attached.

That screening is actually called "expanded metal"...definitely a worthwhile addition to your ROPS

 

[medic0648]

Expanded metal with an angle iron frame would provide protection and still keep the folding rops. I also reccomend making the guard a little wider than the rops to cover as much as possible.

 

[Rhino35]

Yikes!