Kubota RTV 900 problems?

[Leon Wittner]

I removed the spark arrestor from mine it is simple it is stuck in the end of the exhaust pipe and held there by a couple of sheetmetal screws. Comes right out and increases power output. Never saw a spark one anyway.

 

[CC wheat]

Thanks, I will give it a try. Have you ever had problems with the linkage? Could it cause problems?

 

[Cook123]

wow a whole lota talk bout problems!

 

[Wayne_H]

They are not bad machines, the power steering is great, and the motor runs great. It rides way better than our Mule did.

The ony problem most complain about, and I still have not heard of a fix or adjustment, is the lack of power to the wheels. The engine revs, but the back wheels don't spin, it just sits still. The shifting problem, could be that on the earlier ones there was no trans pressure release coupled to the brake. If there was, then why would they put that pull knob on it?

If ANYWAY has or knows of an adjustment to get more power to the rear wheels, please let us all know.

Wayne

 

[mstordahl]

If you adjust the hst servo to make it a little more agressive, in low range your rtv will spin all 4 tires under a heavy load. The servo is the black valve on top of the transmission at the rear. On the drivers side of the valve there is a flathead screw with a jam nut that adjusts how responsive the hst is. Screw it in makes it more aggressive, out makes it less. The more aggressive it is, the more it will load the engine down and get power to the ground, but too much will just bog out the motor and you will have to back out of the pedal so that the engine does not stall on a hill.

Its a really easy adjustment, if you need any more help let me know.

 

[Dargo]

If you adjust the hst servo to make it a little more agressive, in low range your rtv will spin all 4 tires under a heavy load. The servo is the black valve on top of the transmission at the rear. On the drivers side of the valve there is a flathead screw with a jam nut that adjusts how responsive the hst is. Screw it in makes it more aggressive, out makes it less. The more aggressive it is, the more it will load the engine down and get power to the ground, but too much will just bog out the motor and you will have to back out of the pedal so that the engine does not stall on a hill.

Its a really easy adjustment, if you need any more help let me know.

You can feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm relatively sure that my RTV900 didn't 'wake up' until after I'd put about 50 hard hours on it. I babied it for the first 20 hours or so and then I ran it like I stole it. Without any doubt it had more snap to it and shifted better when I got rid of it than when I got it. As I've mentioned in another thread, I did change the hydro fluid once and the filter 2 or 3 times. I've heard a lot of talk about machines running better when they are "broken in", but never experienced such a difference as I did with the RTV900.

I'm hoping the same will hold true for the RTV1100, but I'm not really having any issues with it. The power is good and the tranny seems fine. It was just the pathetic quality control on the door frames on my RTV1100 and the total and complete lack of response from Kubota that has me rather neutral on the Kubota products. On one hand I think they make very good products but on the other hand I think their customer service division should all be fired and replaced. Again, as I've said previously, Kubota's complete and total failure in customer support made me a proud John Deere tractor owner after several Kubota tractors. If JD comes out with a factory cab with heat and A/C in their Gator series I think they could really hurt Kubota's RTV sales because of the pathetic customer service from Kubota. Clearly Kubota needs to hire more people like 'mstordahl' in their customer support area or I'll guarantee you that they'll lose market share regardless of how good their product is.

 

[Wayne_H]

Thanks! I'll give that a try. I have the hand throttle, so I ought to be able to put full RPM to the trans regardless of the foot peddle position.

Wayne

 

[Kanook]

I have to agree with some of the less than complimentary comments in regards to dealer attitude. Dealer advised thatthe only fix for my shifting out of gear problem was to replace the whole HST at about $5k.

Matt....On a different thread you advised me to adjust my unit for "creep" with the rear wheels jacked and full throttle applied. I did this and it made a significant difference in the ' shifting out of gear' problem I have. You also advised that my "dump valve" may need tweeking. Mine is an '04 model year RTV900.
How can I check this and adjust if necessary???

 

[Old Coot]

I am a kubota tech at a dealer, so I dont have anything for you to read about it, but what I know is from experience. I have to say, 90% of the shifting problems that I have run into are due to operator error. If you dont know how to shift the trans properly, you will have a problem. It all comes down to taking the pressure off the driveline so you can shift the transmission which is done two ways. The early models did not have the pressure release knob on the dash, so if you stopped for a second with your foot on the brake pedal, and then push hard before you shift, it will just slide out of gear and into the next. The brake linkage is also tied into the hst pressure release valve. The newer ones had the knob you could pull to do the same thing, but still had the brake pedal tied into it like the earlier ones. Now on the new ones, there is no knob anymore, just the brake pedal again. If there is one thing I always tell rtv owners and operators, it is to just have a little patience with the shifting. With a little less speed, they shift perfectly every time.

Sometimes you don't have the time to be patient. Like when your pushing snow across a road and need to back up quick. I'm on my second 900 and I wish they would have a toe and heel system like my 3130. Now that is quick.
The reason I keep using Kubota is, it is the best built and really only has this one problem.

 

[SpudHauler]

Hi Kanook,
I have a RTV1100 as well, but with a curtis plow that works fairly well.

Just wondering if you ever heard from Matt about the dump valve adjustment?

I don't see any replies from him at all and his other suggestions work great.

Brian