Shortening folding ROPS on BX24

[Ob1kubota]

You really should not cut the ROPS off. Forget the potential legal junk..Kubota made it that high for a reason. That reason might be that they own stock in a garage door company!!!

Green I make a good living off of potential legal junk and yes the ROPS are sized for bending load moments tested under actual conditions and SOLD to Kubota for consumer protection reducing Product Liability for a 'forseeable misuse of the product'.

 

[LBrown59]

? Really? Why would they change the bolt pattern between the two models? Odd...

I don't know about bolt patterns but I do know there have been several discussions about trying to install a BX 23 ROPS on A BX 2230.
Don't recall any post where anybody succeeded in doing so.

 

[LBrown59]

Doug,

I have also considered what you are describing. I think you are spot on and see no reason why it won't work. I almost had a tragedy driving under my deck when I forgot to lower the ROPS. I think in my case, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. Three inches would be about perfect.

John

I park in a tall stall amd trim up low limbs and branches.

 

[LBrown59]

I appreciate all the input and viewpoints. For me the biggest consideration may be the clearance in the backhoe position. I may just clamp a 2 x 4 at the new height to check it out. As for the safety issues, I do take it seriously and if there was any doubt I wouldn't do it. But I am also thinking I would be safer with it shortened as then I would have it up all the time unless I specifically needed to have it down. Now I have it down unless I think I may need to have it up.

take care
Doug in SW IA

I never run into this problem with my BX23.

 

[ray66v]

Doug, you are spot on in the aggravation the ROPS causes. I, for one, do not understand how Kubota can market this tractor to homeowners, and not make the ROPS fit a standard garage door. My god, it's 2 or 3 inches we're talking about!!!

KUBOTA, WAKE UP!!!! Do you ever actually take home any of these tractors to try them out????

Yes, it's a pain in the *** to raise and lower every time. I see pictures often where users just don't bother to raise it.

Yes, I've hit the garage with it.

Yes, it precludes fitting a sunshade or canopy, or cab, or anything else to it to it, and still get it into a standard garage.

No, I will never understand the long-standing blemish the Kubota continues to impose on this otherwise great machine.

At least make a shorter ROPS top half as an option. I'll buy it.

Ah, that felt better. Until the next time I use the BX...

You should be aware that many of these tractors, (other than Kubota's) do not fit in a 7 ft. door opening. This includes my 2310

There is no doubt that the engineers are aware of this problem, due to the fact that many have the ability too fold.

The fact that they are consistently 2-3 inches too high too fit in the 7ft. openings indicates that it was necessary, for safety and liability reasons. No amount of complaining is going to change that.

If I had this problem, I would take steps too correct it. There are options, some are simple, just don't be surprised by the barrage of the safety patrol, if you advertise it.

 

[johnray13]

You should be aware that many of these tractors, (other than Kubota's) do not fit in a 7 ft. door opening. This includes my 2310

There is no doubt that the engineers are aware of this problem, due to the fact that many have the ability too fold.

The fact that they are consistently 2-3 inches too high too fit in the 7ft. openings indicates that it was necessary, for safety and liability reasons. No amount of complaining is going to change that.

If I had this problem, I would take steps too correct it. There are options, some are simple, just don't be surprised by the barrage of the safety patrol, if you advertise it.

I think this is the gist of his post. Dougs plan is simple and will be effective.

 

[Dog Lover]

I hit the garage door the first week I had the new BX-24...That is all it took, one time! It kind of burns it into your memory, even if you are tired after along day digging....I wouldn't modify anything, just REMEMBER.

 

[Riptide23]

You should be aware that many of these tractors, (other than Kubota's) do not fit in a 7 ft. door opening. This includes my 2310

There is no doubt that the engineers are aware of this problem, due to the fact that many have the ability too fold.

The fact that they are consistently 2-3 inches too high too fit in the 7ft. openings indicates that it was necessary, for safety and liability reasons. No amount of complaining is going to change that.

If I had this problem, I would take steps too correct it. There are options, some are simple, just don't be surprised by the barrage of the safety patrol, if you advertise it.

I don't buy it. The 2350 has the same chassis, with a much smaller ROPS. Is the 2350 less prone to rollover, just because it does not have a factory backhoe? Kubota simply chose to provide the BH operator with copious headroom, at the cost of some inconvenience...

In fact, the JD2305, with factory backhoe, has a ROPS that does fit in a 7 foot door. More than enough protection for the operator; I tried it.

One last thing; complaining DOES help. Kubota DOES listen, sometimes. Most of us BX operators are sittin' in comfy new seats, because Kubota sought to address a shortcoming in their machines.

When you have to hang a rope, hang a sign, or whatever, that's called a "workaround", and points to something that should be reviewed.

 

[Eagleview]

I think if it was me i would do as he is going to do and clamp a piece of timber across it to see if the lower height would be a problem with backhoe usage . If not i would cut it off and maybe use the top existing hole for the bottom and drill a new top hole . If i was concerned about litagation after i sold the tractor etc. i would spend a few bucks on a letter of certification from an engineer . They would write one out without a problem as it is such a minor modification and common sense says that it will actually be stronger by being shorter and that the bending moment wll move down the structure closer to the gusseted and inherrantly stronger part of that structure .

 

[ray66v]

I don't buy it. The 2350 has the same chassis, with a much smaller ROPS. Is the 2350 less prone to rollover, just because it does not have a factory backhoe? Kubota simply chose to provide the BH operator with copious headroom, at the cost of some inconvenience...

In fact, the JD2305, with factory backhoe, has a ROPS that does fit in a 7 foot door. More than enough protection for the operator; I tried it.

One last thing; complaining DOES help. Kubota DOES listen, sometimes. Most of us BX operators are sittin' in comfy new seats, because Kubota sought to address a shortcoming in their machines.

When you have to hang a rope, hang a sign, or whatever, that's called a "workaround", and points to something that should be reviewed.

Again, the 7ft. door problem is well known. Your not the first one to mention it. It goes back 5 years with my tractor. If they did not have a good enough reason for doing this on all these tractors as you suggest, and it is a simple design flaw, just an oversight. That would mean all these engineers at all these different companies have also made this same "oversight" would have to be either stupid, or ignorant of the fact that people have garages, and have done no testing on the product. Yet, the ROPS was designed to fold? Probably because the same law that requires the ROPS, also mandates the size of the ROPS.

MTD, who makes Cub Cadet, for example, has a facility near me with a 12 car garage. (16x7 doors) Where they use both prototypes and existing models of equipment in a real world environment every day, to find out exactly what they can do to make them better. (Its called R&D), I am sure the other guys are all doing the same thing.

My manufacturer has solicited our feedback through surveys and redesigned my tractor model. They appear to have made every major and minor change that I have suggested. And, even though it has been an issue for 5 years, I will bet you that the ROPS still does not fit in a 7ft. door.

BTW, I believe a backhoe certainly is more likely to roll over, digging is a hazardous operation. People do dig on slopes, and inclines. I don't understand your point though, because clearly the ROPS is higher because it has to be, when the seat is raised to use the backhoe.

When you send Kubota your complaint, you should include your resume.