Rusty
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 18, 2003
- Messages
- 428
- Tractor
- Kubota B7500HSD-R
First, let me say that I love my TuffTop canopy. I certainly would not want to be without it! My TUFFTOP is a Model XL-52 that I bought new on 6/5/06. The canopy is mounted on a Kubota B7500HSD with rigid ROPS.
Recently, I began having difficulty with the top staying square, that is, the right strut and right side of the top hung lower than the left strut and left side of the top. Also, the front clamp knob on the right side was loosening on its own. And, the whole canopy was vibrating enough to be noisy.
I took the top panel assembly off the roll bar bracket to look for the reason for these problems. I found eight (8) cracks through the metal of the top roll bar bracket. Three (3) cracks were in the rear vertical portion, four (4) were in the horizontal portion, and one (1) was in the right side plate portion. These are almost certainly fatigue cracks from bouncing around while mowing my pasture and meadow. The cracks were allowing the unwanted movement of the canopy.
A replacement kit with both brackets is available from Femco, Inc. in McPherson, KS for $131.25 plus $18.98 (Zip 67460 to Zip 48732) for a total of $150.23.
I decided to try to repair and possibly reinforce my existing bracket, before spending that much money. Luckily, I have a son with welding skills (although with limited access to equipment). My son finished filling in the cracks and adding a small angle iron reinforcement Saturday. Today was the first test. Three hours of mowing lawn with no problem. The canopy was rock steady. Hopefully this fix can stand up to the pasture.
If you have a TuffTop, you might want to check the top bracket periodically for cracking.
Recently, I began having difficulty with the top staying square, that is, the right strut and right side of the top hung lower than the left strut and left side of the top. Also, the front clamp knob on the right side was loosening on its own. And, the whole canopy was vibrating enough to be noisy.
I took the top panel assembly off the roll bar bracket to look for the reason for these problems. I found eight (8) cracks through the metal of the top roll bar bracket. Three (3) cracks were in the rear vertical portion, four (4) were in the horizontal portion, and one (1) was in the right side plate portion. These are almost certainly fatigue cracks from bouncing around while mowing my pasture and meadow. The cracks were allowing the unwanted movement of the canopy.
A replacement kit with both brackets is available from Femco, Inc. in McPherson, KS for $131.25 plus $18.98 (Zip 67460 to Zip 48732) for a total of $150.23.
I decided to try to repair and possibly reinforce my existing bracket, before spending that much money. Luckily, I have a son with welding skills (although with limited access to equipment). My son finished filling in the cracks and adding a small angle iron reinforcement Saturday. Today was the first test. Three hours of mowing lawn with no problem. The canopy was rock steady. Hopefully this fix can stand up to the pasture.
If you have a TuffTop, you might want to check the top bracket periodically for cracking.
