ROPS Hinge Pin Tight Fit

[bcs001]

One of the nagging problems I have to do something about in the near future is the almost impossible tight fit of the left and right ROPS hinge pins. I have to drop the bar to fit in the garage for now until I can build a taller storage shed.
I’ve loosened the bolts but have to use a hammer and punch to remove the pins and then hammer them back in to reinstall. Appears to be a small misalignment in both pin holes so drilling them out seems to be the only solution.
Anyone else having this problem and come up with a fix? If drilling, they need to be large enough to then repaint so they don’t rust to the pins.
Thanks,
Bruce.

 

[PILOON]

You could use a tapered reamer to enlarge until you obtain a lose fit.
Enlarging those holes would not lessen the the ROP protection.

 

[jeff9366]

Kubota uses a similar setup. Following offered for what it is worth:


Quote Originally Posted by AGTtactical
"I have an L6060 ROPS. Right now I have to fold the ROPS down to fit it in my temporary barn. Has anyone replaced the factory bolts with pins so you don't have to bolt and unbolt these every time you use it?"


The ROPS are made in Kubota plants in Georgia, not Japan. ROPS fittings are inch standard, not metric.

The factory bolt is 5/8" X 16 threads per inch (fine thread). 5/8" bolts are easy to find but are usually 12 tpi, (coarse thread). If you find a 5/8" X 16 tpi thread bolt in your local hardware store it will almost certainly be Grade 8.

5/8" X 16 tpi bolts are always available on eBay.



I replaced the two factory ROPS hinge bolts with 9/16" X 4" clevis pins.

Link: Clevis Pin 9/16 x 4 LCS ZC (9 Pieces) | eBay

These are perfect length. Hairpin clip goes in hole #2.



Note: One of the "cup holder" type bays on the operator's console has a channel cut on the inner side, so two ROPS bolts will fit in the bay with an inch of the bolts and perpendicular hairpin clips protruding through the channel.

 

[ning]

Mine is kinda tight too (3520h).
One pin is fine, the other I always use a punch and hammer.
I'm interested in alternatives but I only fold in my orchard and I have a toolbox with the stuff to handle it on the tractor, so for me it's not a big deal.

 

[JonnyRed]

Both new Bransons I have owned had this problem with tight rops pins. I grind the pin on the bench grinder and it's fixed.

 

[bcs001]

Both new Bransons I have owned had this problem with tight rops pins. I grind the pin on the bench grinder and it's fixed.

Do your pins not rust after exposing the raw steel?

 

[ruffdog]

I know the OP puts his ROPS up/down often so tight pins are a pain....I get that. But, I really hate loose rattling stuff on a tractor making noise every minute you are operating it. If it were me, I would be careful on getting it too loose.

 

[5030]

Take a Rat tail file and file the holes a bit. Easy-Peasy.

 

[ArlyA]

Do your pins not rust after exposing the raw steel?

Just rub a little grease on them. It is a tractor, correct?

 

[MoKelly]

My pins work perfect. It’s the knobs I have to turn almost off to get the ROPs up/down that are a pain.

Forget to tighten and they are lost. I had to tie them to the tractor like when your mom used to tie your mittens to your coat sleeves.

MoKelly

 

[5030]

My open station M9 uses captured pins studs for the foldable rops,. no knobs at all. Of course I never fold the ROPS. No need to. My tractor shop door is 14 feet high.

 

[JM7500]

My new 4820r is the same. I had to hammer out the pins to fold the rops to put in my shed. My dealer said he has the same problem but it will get better with use. The inside of the hole on mine is powder coated. When the powder coat is removed I expect the pins to go in and out properly.

 

[5030]

Kubota powder coats everything including the oil and transmission filters...

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I would also get tired of hearing the pins rattle if you opened the hole up for easy clearance. But I can see how hammering out the pins every time you have to park the tractor would get old pretty fast.

I'm fortunate that I have a cab and tall shop doors.

It even (barely) goes under my garage door on the garage attached to the house.

 

[52wej]

Just take a dremel tool with a small sanding drum and polish the inside of the holes. When you put the pins back in, put anti-seize on the pins and they will go in easier and gradually loosen over time. With the anti seize you won't have worry about rusting. W. Jones

 

[Tinhack]

My newly acquired Maverick ZTR has anti-rattle spring clips on the lower ROPS legs. I have to compress the springs a little to insert or remove the pins to fold down the ROPS. Any chance your problem is similar?

If not, I would certainly be modifying whatever was necessary for ease of use.

 

[bcs001]

Just take a dremel tool with a small sanding drum and polish the inside of the holes. When you put the pins back in, put anti-seize on the pins and they will go in easier and gradually loosen over time. With the anti seize you won't have worry about rusting. W. Jones

heres a quick follow up. Used the dremel and sanding drum to open the sides of the holes in the folding section of ROPS where they were non-concentric with the the fixed center tube. Didn't take much but the holes were noticeably non-concentric. Poor quality control somewhere along the manufacturing process.

Bruce.