Common or Not?

[Idoitall]

In my quest looking for a used machine I stopped at a local used tractor sales and service lot to look at a 6 ft. finish mower for my tractor. This guy has been in business for many years and has a good reputation for service.

After looking and pricing the mower I noticed that he had a Gehl skid steer in the shop. I asked him a few questions about it and we took a look. Its a 2001 4835 Turbo.

While the machine looked fairly good overall, one thing that I noticed was a weld about half way up the front support for the ROPS cab. Looking closer I found all 4 corners, as well as the side screens had similar welds. I was thinking roll-over or worse, so this immediately threw up a flag to me and so I asked about this. He told that the machine was bought new locally and the top half of the cab was removed to use in cleaning out chicken houses (lots of these in our area), and, this was a common practice. In addition, the instrument panel that is normally upright in the right pillar post was laid down beside the seat in a horizontal position, Wires were just dangling underneath the panel since there was no bottom. I've looked at 8-10 machines and this is a 1st for me to see, but I'll look closer now.

Needless to say, this modification, and the chicken house use, turned me off pretty quick. Due to the high amonia content in the manure, there was plenty of rusty areas inside and out. I think I'll keep looking.

I was wondering, is this a common thing to see? If nothing else this would have to degrade the integrity of the ROPS cab, even if a pro welded it. This has a liability issue written all over it in case something bad happened.

Now, let me see if I can add some images. Didn't work. I was able to create a new album, "ROPS Repair" and upload the pictures, but it won't allow me to paste them in, nor the link. I'm using Firefox, so this may be an issue. I'll have to work on this issue.

Go to Media/Photos/Page 5/ROPS Repair to see the images.

 

[Tazza]

Over here any welds or additional holes to the ROPS and the dealer is not allowed to sell it. They MUST put a new ROPS on and the old one must be destroyed. But for personal sales i don't think its an issue. I would still like to know my ROPS will save my life if i ever rolled over.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Over here any welds or additional holes to the ROPS and the dealer is not allowed to sell it. They MUST put a new ROPS on and the old one must be destroyed. But for personal sales i don't think its an issue. I would still like to know my ROPS will save my life if i ever rolled over.

Personally I'd say it depends on the faith you have in the welder and the repair they made. But it would be a field day for the lawyers in a court room.
To post pictures you must copy the actual photo not the link to the photo.
Mozilla works fine

I'd say the welds look ok, but it really a personal thing as to weather you trust them. Also the price of the machine should reflect the fact that the cab is deemed destroyed legally
Ken

 

[Idoitall]

Personally I'd say it depends on the faith you have in the welder and the repair they made. But it would be a field day for the lawyers in a court room.
To post pictures you must copy the actual photo not the link to the photo.
Mozilla works fine





I'd say the welds look ok, but it really a personal thing as to weather you trust them. Also the price of the machine should reflect the fact that the cab is deemed destroyed legally
Ken

Yes, the lawyers live for evidence like this, especially if a company is involved rather than an individual. Ten years from now the poor welder could have a rude awakening one day. At work, I've help cut up and throw in the dumpster many a fiberglass and aluminum ladder just because of a small defect.

Thanks for posting the images. I just can't seem to get them in a post. I was able to get a link in there, but no image. I tried copying the image as well as the text below. I'll get it.

I'm sure that I have no interest in this machine due to its' use and the ROPS repair. Just for information, the price is $10,500. One other thing I noticed. With the engine hood up, my view of the pumps was limited, but the one I could see part of was a nice medium blue color and looked "different" from the rest of the machine. I suspect this may be a replacement pump. Any ideas?

Mostly, I thought that these images might be helpful to other newbies like me that may be looking at used machines. Not every one would be as honest as this guy was about such details.

 

[charger]

Yes, the lawyers live for evidence like this, especially if a company is involved rather than an individual. Ten years from now the poor welder could have a rude awakening one day. At work, I've help cut up and throw in the dumpster many a fiberglass and aluminum ladder just because of a small defect.

Thanks for posting the images. I just can't seem to get them in a post. I was able to get a link in there, but no image. I tried copying the image as well as the text below. I'll get it.

I'm sure that I have no interest in this machine due to its' use and the ROPS repair. Just for information, the price is $10,500. One other thing I noticed. With the engine hood up, my view of the pumps was limited, but the one I could see part of was a nice medium blue color and looked "different" from the rest of the machine. I suspect this may be a replacement pump. Any ideas?

Mostly, I thought that these images might be helpful to other newbies like me that may be looking at used machines. Not every one would be as honest as this guy was about such details.

dealer cannot legally sell a machine with a rops modified like that,it has to be replaced (out here anyway)

 

[Idoitall]

dealer cannot legally sell a machine with a rops modified like that,it has to be replaced (out here anyway)

I lost any interest that I might have had when I saw the welds. As a friend often said "That ain't right!!"
I suspect that OSHA would condem the machine on site and likely even fine the dealer selling it. And like you say, it might be OK, but I wouldn't bet my life on it.

 

[wrenchin80]

I lost any interest that I might have had when I saw the welds. As a friend often said "That ain't right!!"
I suspect that OSHA would condem the machine on site and likely even fine the dealer selling it. And like you say, it might be OK, but I wouldn't bet my life on it.

Ah, the good ole' chicken s*** tractors. We see a bunch of them in our shop with the tops cut off. Most of the owners sell them to other individuals so liability isn't so much of an issue, but if one gets traded in to us, we put a new cab on it. The best one I have seen is a Bobcat 863 F series, but the top 8 inches of the cab were from a G series.

 

[Tazza]

Ah, the good ole' chicken s*** tractors. We see a bunch of them in our shop with the tops cut off. Most of the owners sell them to other individuals so liability isn't so much of an issue, but if one gets traded in to us, we put a new cab on it. The best one I have seen is a Bobcat 863 F series, but the top 8 inches of the cab were from a G series.

I don't think i'd ever want to run a machine without a ROPS. I have never rolled my machine but i have been pretty darn close! If i ever rolled without a ROPS i know for sure i'd be dead.

 

[DANNP]

I don't think i'd ever want to run a machine without a ROPS. I have never rolled my machine but i have been pretty darn close! If i ever rolled without a ROPS i know for sure i'd be dead.

I am not really thrilled by the weld job done . But if the price was right and a proper job done I'd take it . Being an autobody technician for 15yrs now I have sectioned many frame rails , roofs , quarter panels etc. and like anything there is a proper way to section something in and that isn't it . As instructed by I-CAR , which is a industry standard company , you must sleeve any joints or overlaps in sectioning of metal. So if you can section sheet metal that sometimes is no thicker than 20 gauge in a vehicle that travels at 120 km/h constantly and is safe , I believe you can successfully section a rops . But that goes back to the you must trust the guy repairing it . My opinion ,for what it is worth . DANNP