ROPS/FOPS specs

[waz77]

Anyone know the required spec of forestry guarding for tractors? Does it need to be certified? Was thinking of fabricating my self but not sure it would fulfill regulations?

Cheers

[Logan]

Hi there, seems like nobody knows! From what I recall from one of those fc safety days a few years back, when looking at a valtra with a trailer crane, it was a very lightweight frame over the cab and it seemed to satisfy the clipboard guy. Rops is in tractor cab. Some marguard or a grill wherever you plan to sling logs to. That was for forwarder anyway.

I need to guard up a cx75 excavator fitted with a grab, and gut feeling makes me reckon that 60x60x5mm box should offer fair protection against the size of stem it'll be fighting. We use a log trestle in the yard made of same and it hasn't bent yet!

[Brushcutter]

I don't think so. I've used many Valtra/Valmet set ups and if they had cages they were all different. Unless they're made by Wilsons then they're the same and rather good.

 

I think our guarding is 40mm and i've had a tree come across it so it does work.

[waz77]

We'll guys I've just started fitting it all today. 50x50x5 box section frame, brackets are 100x100x12angle and had a plate profiled for the rear mounting out of 12mm plate, got half of it built today, should get it just about finished tomorrow, then it's all got to come of again for painting. I'll get some pics up when it's done.

[Craig.]

I would think the base tractor`s cab would be rated to ROPS on its own. Can`t help with FOPS spec though, and would guess a one off build would be hard to get approved if needed, I would go by gut feeling that you would feel happy sitting in the cab and something fall against / on it.

[AlexB]

Sounds good, I'm looking forward to seeing it Thursday!

 

 

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[waz77]

Yeah from the research I did I concluded that the Rops/Fops status is built in as standard to the tractor, the guarding is just extra protection against knocks,bumps and scrapes.

Alex should be not far off done when you come, think the trailer is coming Weds too.

[AlexB]

Good stuff, I've a few jobs for it once fmoc's are sorted !

 

 

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[santacruz]

Yep cab is your rops etc. Trick is to make the gaurding heavy enough so that you can tip her or have a tree over the cab without damaging the cab. If the cab is damaged it must be inspected and probably replaced. Build it tough, and while your at it I think its worth adding heavy steel from where the pick up hitch would be mounted all the way to the front if the engine is a stressed member. This takes the stress off the bolts that hold the engine and gearbox together for when you crash down off stumps or when the front comes down heavy after a hard pull. For ideas look at a big agg tractor that has a front linkage they all have heavy reinforcing front to back. You can really get stuck in with your blade then without fear of your tractor snapping in half.

[waz77]

Got most of the main frame built now, just need to do window and radiator guards then it all has to come off again for welding and painting.