PT Safety Modifications

[BobRip]

I was thiniking we ought to have some details on safety modifications. I expect that many people have made some.

I have added reflectors on the front, back, and sides of the PT422. When you see the pictures they glow real bright. These are not lights, but reflectors. I have also raised the front lights to the ROPS and added a backup light. This allows me to see over the bucket at night and actually see where I am going while backing. Believe me it is not safe to backup at night without lights, when you look backward it is really dark.

I also have a flashing amber light on the top of the ROPS. The neighbors wife came out to investigate when she saw it flashing. She was about 1000 feet away when she first saw it.

The parking brake dog has me actually using the brake, rather than hoping the machine won't run over me when I unlock the tool shed door. A really big safety improvements.

I have also added three mirrors, one on each side and one in the middle just under the ROPS.

What safety modifications have you added to your PT?

 

[MossRoad]

Fire extinguisher.

 

[BobRip]

Fire extinguisher.

I need one of those. Probably should get rid of my machete and put it on the rops support tube.

 

[BobRip]

Fire extinguisher.

I need one of those. My next mod.

 

[J_J]

Fire extinguisher.

I have my fire extinguisher mounted on the back of the seat.

 

[BobRip]

I have my fire extinguisher mounted on the back of the seat.

I don't think their is enough room on the 422 for that. I will look at it tomorrow.

 

[Piedmont3]

I have mine mounted on the ROPS I used 2 BIG zipties to attach the extinguisher holder to the ROPS and then the strap on the holder to hold the extinguisher. It tends to slde around the ROPS pole, but it hasn't moved down at all, as I was expecting when I first put it on.

 

[BobRip]

I have long felt the mirrors that I had added to my PT422 were inadequate when on the road (yes I drove on the road). There were basically convex mirrors that made everything look futher away and smaller. I'd look in the mirror on the left and it looked like a car was a long way off. I would look behind me and the car was right behind me.

Today I went to NAPA and bought a 5 1/4 X 8 3/4 inch mirror (part # 97800) and a bracket (# 97876). I mounted it on the left ROPS column with hose clamps. It is a big improvement even though at full speed there is a lot of bluring probably from the bar tire vibration. I had to cut a slot at each end of the bracket for the hose clamps to slide through. You can see the slot in pictures 3 and 5. It took several passes of the band saw to make it wide enough.
See attached pictures.

 

[KentT]

The fire extinguisher that Rich had mounted on the ROPS pole with duct tape is still doing fine -- but, he said he used MILSPEC duct tape....

I mounted a large 5" x 8" mirror under the front of the ROPS -- but I've found it to be of little value. I guess if I were tramming down the road, I could use it to check for traffic behind me. But, when using it to actually back up and maneuver with, it's almost worthless because the tractor is inevitably articulated and the mirror is looking in one direction while the rear of the PT is going in a different direction...

Bob, do you do much work in the woods? I was just wondering, because I'd likely rip off a mirror mounted where your new ones are, banging it on trees, etc. I've actually punched the right headlight hard enough with a tree limb to knock the bulb loose and back into the rubber housing -- and the headlights are INSIDE the ROPS...

 

[BobRip]

The fire extinguisher that Rich had mounted on the ROPS pole with duct tape is still doing fine -- but, he said he used MILSPEC duct tape....

I mounted a large 5" x 8" mirror under the front of the ROPS -- but I've found it to be of little value. I guess if I were tramming down the road, I could use it to check for traffic behind me. But, when using it to actually back up and maneuver with, it's almost worthless because the tractor is inevitably articulated and the mirror is looking in one direction while the rear of the PT is going in a different direction...

Bob, do you do much work in the woods? I was just wondering, because I'd likely rip off a mirror mounted where your new ones are, banging it on trees, etc. I've actually punched the right headlight hard enough with a tree limb to knock the bulb loose and back into the rubber housing -- and the headlights are INSIDE the ROPS...

Kent, yes I do go through the woods a lot. Nine of my 10 acres is in woods. I will try to be careful. I really only intended to use the mirror on the road since you have a good view behind normally. I have the lights mounted under the ROPS and so far none have been destroyed. I did have to replace the flashing light on the back top of the ROPS once. That's in a sucide postion. I probably should have shopped around for a cheaper mirror and may regret spending $45 on this one.

 

[BobRip]

Bob, do you do much work in the woods? I was just wondering, because I'd likely rip off a mirror mounted where your new ones are, banging it on trees, etc. I've actually punched the right headlight hard enough with a tree limb to knock the bulb loose and back into the rubber housing -- and the headlights are INSIDE the ROPS...

