We need a blizzard that covers a wide area! You guys are over thinking this.
I'm going to have to put everything in a Trust, then let it all sell after my demise to avoid pointing fingers and law suits, and wanting me to replace and pay for damages.
I've got a Deutz D6206 with a factory ROPS and canopy. I'm sure it has some rust here and there, but I've never really inspected it, or even worried about it. It's been kept in a barn for the years I've owned it and the dealer where I got it never indicated there should be a problem. I'd imagine if there is oxidation on the outside there has to be some on the inside!
Now the 730 Case has a canopy copied off the Deutz, but is held up by 1 1/2" square tubing. I sure hope no one mistakes that for a ROPS. That model didn't have ROPS. That tractor was built when people were responsible for their mistakes, and suffered the consequences if they made them. Their family members, neighbors and logical thinking were relied on for thinking about safety.
(But we've got the government to tell us what's safe and what's not when operating a machine! They don't want us hurt. Now, I could see the government's concern if 45 million farmers were killed in the last 50 years. Oh wait, that's how many abortions they permitted, not farmers killed.)
What if you have a modern Kubota with folding ROPS and that rubber plug is missing when the top is folded? Would that be cause for replacement also?
Oh, I have to go make another pot of coffee.
You can do what you want to your stuff. You spent the money, you do with it what you want whether it is start it on fire, roll it down a hill, or park it in your front lawn.
I believe what the point being made here is that modifying safety equipment that is explicitly stated not to modify by the manufacture will have a cost at resale (to a dealer) because of liability concerns from all parties.
If you aren't selling the equipment and you want to modify your ROPs then do it at your own risk. Maybe you roll the tractor and the ROPs still works as intended and you get to come online and brag about it. But if it doesn't then you have no assistance you can seek outside of your own insurance for the expense of hospital bills.
Stuff happens in life and even if you do everything in your power to operate safely things outside of your control could leave you relying on the safety equipment that is the last resort.
I'm not saying that I am perfect and always operate everything I own safely (for that matter I hardly ever where eye protection outside of metal working when I am at home) or even always have the ROPs up on my unit. Nor do I just go full bore because the safety equipment will protect me.
The government isn't going to come and REPO your tractor if the ROPs is modified, but if you loan it to your neighbor, or you let your kid use it and the ROPs fails the liability could be dropped (at least partially) in your lap.
Do what you think is best for your lifestyle but it is hard to make a case to drill holes when a U-Bolt will work as well for a couple dollars more, and if you eventually sell to a private party I would hope you at least mention that the ROPs have been modified so they can make an informed decision when purchasing the unit from you.
