Loose ROPS Bolts

[Harv]

Whilst crawling under my L2500 to change the hydraulic fluid, I noticed that one of the large bolts holding the ROPS on was hanging quite loose on both sides of the tractor (see attachment).

I managed, with some effort, to tighten one of them up, but I couldn't budge the nut on the other. After quite a struggle I was able to remove the nut and slip the bolt out altogether. The threads were so buggered up on both that I'm just going to buy new ones.

After reading those posts about cracked axle housings due to ROPS attachments, I'm wondering if perhaps these bolts were deliberately left loose, since it was the same on both sides. But then, what good does a loose bolt do?

BTW - yes, I can see for myself that my pressure-washing didn't catch the underside of the tractor. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

 

[Thomas]

Harv,
How about the next longer bolt and double nut it,that should keep it tight also protect the threads.

You and your family have a safe and pleasant New Years.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[DFB]

Harv, hard for me to believe that they were intentionally left loose. I would have to think they weren't properly tightened down.

 

[Bird]

Harv, there's no doubt the nuts and bolts should be "tight"; the question is just how tight?. Personally, I'd just tighten then so they're very snug with no slack at all, and since something (vibration?) caused them to loosen, even with lockwashers, I'd either use new self-locking nuts or the double nuts that's already been suggested.

Bird

 

[DFB]

Bird, do your Kubota manuals have torque value charts?

 

[Bird]

DFB, my manual has the torque value chart for "general use screws, nuts, and bolts" if you know the size and grade of the bolt (and of course I'd have to see it or have someone describe the head of the bolt and tell me the diameter), but in only a few places have I found torque values for specific bolts. And then, of course, a lot of folks don't own a torque wrench so it's hard to tell them how tight to tighten something.

Bird

 

[DFB]

Yea, those are the ones. My manual says to refer to them unless some other value is specifically called out like on wheel bolts/nuts. Loctite works good too for keeping things tight. Your right about torque wrenches not being in everyones toolbox. I remember the thread on that a while back. I like to use one when possible.

 

[dullpain]

Harv

The threads were so buggered up on both that I'm just going to buy new ones.

It's " Booggered "

Hey I ain't got nothing to do today!!

 

[gordon]

Re: Loose ROPS Bolts cracked weld

Harv, it looks to me like you've got a cracked weld at the inside corner of the bend of the rops mount. Next time your up at your tractor take a good close look at it. Those bolts are a fine thread and easy to cross thread. The guy putting the tractor probably crossed them with an impact gun and just left them.

Do you see what I'm talking about with the crack?
Gordon

 

[Harv]

McCallum -

Hmmmm. According to my American Heritage Dictionary -

buggered -- "To practice sodomy with"

booger -- "Dried nasal mucus" or "A worthless, despicable person"

Perhaps I should have gone with -

bunged -- "To close with or as if with a cork or stopper" or <font color=blue>"To injure or damage"</font color=blue>

Happy New Year! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif