Is the ROPS really needed?

[Ken45101]

That picture of the Deere illustrates a HUGE problem with the BX folding Rops.... It Doesnt fold down flat behind the tractor!!! The darn thing sticks out like 3' behind the tractor.. Its a huge PITA I'm thinking about modifying the hinge to make it fold flat like it should.

It looks to me like it goes low enough to get under the garage door or any place the operator is likely to be able to duck under, yet still has enough to maybe protect the operator. I think it is a smart design the way it is. Obviously YMMV.

What I am talking about is when you are doing something that is sounding that alarm in the back of your head that says "maybe this isn't the brightest/smartest/safest way to try and do this". All the while, you are experiencing some pucker factor while attempting to do whatever. Continually ignoring that inner preservation system and you will get to see how well your ROPS and seat-belt work.

EVERYTIME I mow some of my pastures I worry about it. I'm conservative which hopefully means that I worry long before there is danger. Ten years now and I've never actually felt the tractor act up in the least, but I'm still cautious and hold my breath.

 

[flusher]

I sure hope my post doesn't incite the wrath of the safety police, but I would like to get a few thoughts on removing the ROPS. Here is my situation; I have a Grand L with FEL that I wouldn't dream of removing the ROPS from. However, I recently acquired a BX2200 strictly for mowing. During routine maintenance this weekend, I even removed the lift arms, and toplink.

I'm finding the ROPS sure hits a lot of limbs mostly on fruit trees, and even creates a situation causing more trim work. Have also lost a number of peaches recently from the ROPS hitting them.

I know the BX is considered a tractor, and is equipped just like it's big brothers, but, on the other hand, it's not much larger than the JD riding mower I have, which did not even come with a ROPS.

In short, I'm thinking of taking it off. Give me a good reason why I shouldn't.

K

Hmmm--some lost peaches versus a possible trip to the ER or to the mortuary. Should be an easy decision

 

[Scooby074]

It looks to me like it goes low enough to get under the garage door or any place the operator is likely to be able to duck under, yet still has enough to maybe protect the operator. I think it is a smart design the way it is. Obviously YMMV.

I take it you dont have one? Its pretty miserable in use. You can turn the tractor fast enough to cause the folded rops to tailswing and hit something you were next to (like your house!! Ask me how I know!!). It's always at the back of your mind " What's the ROPS doing?" Plus it slopes upward when folded so the part that is the top of the arch is actually a few inches higher than the hinge plane. You can get the hinges under branches only to have the top of the arch section jam on a branch.

If the ROPS folded flat instead of sticking out like a sore thumb it would be MUCH more user friendly especially when in "mower" mode

 

[LBrown59]

I sure hope my post doesn't incite the wrath of the safety police, but I would like to get a few thoughts on removing the ROPS. Here is my situation; I have a Grand L with FEL that I wouldn't dream of removing the ROPS from. However, I recently acquired a BX2200 strictly for mowing. During routine maintenance this weekend, I even removed the lift arms, and toplink.

1*I'm finding the ROPS sure hits a lot of limbs mostly on fruit trees, and even creates a situation causing more trim work. Have also lost a number of peaches recently from the ROPS hitting them.

1*Trim the limbs not the ROPS

I had top half removed for awhile since it was too dangerous to have it on when I was mowing on trees and it would get caught on limbs. Getting hung up on a tree branch is not my idea of entertainment for my neighbors.
2* Over time I pruned the tree branches to a point where its safe now to have rops on and up.:thumbsup:

2*That's the secret remove the branches not the ROPS.

 

[Ken45101]

I take it you dont have one? Its pretty miserable in use. You can turn the tractor fast enough to cause the folded rops to tailswing and hit something you were next to (like your house!! Ask me how I know!!). It's always at the back of your mind " What's the ROPS doing?" Plus it slopes upward when folded so the part that is the top of the arch is actually a few inches higher than the hinge plane. You can get the hinges under branches only to have the top of the arch section jam on a branch.

If the ROPS folded flat instead of sticking out like a sore thumb it would be MUCH more user friendly especially when in "mower" mode

I have five tractors with ROPS, only one (the zero turn mower) is foldable. I have never been even tempted to fold it down and I would probably only do so if I wanted to get it into the garage.

As for turning so fast close to the house that it swings out, well whenever I'm that close to the house (or anything else), I'm going slowly.

Have you thought about securing it with a bungee?

Seems to me that it is well designed for it's purpose. YMMV.

Yes, I have a tree that I can't run the mower under because of the ROPS. That's weed whacker territory.

 

[Scooby074]

I have five tractors with ROPS, only one (the zero turn mower) is foldable. I have never been even tempted to fold it down and I would probably only do so if I wanted to get it into the garage.

As for turning so fast close to the house that it swings out, well whenever I'm that close to the house (or anything else), I'm going slowly.

Have you thought about securing it with a bungee?

Seems to me that it is well designed for it's purpose. YMMV.

Yes, I have a tree that I can't run the mower under because of the ROPS. That's weed whacker territory.

Its not that turning fast causes to swing out (like from centrifugal force) its the ROPS itself sticks out the back when folded. It only folds down 90*

Here's a pic of a BX with folded rops. Its not my machine, but CHDinCT's. AS you can see, it sticks way out. Thats as flat as it gets.

Compare that to a Deere zero turn with folding rops and you can see the difference

 

[yelbike]

Its not that turning fast causes to swing out (like from centrifugal force) its the ROPS itself sticks out the back when folded. It only folds down 90*

Here's a pic of a BX with folded rops. Its not my machine, but CHDinCT's. AS you can see, it sticks way out. Thats as flat as it gets.

Compare that to a Deere zero turn with folding rops and you can see the difference

Yet another reason why GREEN is better!!!:thumbsup::laughing:

 

[tractchores]

Its not that turning fast causes to swing out (like from centrifugal force) its the ROPS itself sticks out the back when folded. It only folds down 90*

Here's a pic of a BX with folded rops. Its not my machine, but CHDinCT's. AS you can see, it sticks way out. Thats as flat as it gets.

Compare that to a Deere zero turn with folding rops and you can see the difference

Don't know why they do it that way. I have a foldable on my B series and it folds down similar to the JD pictured. I find it works great so I can fold it down for working in tight quarters. Not sure why they made the BX different...

 

[psvines]

I love my BX2660 and am very glad the ROPS is one piece without the option and temptation to fold. It also is a great attachment point for the canopy. And once a year I walk around the property and trim lower branches; a very simple task.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

You'd have to trim the trees significantly high up from the ground. It looks like **** and is not actionable if you care about the lower limbs (e.g. windbreak). Blue Spruce looks particularly bad with 7' of trunk showing. The B series ROPS folds completely flat. Yet another reason why the BX just doesn't work for me.