8N ROPS

OK, I have an 8N and I need a ROPS, but many of the forums discussing these are a bit long in the tooth. So here's an update based on a lot of looking.

I wholeheartedly agree that if you can afford it, you should by a professionally manufactured ROPS. The variables of workmanship and the liabilities involved are huge. Having said that, those of us with an 8N that does more than just go to shows usually need a cost-effective solution.

After combing through many sources I've found 3 solutions, all of which have been found by others, but I've gathered them here in one place.

1 - Hercules ROPS - http://external_link.com/rops.aspx About $750 for the 8N model shipping is another story. I last spoke to the dealer in Apple Valley CA a few years ago, and he had at least one in stock.
2 - Bare-Co - http://www.bare-co.com/files-rop-rop1 Similar price. Emailed today, got a response today, through a dealer in Shingle Springs CA.
3 - NIOSH CROPS Project - https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aginjury/crops/ Full detailed plans for a DIY ROPS, professionally engineered and tested. Designed specifically to be fabricated and installed by the do-it-yourselfer, you'll have to price the steel yourself to get an idea of what the project will cost. Only has 2 brackets that need welding, the fabrication shops that do that would probably charge a mighty reasonable price.

So there it is, in one place, I plan to copy and paste this message where I can. And I plan to build the NIOSH CROPS.

AND, not a one is worth two bits if you fail to secure your SEAT BELT every single time you climb aboard. Lack of common sense will get its price whether you have a ROPS or not. Like EVERY machine, this one has no brains, you must use your own.

So was there a recent event that inspired this recent post.

RufusMax,
I see this is your first post.
Thanks for the info.
Do you really own an 8N tractor?
Im curious what you use it for.
I kinda get the feeling that you're some kind of a bureaucrat or do gooder who's trying to push an
agenda here.
Maybe?
As for me, I kinda like riding on my open station tractor. With nothing between me and the bugs and
branches and mud and stench of diesel fuel - and death - if I don't keep my wits about me.
If I want to have a cocoon of safety factors around me I'll just jump in my car, where they're all
mandated, along with seatbelts and niceness and warm fuzzy stuff.

(quoted from post at 18:49:56 03/24/17) RufusMax,
I see this is your first post.
Thanks for the info.
Do you really own an 8N tractor?
Im curious what you use it for.
I kinda get the feeling that you're some kind of a bureaucrat or do gooder who's trying to push an
agenda here.
Maybe?
As for me, I kinda like riding on my open station tractor. With nothing between me and the bugs and
branches and mud and stench of diesel fuel - and death - if I don't keep my wits about me.
If I want to have a cocoon of safety factors around me I'll just jump in my car, where they're all
mandated, along with seatbelts and niceness and warm fuzzy stuff.

Click to expand...

I like standing up while the tractor is moving. I can catch more wind that way. Your post cracked me up.

I almost have that now, I have a 48 8N with a Wagner front end loader, I'am surrounded by a pipe cage.If I thought I
needed a roll bar I would just get out the torch and welder, Na I'll just rely on my brain and common sense.

Amen! A close friend was just paralyzed by a roll over, crushed by the rops because he had not fastened the belt. Y'all be careful out there.

Not that I have seen a lot of 8n tractors but I have never seen one with a ROPS or a seat belt.

It seems to me that complacency is more dangerous.

I'm not against having a ROPS, but I don't think I'd want this one. I've carefully looked at the documentation (which seems to be well done). The length of the side almost vertical tubing is just shy of 6 ft. When installed, this limits the tractor to being stored inside a building or shed with a 8 ft high door opening. There are certainly some farm sheds that can accommodate this, but I reserve the tall door opening areas for the big tractors and equipment. A normal residential garage door is 7 ft, it is pretty rare to find 8 ft high doors in a garage.

Judging by some of the photos of the tractor with completed ROPS installed, I am not impressed with some of the owner's obvious lack of experience (and that may be good reason they need a ROPS). Example: The 8N with tire chains and a pull behind rotary mower. The hitch is set way low, so the mower is probably scalping at the front, and throwing rocks and solid debris out of the raised rear. The mower is hitched to the 11 hole cross bar, but without any sway control. If the hydraulic lift is thoughtlessly lifted, the hitch crashes into the PTO shaft. We all know how much rotational momentum the mower has, and that will continue to increase the lift and turn the PTO even if the operator stomps on the clutch pedal in a panic. I would not allow that tractor and mower to be on my property as it is set up. NO WAY! That is a likely serious accident waiting to happen, and you won't have to wait very long.

The ROPS also raised the Center of Gravity of a relatively light tractor, possibly increasing the chances of roll over, depending on degree of side slope the tractor is being driven on. Keeping the COG low is easily done by filling the rear tires half full. Yes, Calcium Chloride can increase your roll over protection and it one heck of a lot cheaper and quicker to install.

Why would a guy be mowing with the winter tire chains still installed? Have you ever had a chain or cross link break? Next up comes the swinging mower blade, and that piece of chain is flung out at 100 mph.

Unfortunately this tractor owner has increased his thoughts of safety consciousness, but in this case neither the ROPS nor seat belt is going to make up for his lack of experience or ignorance of basic operator knowledge. He (she?) is a danger to themself and other people or animals that might be near this operator.

This goes to show what Ultradog was getting at.

Paul in MN

Apparently RufusMax is a brand name for a tractor [b:6585ec1112]roof[/b:6585ec1112] that doubles as ROP.

(quoted from post at 23:48:07 03/26/17) Apparently RufusMax is a brand name for a tractor [b:747b22a052]roof[/b:747b22a052] that doubles as ROP.

Click to expand...

This thread didn't make any sense to me until I found out that in modern view RufusMax post did not show.

In the other thread "Another use for the boom pole", I made two posts and neither of my posts show up to me. I think other people can see them but I can't see them.

This forum is getting very strange. I wonder if I'll be able to see this post?

Cary,

No, none of yours show up on Kirk's Boom Pole thread.
I don't see the Rufus post one on this threads either
but the name rings a bell.

"I wonder if I'll be able to see this post?"

This post shows in modern and classic view.
Original poster's contains an external link that is not allowed.
If you switch to classic view and look at it, it actually says
"external link not allowed" where the link should have been.
That didn't get converted to modern view so doesn't show.
At least, that's my understanding of how it works.

Not sure what happened to your posts on Kirk's thread, but
they too show if you switch to classic view.

(quoted from post at 19:06:30 03/27/17) Cary,

No, none of yours show up on Kirk's Boom Pole thread.
I don't see the Rufus post one on this threads either
but the name rings a bell.

Click to expand...

My posts must be visible to Kirk because he answered my question.

the working hypothesis is that it's a spam/politics/whatever filter that is more aggressive on the modern side than the classic side. i think kirk can see your posts because he is using classic view.

in modern view, if u click reply in a thread where this is happening, u can beat the system - down below the posting box and the advanced posting tools and the upload photos area is a section called topic review. if u scroll thru there, u should be able to see the missing posts as long as there haven't been too many other posts made since then :idea:

i've got a thread going about this on the feedback board and it's being looked at. hopefully this will be fixed soon.

If you switch to classic view for a minute, by clicking the
link in the red box at the top right, they show up there.
There is a similar link on Classic view to switch back to modern.

(quoted from post at 04:44:27 03/28/17) If you switch to classic view for a minute, by clicking the
link in the red box at the top right, they show up there.
There is a similar link on Classic view to switch back to modern.

Click to expand...

I wish they would get it fixed soon. Sure, one can do like you said above but, sometimes if a post doesn't show, you really don't know your missing it.

(quoted from post at 17:12:27 03/29/17)

(quoted from post at 04:44:27 03/28/17) If you switch to classic view for a minute, by clicking the
link in the red box at the top right, they show up there.
There is a similar link on Classic view to switch back to modern.

Click to expand...

I wish they would get it fixed soon. Sure, one can do like you said above but, sometimes if a post doesn't show, you really don't know your missing it.

Click to expand...

no further updates yet on the thread i started about this.

I've got one made by SAF-T-Cab, don't think they are around anymore, good solid ROPS, easy to install with seatbelt. I don't use it much anymore and would sell it if you are close to NW IL.