Shorter ROPS?

[Msamt]

Heard an urban legend that people have cut the bottom 3 or so onches off a DK ROPS, to fit under an 8 foot garage door. Truth or legend? risks?

 

[davrow]

It is common to shorten the ROPS. Some manufacturers use the same ROPS on multiple models, making them out-of-proportion tall in some cases. In my opinion, as long as it is tall enough to protect you in a roll-over it is okay.

Try this thread for a recent one: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-owning-operating/308578-anyone-ever-had-their-rops.html

A google search for the topic provides TBN threads from 2008, 2010 and more.

I don't know anything Kioti DK specific, though.

 

[George2615]

It has been done before but at your own risk. Some say never to cut, drill, or weld on a ROPS. If I had an open station with a tall ROPS that needed to be shortened I would cut and re-weld my own but would never do it for anyone else for liability reasons but that's just me. The risks are if you cut and re-weld and your welds don't hold in case of an accidental rollover you could be killed. Manufacturers design there ROPS to protect the operator and any modification could compromise that safety.
My cab tractor is 93" tall. When I built my pole barn addition I wanted a 9' high insulated door. Door Co. had an 8'6" door in stock for a much lower price (they ordered it for a customer who cancelled the order and wanted to get rid of it). Cab clears my opening by 3-4". The DK must have a tall ROPS

 

[Msamt]

Thanks, read a lot of the split JD ROPS threads, but the DK seems so much simpler, and the few inches seem like it couldn't make a huge differerence.

 

[ray66v]

The height of a ROPS is determined by federal regulation.

It calls for 30" from the part of the seat you sit on, to the ROPS, with the seat adjusted in the highest position it can be put in.

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=18478

 

[murphy1244]

Your link is bad

 

[davrow]

Manufacturers design there ROPS to protect the operator and any modification could compromise that safety.

I've heard this often on TBN, but I don't believe it. As ray66v says, it is designed to meet Federal regulations so they can sell the tractor. They wouldn't put them on at all if they were not required to do so. Our money is important to them, our safety... I don't believe it enters their minds. (see GM for substantiation of my beliefs. No action on deadly faults until government stepped in)

Murph, I think this is the link he was trying to provide: OSHA ROPS Regs

 

[ray66v]

Your link is bad

Thanks. I fixed it.

 

[murphy1244]

Thanks. I fixed it.

Thanks Ray, Where the heck did you find the 30" rule?? I went thru it and did not see it.

 

[Coyote machine]

ROPS are effective only when the seat belt is worn in conjunction with the ROPS. Depending on how much one removes of the ROPS, it may end up not being high enough to keep your head from being the nail and the ground being the hammer.:confused3: