Tractor ROPS welding repair suggestions

shelby27604

shelby27604

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2013
Location
Efland NC
Long story short, I purchased this tractor a couple of months ago, about to put it into service. The tractor COULD BE optioned with a ROPS that had a bolted joint so I thought nothing of it. Was looking at it yesterday, and realized, this is not the factory version.

Looking for opinions on the best option to make this a safe ROPS again. My thought is to pull it off the tractor, weld a piece of tube inside for alignment and plate the outside with 3 plates (that inside radius looks like it would be hard to plate).

I am good enough at welding to stick metal together, but would prefer to farm this out to someone with structural welding experience, I know we have some quality welders here on the board....have truck, will travel.

IMG_20260421_194701272_HDR.jpg
IMG_20260421_194708290_HDR.jpg
 
maulcruiser said:
What part do you feel is unsafe? If it's sleeved enough inside the tubing, it should hold as a ROPS. Unless it folds above what's pictured, I'd leave it pieced together so that it can be removed for low clearance obstacles.
Click to expand...
The factory version uses 4 bolts (2 x 2 cross bolted) and a 90 degree plate to secure the upper and lower section. This just uses a small piece of angle iron welded to the upper tube to capture the bolt shown in the picture.
It is a folding ROPS, so getting into the garage and under structures will not be an issue once this joint is welded.
 
Don't tube the inside. Rust dirt and such will lock that unit together like a receiver hitch that's never seen daylight.
Form a capture 3 sided sleeve and use the through bolt and add a lower bolt to fight pivoting on the single bolt and external sleeve.
Double wall thickness of tube for sleeve. Any thicker greatly supercedes the current tubes strength and would just be a waste of material.
 
The ROPS on my tractor has not seen the vertical position in the 6 yrs Ive owned it. 😅
 
awheelterd said:
The ROPS on my tractor has not seen the vertical position in the 6 yrs Ive owned it. 😅
Click to expand...
The ROPS on my tractor at home doesn't go up often, but this particular tractor is going to be working on some hilly and rutted property. I have had a couple close calls in the past on that property and would rather have a ROPS I feel comfortable with.

Also, adding a suspension seat and a canopy means I will definitely be belted in and the ROPS will always be up.
 
shelby27604 said:
The factory version uses 4 bolts (2 x 2 cross bolted) and a 90 degree plate to secure the upper and lower section. This just uses a small piece of angle iron welded to the upper tube to capture the bolt shown in the picture.
It is a folding ROPS, so getting into the garage and under structures will not be an issue once this joint is welded.
Click to expand...
Right on. That makes more sense. I'd want it done properly also.
 
ROPS is mandatory here and I think it a great idea everywhere.
 
Back
Top