What would you do?

neilly2 · Jul 5, 2004

My tractor was not manufactured with ROPS. At the recommendation of Kubota, the dealer supplied an aftermarket roll bar when I bought it, to cover his butt.

Its going on 4 years in the shed and I haven't installed it yet. Bearing in mind the the "S" in ROPS stands for system, meaning a roll bar AND a seat belt, I felt that installing it would not really serve a purpose since I don't have a belt.

Now, I'm itching to install it as use for a canopy and lights.

What would you do?

I'm not preoccupied with safety in general (I believe that smart, thought out operating is the best safety)

Bob_Skurka · Jul 5, 2004

I would not install a ROPS without a seatbelt. I occasionaly don't wear my seatbelt but I usually do. I always do when using a FEL or anthing engaging the ground. I always do when going up and down hills. I usually do when mowing the flat spots. But if you install the ROPS and that very rare occurance happens and you roll, and you don't have a seatbelt then you have a really big problem! If you want to install lights, buy a seatbelt too.

BillG_in_TX · Jul 5, 2004

Are you sure it doesn't have a seat belt in the package?

I bought a ROPS and seatbelt for my L345 2 years ago. It is a Kubota item, and I would be very surprised if a Kubota dealer provided anything else. In fact, the L345 and L285 ROPS are the same - see this page..

In any case, I would install the ROPS with a seat belt. If you install it without a seatbelt, it'll be the ROPS that crushes your skull in a rollover. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

neilly2 · Jul 5, 2004

No, there definitely wasn't a package. It defintely was a kubota dealer and a kubota bar. He just dropped off the bar and mounting hardware when it came in. There wasn't much discussion during the tractor transaction, just a few grunts. I bought it back East.

I am having trouble picturing the bar crushing your head. If the tractor rolls to the side or the back, I imagine your head would hit the ground after the bar did. Isn't the bar also to prevent multiple rolls?

Has anyone rolled one that can describe what happens?

Ozarker · Jul 5, 2004

( Isn't the bar also to prevent multiple rolls?)

No. The purpose of the ROPS is to create a space for the operator to be in so he/she won't be crushed by the tractor. The purpose of the seat belt is to keep the operator in that space.

Taylortractornut · Jul 5, 2004

Most tractor seats have a place to bolt on seat belts. Or if they dont you can take the a bolt out of the seat mount bracket and then put your bolt through the seat bracket and ut it back on the tractor. I recall that set up on a factory installed belt on a 5000 Ford. Ive used alot of tractors with a rops and no belt I now its not 100 percent safe but its safer than no rops. Ithink TSC sells a belt kit, Or ou could order one from a tractor dealer, or one from a truck shop most of the dummy/passengers seat belts are after market replacements.

cowboydoc · Jul 5, 2004

Install it. Many, many older tractors are installed with ROPS that do not have a seatbelt. The ROPS will save your life. Yes the safety belt would be ideal as well but that ROPS is the most important. I know many people, myself included, that have rolled or tipped a tractor over and have been just fine without a safety belt. Without the ROPS though it could have been a different story.

BillG_in_TX · Jul 5, 2004

neilly2,

Well, the "crush your skull" comment was hyperbole on my part, but I've always been told "If you have a ROPS, always wear your seatbelt so the ROPS doesn't crush you. If you don't have a ROPS, don't wear a seatbelt, so you can try to jump clear in case of a rollover".

Your ROPS bar should have a serial number on it and a call to a local or mailorder Kubota dealer should result in a seatbelt in your possession. But, I would first go back and open your bolts and nuts package and doublecheck for a seatbelt.

beenthere · Jul 5, 2004

I agree with cowboydoc (I usually do), and suggest you install the ROPS. Also, find a seat belt and install it as well. But, I think the worst scenario is to roll the tractor without either ROPS or seatbelt, the next best is with the ROPS and not wearing a seatbelt (that's me), and the very best is the ROPS and wearing the seatbelt.