Kent, you got me thinking. I wonder if mouting the mirror inside the ROP pole would help. It would block a little forward vision, but might be alright. I will try it. Should only take a few minutes to change. Thanks for getting me thinking. That's what we do here isn't it.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Kent, yes I do go through the woods a lot. Nine of my 10 acres is in woods. I will try to be careful. I really only intended to use the mirror on the road since you have a good view behind normally. I have the lights mounted under the ROPS and so far none have been destroyed. I did have to replace the flashing light on the back top of the ROPS once. That's in a sucide postion. I probably should have shopped around for a cheaper mirror and may regret spending $45 on this one.

You could do something like this

Pegasus - Wink Jr. Mirror: 3 Panel - 21 inches Long
Or
Legends Racing 975000X047 Rear View Mirror@ RACEPARTSUSA.COM Oval Track Racing Parts and Accessories

Or if you decide to put spinners on your 425 and maybe lower it you could go this route...
Dual 4.2" LCD/TFT Rear View Mirror/Reverse Parking System w/Camera

 

[BobRip]

Kent, you got me thinking. I wonder if mouting the mirror inside the ROP pole would help. It would block a little forward vision, but might be alright. I will try it. Should only take a few minutes to change. Thanks for getting me thinking. That's what we do here isn't it.

I tried putting it inside the pole and I go a good view of my left shoulder. I put it back and adjusted the backet so that the mirror can fold backwards quite a bit if hit by something. This should help. You know it's inside the tire outer dimensions, so it might be a little difficult to hit something really solid. Overhanging branches may hit it of course. I will drive through the woods tomorrow and see if I can expose to hazards, hopefully without damaging it.

 

[RegL]

I plan on getting some kind of mirror for on the road but I'm afraid a nice one like that would last me about 2 minutes mowing under brush in the woods . If the PT wasn't all steel it would be in the scrap heap by now. How about a mirror attached to some kind of large spring clamp so you could just use it when on the road. As for as backing up, I would rather just turn around and look directly where I am going.

 

[BobRip]

I plan on getting some kind of mirror for on the road but I'm afraid a nice one like that would last me about 2 minutes mowing under brush in the woods . If the PT wasn't all steel it would be in the scrap heap by now. How about a mirror attached to some kind of large spring clamp so you could just use it when on the road. As for as backing up, I would rather just turn around and look directly where I am going.

It can now fold back if it hits some thing.

 

[J_J]

I plan on getting some kind of mirror for on the road but I'm afraid a nice one like that would last me about 2 minutes mowing under brush in the woods . If the PT wasn't all steel it would be in the scrap heap by now. How about a mirror attached to some kind of large spring clamp so you could just use it when on the road. As for as backing up, I would rather just turn around and look directly where I am going.

To all. Why block your view? Why not put a large mirror under the ROPS, center, or one in each corner It has worked for cars for a long time now. That's where mine is. Mine is curved, good for seeing if anyone is behind the machine. For backing, I turn my head and look.

 

[BobRip]

To all. Why block your view? Why not put a large mirror under the ROPS, center, or one in each corner It has worked for cars for a long time now. That's where mine is. Mine is curved, good for seeing if anyone is behind the machine. For backing, I turn my head and look.

J_J how about a picture. I have a center mirror and I need to drop it a little because I have a light handing down from underneath the back of the ROPS.

I am reasonably happy with the new mirror I have added. Ten minutes of use and it has not broken yet. And actually it has been in the garage all night and not broken yet.

 

[ddonnell]

I have one of those Pegasus type mirrors on my golf cart (See Woodlandsfarm post #12) and it works great there. It's tight to the top so no vision obstruction and mounts to the vertical canopy struts. I don't know if they make one that would fit exactly between the ROPS supports but I doubt if that would pose much of a problem with anyone in this group.

 

[KentT]

I guess I'm cheap -- I used one of the cheap soft plastic trailer-towing mirrors that you strap on to existing mirrors. I mounted it up under the center of the ROPS, just behind the cross-bar. Though this picture doesn't show how it's mounted, it does show its location:

http://www.simpletractors.com/subsite/2_IMG_0099.JPG

It doesn't really obstruct my view since it's higher than my line of sight, and gives a reasonably good view of what's behind me when I'm tramming in a straight line -- which isn't very often, or very far.