Kubota RTV Facts/Fiction...

deanj · Dec 17, 2009

Strange. You are in PA and I am in MS and we are hearing the same thing.

jdjdjd · Dec 17, 2009

I own a Kubota M9540 tractor and a Polaris Ranger. I was at the Kubota dealership getting parts for my baler and struck up a conversation with the manager about the RTVs. I have been looking for a second UTV. When the conversation turned to this forum and all the complaints he quickly dismissed all of them as trivial. When I mentioned some of the specifics he said that owners did not know how to drive the RTV and did not maintain them properly.

And speaking as the true salesman that he was, he said that his dealership has NEVER had a complaint about ANY of the RTVs that they have sold. ( yeah, I believed that

)

I am still interested in the Kubota RTV but I think I will wait and see if these problems are corrected in newer models.

timswi · Dec 17, 2009

deanj said:
Strange. You are in PA and I am in MS and we are hearing the same thing.

They are ignoring us and hoping it goes away...You complained to your dealer, as did I, and they said it is what it is.

Did you fill out the surveys as well?...I did, and gave them every way possible to contact me about this...The silence is unbelievable.

I guess I'm an idiot for expecting more, but I learned on this machine. When I decide to replace the BX and the RTV, I'll look elsewhere. That pains me greatly to say.

I love everything about the 500, design, build, features etc. Kubota put a lawnmower engine in this thing. With 25-30 HP it would be a whole different story. My guess is that they tested this in Kansas...If you run pastures all day with no hills, life is good. As soon as you have to go up a long grade, the party is over.

How many of us were able to test drive this on anything but flat ground? Dealers tend not to be anywhere near hills. The power on hills was my main concern. The dealer said it's fantastic, even better than the 900...Wow! were they wrong.

One solution would be for Kubota to actually read and respond to surveys and complaints. I work for a Fortune500 company and we would never allow this to fester.

If they want to keep us as customers of discretionary income purchases in the future, they should contact us. Even give us a fair deal on a 900 to clear the deck. If that were to happen, no one would hear about this subject from me again.

timswi · Dec 17, 2009

jdjdjd said:
I own a Kubota M9540 tractor and a Polaris Ranger. I was at the Kubota dealership getting parts for my baler and struck up a conversation with the manager about the RTVs. I have been looking for a second UTV. When the conversation turned to this forum and all the complaints he quickly dismissed all of them as trivial. When I mentioned some of the specifics he said that owners did not know how to drive the RTV and did not maintain them properly.

And speaking as the true salesman that he was, he said that his dealership has NEVER had a complaint about ANY of the RTVs that they have sold. ( yeah, I believed that )

I am still interested in the Kubota RTV but I think I will wait and see if these problems are corrected in newer models.

Here's why he's full of it...My stuff is maintained much better than recommended. In fact, I can sell anything with an engine that I own because of that fact.

Not know how to drive it? Let's see: I drive AG equipment, skidloaders, excevators, muscle cars, race cars and an SCUT. Never had a problem handling any of them to their maximum performance. But all of a sudden, I can't handle and RTV500, give me a break!!!

Nice policy, blame the moron that spent the $8,000+ accessories instead of the company that built it.

My future decisions are becoming clearer by the day.

Kubota, I know you are watching this board. What say you?

deanj · Dec 18, 2009

You are right about the dealer talking about all of the power that it had. They were bragging about that it pulled a small hill behind their business. They are not saying much right now. We should have all known something when they keep the 500 at o% for 60 months. That is the only incentive that they have going for it.

mstordahl · Dec 29, 2009

deanj said:
I met with my dealer and the Kubota Rep. They were very upset with this forum. The rep says this forum should not be listened to. They did increase my rpms by 250. Would not touch the servo. It seems to have a little more power. They did tell me that it did not seem to have the power that some others on their lot had. They also said they did something to help, but would not tell me what that was. I think they don't like this forum because it shows the problems that exists. This bothers me that we buy a product and it becomes our problem. I guess I will just have to live with it or sell it.

