Kubota or John Deere

[ovrszd]

The Sami is mine... brother really needed/wanted something with a dump bed...

Found this one about 150 miles away owned by a retired couple for 400 hours on it... kept in the garage... only thing I could find was a muffler repair where the pipe goes into the muffler... it's ok now but I'm sure it will need attention later.

I built a headache rack ony bed rack. I've hauled a LOT of dirt piled all that will stay on with the tailgate down. Couple time I've had to help it start dumping if the dirt is damp and will pile higher. Otherwise it dumps as intended.

 

[ultrarunner]

So it has been two weeks with the Kubota RTV900 on the ranch... it has been used every day and in general it is up to the tasks at hand.

I posted a few months back about the steep trail at the rear property line... no problem for the Dozer or L3800.

The RTV 900 is pretty much stretched to it's limit in low crawling up the trail with about 500lb in the bed...

Is it typical for these 900's to run out of power before traction?

This is the older version with L, M and H ranges forward...

No idea if the newer 2spd 900X is similar power wise to the older 900.

 

[s219]

I'd have to look in the specs, but my understanding is that the new diesel engines in the X models have quite a bit more torque, enough so that they dropped the middle gear -- high is now adequate for what used to need medium. I don't know how it would compare the old models in low gear though -- depends on if the gear ratios changed. I bet if you could find all the specs for the motor and the gearing for both, some math might give the answer.

 

[ovrszd]

Yes, it's normal for your older 900 to run out of power before traction loss. Takes some getting used to. You'll learn that it will power thru better by coming off the throttle pedal a little rather than depressing it more. Very odd behavior that is unnatural.

Add a hand throttle which will increase the unit's ability in those situations. Puts the engine at maximum hp/torque while keeping the HVT at a lower gear ratio. If I remember right the kit cost me around $120.

 

[ultrarunner]

Wondered about the hand throttle option... the dozer trail along the fence line is steep and bladed smooth.

Last night I was also thinking I need to check the spark arrestor... doubt it is obstructed but simple to check.

 

[ovrszd]

Wondered about the hand throttle option... the dozer trail along the fence line is steep and bladed smooth.

Last night I was also thinking I need to check the spark arrestor... doubt it is obstructed but simple to check.

I've had mine almost a year and put 120 hours on it. I've finally gotten used to the operation and it's required methods. I haven't accepted it all as necessary in the construction of these machines. Maybe some of it's issues could have been designed out. But even with the new ones owners complain of the same weird behaviors, just not quite as bad.

 

[ultrarunner]

I know loading up I needed to add blocks... the RTV was not able to "Climb" over the 10" curb.

It really does well in general... my brother was driving it up the steep slope I as was watching from a distance... did ask if he let up on the pedal and he said yes...

Also this one will stop quickly when you take your foot off the pedal... which was known and confirmed prior to purchase... just something to get use to.

Could be that I am use to my Kubota and Deere tractors losing traction and not losing power.

Being new to RTVs with the only prior experience a one cylinder air cooled Gator it is all a learning experience.

Have wondered if the new X-Models worked out the quirks and the if the x1120 will run out of traction before power.

 

[ovrszd]

I added a Coast Valve so it wouldn't slide to a stop when the pedal is released. I like that a lot better. Makes much better use of the system, especially in hills. Others will say it's more effective in stock form. My point always is, if I need to stop I am capable of removing my foot from the go pedal and applying the brake pedal. In stock form this machine uses energy to move, even if it's heading downhill.

 

[ultrarunner]

Not sure which way I will go on the coast valve...

My 11 year old niece was showing me around the ranch and it was her first time driving the RTV...

She did well but never quite got the hang of easing off the pedal... in two wheel drive the rear wheels would slide on the gravel.

Didn't want to overwhelm her and we also got some L3800 seat time... her older brother is very good at both and sometimes she feels left in the dust... guess it is a brother/sister competitive thing.

Anyway, he has somewhere to by yesterday afternoon and we spent some time and my niece really enjoyed it and so did I... as we went to check the seedlings we stopped and she reset those the deere had messed with... it was nice to see.

She was so excited to tell her 14 year old brother what she had learned and he was quick with a smart remark

 

[ovrszd]

Yep sibling rivalry.

My grandkids all learned to drive on the timber trails driving buggies and/or side by sides. Scares me that some kid's first experience with vehicle control is in traffic on public roads....