Lower profile ROPS

[Mike5252]

Has anyone found a lower profile ROPS for a 2520?

The standard ROPS is causing me fits. Its too tall to fit in the garage (several dings on the door frame to document this) and when folded interferes w/ my 3pt hitch mounted snow blower.

 

[kennyd]

Nothing like that is commercially available.

 

[davitk]

The safety police will turn me in for this, I am sure, but there is nothing about a ROPS that cannot be safely modified by a qualified welder. Lowering a ROPS a couple of inches so it can be left in the full up position all the time is much safer than a ROPS that is folded. Just do it.

 

[ToadHill]

Run a string from the top of your ROPS to the high point on the front of your tractor. Sit in the seat and see how much of your head is under or over the string. That will let you know how safe a lowering if your ROPS will be.

 

[RollTideRam]

On my 2520, I folded the rops and let it rest on the pins instead of putting the pins through the holes. It gave me a few extra inches I needed. JC

 

[Toolguy]

I say shorten it. If you do not feel that you can do the job yourself, I am sure a welding shop would do it for a reasonable charge. You probably only need to shorten the top piece by a few inches. Once it is welded back together it should be as strong or stronger than it was originally. In fact, the shorter ROPS will have less leverage force trying to bend it than the stock length does. A ROPS is not a high tech device. Do not let the safety police scare you from modifying it. A properly shortened ROPS that is up all the time and ready when needed is going to be a lot safer than one that is too tall and folded down and not there when you unexpectedly need it.

 

[elalexander]

Mike. We are seeing the same problem as we shop for a 790 or 20 series. The 790, now 3005 won't fold and the 2520's look like they stick out further when folded compared to a 2320. We have trees to mow under and I don't want to have to cut limbs off just to mow.
Toad gave you the right formula with the string. I'm sure JD and others don't or won't change the design due to liability issues. They really look good when upright on the showroom floor

 

[frank_f15]

i agree with some of the others, just have it lowered unless you are too tall and need the full height for your protection.

 

[JDFANATIC]

I say shorten it. If you do not feel that you can do the job yourself, I am sure a welding shop would do it for a reasonable charge. You probably only need to shorten the top piece by a few inches. Once it is welded back together it should be as strong or stronger than it was originally. In fact, the shorter ROPS will have less leverage force trying to bend it than the stock length does. A ROPS is not a high tech device. Do not let the safety police scare you from modifying it. A properly shortened ROPS that is up all the time and ready when needed is going to be a lot safer than one that is too tall and folded down and not there when you unexpectedly need it.

I would recommend you purchase a new ROPS and modify that rather than modify the original -- this way if you ever sell the tractor you can return it to OEM state instead of subjecting yourself to potential liability should anything go wrong.

 

[davitk]

I would recommend you purchase a new ROPS and modify that rather than modify the original -- this way if you ever sell the tractor you can return it to OEM state instead of subjecting yourself to potential liability should anything go wrong.

Maybe I am dense, but what liability?