Hesitation and Vibration when starting to move

bczoom · Aug 27, 2004

All,
Kubota posted a bulletin with the above title.
This is the only tranny related issue the local dealer has seen.
He'll continue to keep his eyes open for the shifting issue.
Applies to serial numbers: 10001-13084

Subject: Some RTV900 tires will pulsate significantly at the initial movement. The unit will have a tendency to hesitate as the accelerator is depressed. As the engine RPM increases toward ¼ to ½ throttle, the transmission hesitates and
doesn’t respond. The accelerator pedal continues to be depressed further and further without the unit moving. Then, suddenly the unit will lunge forward. Also, the wheels
will pulsate or shudder at the point of initial movement.

Dargo · Aug 27, 2004

Okay, I'll try to make this post somewhat short, but I have some information on the transmission. First off, after I read the bulletin that bczoom was kind enough to send me, it gave me an idea. In the bulletin it mentioned that the dealer change the transmission filter to make sure that it didn't have any flow obstruction or blockage.

Hmm I thought. If a filter had an obstruction, it could limit flow and possible put back pressure on the system. Therefore, I went ahead and spent $80.31 to purchase the two transmission filters (part number K7561-14070 and K7561-14080). One filter was $19.03 and the other was $14.58. I also bought 3 gallons of Kubota Super UDT for $46.70.

As it turned out, I didn't need the last quart of fluid. Interesting enough, in doing the change, I noticed that the transmission plug had a nice magnet attached to it. The magnet looked like a spikey hairball. It was literally covered with metal shavings. I cleaned it thouroughly and even rinsed it with fresh Super UDT fluid. I then changed both filters and refilled the transmission. To do the whole job all you need is a 17mm 6 pt. socket, and a 13mm 6 pt. socket (to remove the rear filter guard), an oil filter wrench and of course a big oil pan.

After running it for about 5 minutes I thought I'd put it to the test. I ran up on the biggest hill I have and stopped in the middle. While holding down on the brake pedel, I reached up and was surprised to be able to move it out of low and into reverse. It was snug, but it wasn't at all like I was going to break the lever off like before. I ran half way up the hill again and stopped. I then stomped the throttle and lunged most all the way back up the hill. Again I stopped and tried my luck on getting it out of gear after applying as much of a load as I possibly could by lunging up the hill. Again, it came out of gear without a big fight. Tight, but not impossible.

I'm still not ready to call it "fixed", but it certianly made a noticable difference. Other than costing me $80.31 to change the transmission oil and filters at 26 hours, it possibly may be the answer to the transmission sticking in gear. I feel comfortable saying that my filters likely had metal shavings plugging up some of their flow, based upon the magnet being covered in shavings. Anyone else done the same?

flyingn · Aug 27, 2004

interesting Dargo! Ill be sure to do the same on mine soon too as I have 27 hours on it..

Frank

Dargo · Aug 27, 2004

I went by my Kubota dealer to talk about the transmission "fix" I'd done. Well, after 2 hours I bought a brand new L5030HSTC tractor! Man, what an expensive trip!! Anyway, he is going to contact Kubota for me if indeed the early change of filters and oil fixed a transmission problem. The logic was that it actually saved Kubota money by me not having the dealer work on it and do the same thing under warranty. I'll take it if he can get me some credit. I should not have had to make this change so soon. I really think I would have broken something in my transmission before I got to 50 hours.

What do you guys think? I'm glad it helped, but I easlily could have had the Kubota dealer tear everything down and run up quite a warranty bill only to end up doing the same thing.

bczoom · Aug 28, 2004

Dang Dargo,
That was an expensive trip to the store. Congrats. It appears that even with your tranny problem you haven't given up on orange.
What kind of things do you plan on doing with the tractor?
Get any attachments for it?

bczoom · Aug 28, 2004

Frank

Nice Buick(s). Are both of the black ones yours?

Brian

Dargo · Aug 28, 2004

Yeah, I definitely dropped some coin with Kubota yesterday! Between the RTV and now the new L5030HSTC with a Kubota loader and all, you can just imagine how much I've spent on orange in the last 6 months.

I turned my kids and wife loose on the RTV today while I waxed my new tractor, (no comments!) and there was zero problems with the transmission. Without the oil and filters being changed I seriously doubt that it would have made it to 50 hours. I highly recommend changing the transmission oil and filters early if you are experiencing any transmission difficulties at all. I used the Super UDT, but I don't know if that made any difference over the regular UDT, but the change certainly made a big difference!