But, the scenario of no ROPS and wearing a seatbelt, is (IMO) not good if the tractor rolls over.

Having a ROPS in the barn when you roll the tractor isn't going to look too smart, IMO. The coroner might make a comment, and your wife's relatives might just verify what they suspected all along. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Hopefully this is enough encouragement to get you off 'dead' center. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

BillG_in_TX · Jul 5, 2004

neilly2,

I can't describe what happens when you roll your tractor (thank goodness), but here is a discussion from 2002 that discusses some issues with the ROPS installation. Good luck.

neilly2 · Jul 5, 2004

Bill,

I just realized that you have the big brother to my tractor. I knew you were a good man.

I'll be installing the ROPS sometime in the near future. I'm pretty darn flat and in the middle of a house addition, so it'll have to wait. Being completely honest, I would never wear the seatbelt, so I won't be buying that.

The arms on my roll bar go straight down and attach to the axle. I will have to take the fenders off and install longer bolts. This is different than yours which teardrops down and attaches to the tran. Makes me wonder if mine really was Kubota.

Junkman · Jul 5, 2004

I can tell you that if you roll your tractor and live to tell about it, you will always wear the seat belt and keep the ROPS up. I rolled my Minneapolis Moline Big Mo 500 tractor, loader, backhoe combination and it didn't have a ROPS. Lucky for me, the backhoe was pinned in the upright position and the swing boom was also pinned. This acted like a ROPS, but I was still thrown clear of the tractor. I could have been unfortunate and just thrown off of the tractor and had the tractor land on me. When I felt the tractor starting to go over, I stood up in a attempt to jump, but the momentum of the roll threw me off. I did have the good luck to land on soft ground, instead of one of the many boulders that were in the field............

BillG_in_TX · Jul 5, 2004

neilly2,

I guess you saw the picture of my tractor trying to get into its little shed! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Here's a closeup picture (attached) of the ROPS installed on my tractor. As noted above, it's the same part number for both tractors, so I guess you didn't get a Kubota ROPS. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I find it more comfortable to mow and do other work with my seatbelt on. I don't slide and bounce around in the seat like I did without it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

KirkMcD · Jul 6, 2004

Are you worried more about keeping the tractor from rolling too much if you flip or on keeping yourself relatively unharmed if you flip?

A ROPS without a seatbelt will keep the tractor safe not the operator.

MikePA · Jul 6, 2004

A ROPS without a seatbelt will keep the tractor safe not the operator. 
Several previous posts have indicated that a ROPS alone, while not the ideal situation, has kept the operator safe.

BobCorazza · Jul 6, 2004

Not to detract from the numerous real-life experiences posted, but the fact is that the ROPS and seatbelt combination is the safest for the operator. Most here do not disagree.
As far as Kubota supplied ROPS, I put one on an old Kubota B8200 that came complete from Kubota through a safety program. It was pretty cheap as I recall.

BillG_in_TX · Jul 6, 2004

I know many people, myself included, that have rolled or tipped a tractor over and have been just fine without a safety belt. 

Richard,

Do you wear a seatbelt when operating a ROPS equipped tractor? Your previous post might lead some people to conclude that you don't.

MikePA · Jul 6, 2004

but the fact is that the ROPS and seatbelt combination is the safest for the operator. Most here do not disagree. 
I don't think anyone disagrees with this. I certainly don't.

cowboydoc · Jul 6, 2004

I usually don't. Not saying you shouldn't I just don't ever do it. Well I shouldn't say never. When I'm doing hills and think about it I will put it on. I've gone over a couple times and both times didn't have a scratch. The one time I went over backwards and if I wouldn't have had a rollbar I would have been dead then. We had just installed one on an old 4020 when I did it. That tractor didn't even have seat belts.

Ozarker · Jul 6, 2004

( Several previous posts have indicated that a ROPS alone, while not the ideal situation, has kept the operator safe. )

Without the seatbelt tt wasn't the ROPS that kept them safe, it was just luck.