Man alive, you really need to find another dealer if you have that option. This is plain ridiculous. Some people are so far behind the present they think that they are first in line...

This just proves, YET AGAIN, that these dealers do not know what the **** they are doing or talking about. The servo is there to fine tune the transmission. I can teach my wife about a hst in a rtv and she will understand why you would need to adjust the servo. It is not rocket science. Increasing the rpm is just half of the adjustment needed to make these things perform like they should. If you do not adjust the servo, you will NOT get a machine that performs to its maximum. It seems to be obvious to me that the adjustments I have spoken are working by the happy members that have tried them. No, the rtv will never be a rocket, but it can to a pretty good job. The rtv 500 that I just adjusted for a customer will do donuts all day long in our parking lot. THAT is how much difference it will make. The adjustments I made are proven and reliable. Machines with 10,000hours on them after my set up make that point obvious.

737pilot · Dec 29, 2009

Hey welcome back Matt!!!!!!!!! I did your 15 min tune up and it made 100% improvment in enjoyment. I have a little pep and unless its a really steep hill never have to shift to low. I like most of the good customers here have no motive to degrade Kubota or spread ill will. We just have dissapointment with the repeated complaints to common problems not gettting fixed. The rattle issue is my biggest gripe as you have corrected the low power issue and we all thank you for that fix. My local Kubota dealer still has no clue about the servo and rpm adjjustment. I explained it to them and the tech said he just got back from school on the RTV and there was no mention of any problems. I just shook my head and left.

KeithC · Dec 30, 2009

mstordahl said:
Man alive, you really need to find another dealer if you have that option. This is plain ridiculous. Some people are so far behind the present they think that they are first in line... This just proves, YET AGAIN, that these dealers do not know what the **** they are doing or talking about. The servo is there to fine tune the transmission. I can teach my wife about a hst in a rtv and she will understand why you would need to adjust the servo. It is not rocket science. Increasing the rpm is just half of the adjustment needed to make these things perform like they should. If you do not adjust the servo, you will NOT get a machine that performs to its maximum. It seems to be obvious to me that the adjustments I have spoken are working by the happy members that have tried them. No, the rtv will never be a rocket, but it can to a pretty good job. The rtv 500 that I just adjusted for a customer will do donuts all day long in our parking lot. THAT is how much difference it will make. The adjustments I made are proven and reliable. Machines with 10,000hours on them after my set up make that point obvious.

Hey Matt,

Thanks for your posts and understanding the issues we have with dealers.

I too have had an RTV 900 since 2004. It has been back to the dealer 6 times for these same issues, the last time in Feb 2009 at a cost of $450.00 for labor, fixing nothing. While I have learned to control (somewhat) the stopping issue and the shifting lock up, the problem of not being able get power to the ground or spin the tires, on flat wet grass I might add, while I pull my floating dock in is unresolved. The RTV just sits there and groans with a low moaning sound.

Could you give a detailed description, with pictures if possible, of the adjustments that are needed? Are the adjustments on the 900 the same as the 500 discussed here? I have good mechanical skills and am sure I can do this myself. If you can't do this, can you tell us where we can get this information?

Thanks Again,
Keith

Wayne_H · Dec 30, 2009

Hey Matt:

I found the servo on my 900 you talked about. I backed off the nut holding that adjusting scrwe, but what the heck I can't get that screw to turn! Is there some trick I am missing? There is no mud or anything on it, it looks like I should be able to turn it by hand.

thanks

Wayne

timswi · Dec 30, 2009

Wayne_H said:
Hey Matt:

I found the servo on my 900 you talked about. I backed off the nut holding that adjusting scrwe, but what the heck I can't get that screw to turn! Is there some trick I am missing? There is no mud or anything on it, it looks like I should be able to turn it by hand.

thanks

Wayne

Wayne, that should move by hand, mine did...Got the right one?...is there a regular screwdriver slot in the end of the stud?