Kubota RTV500 joins the other 4

[JOHNTHOMAS]

My Grandson wanted a dirt bike which I won't help with so we (He and I) moved to a 4 wheeler which are on record as being so dangerous and injury reports so bad around here so I chose not to got that route.
My RTV1140 is so big and my Grandson has been driving it since I bought it 8 years ago when he was 6 that I decided to buy a smaller RTV. I wanted rollbar, seat belts, not real fast and an additional seat is a bonus. My Grand is a bit reckless and wants to drive fast which I'm quite familiar with myself. The RTV500 seems to fill the bill. I moved a golf cart top from my BX2370-1 yesterday to the RTV500 and fits great. Ordered two Lexan pieces 1/4"x12"x44" yesterday to make a windshield that will have a removable/movable lower half for the summer and have some mirrors ordered. Also dealer included a front bumper which I'll have my Grand help me install in a day or so.I also have a Grand daughter that's a twin to my Grandson that's mentioned and she also likes to drive and a 6 year old grandson also to pick up when the older ones let him drive and after they go away.
I have a 25 acre mountain behind my house I bought last year as well as my other 8 acres and dead end street for them to drive on. The mountain had a tower so great packed gravel road to the top and then old logging roads around in various parts of the mountain and connected to gravel road.
I'll be watching for info from other RTV 400/500 owners and seeking advise from time to time. I'll post pics after I install windshield and bumper.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

My FIL just bought a used RTV500 camo version. I believe it's missing the exhaust tip possibly. I guess I need to stop and see what one looks like and maybe make one.

The manual says to warm up the motor for 5 minutes before proceeding to avoid engine damage. That right there would have kept me from buying one myself.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

My FIL just bought a used RTV500 camo version. I believe it's missing the exhaust tip possibly. I guess I need to stop and see what one looks like and maybe make one.

The manual says to warm up the motor for 5 minutes before proceeding to avoid engine damage. That right there would have kept me from buying one myself.

The manual says to warm up the motor for 5 minutes before proceeding to avoid engine damage. I don't believe it, won't do it. It's a gasoline engine which I've never heard of doing. The diesel engines on my other Kubotas say that and I sort of do a couple of minutes waiting with them. Auto gas engines used to say that in cold weather but for the past decade or so the recommendation on auto gas engines is to start and go. I'll look in my manual which I scanned and see if I can find anything like that and still won't do it. Grandson drove it yesterday and said it's a 10 out of 10. OLOR]

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Read the owners manual. It states to not operate "under load" for 5 minutes until warmed up. Out side temp and degree of load would determine warm up time. The manual further states to keep RPMs under 50% during warm up period. I accept the "Under load" to mean full out running and/or carrying heavy loads (The bed payload is 442 lbs) which seems to go along with the keeping RPMs below the 50% level until it warms up. To me driving it below or at half speed is meeting the letter of the law/Owners Manual. I suspect but don't know for a fact that all similar vehicles will have the same warning in their owners manuals if they have an actual hydraulic transmission like the Kubota 500 and not sure there are any with direct drive transmissions like the Kubota 500 water cooled two cylinder engine. The Kubota 400 has a Suzuki 1 cylinder (I think Suzuki is what the dealer said) air cooled engine with belt drive.
Know diesel engines say to let run for some minutes till warm up and I do with the 4 Kubota Diesels I currently have, mostly but doubt very many people do as long as manual says to. :2cents:

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Thanks for the reply. Is there a way you could post a picture of the stock exhaust tip or cannister? I believe my FIL's is missing the spark arrestor or something.

 

[ruffdog]

It's to limit the chance of having a "cold seizure". If you run it hard when cold, the piston expands faster than the cylinder can, especially where the cyl studs are.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Thanks for the reply. Is there a way you could post a picture of the stock exhaust tip or cannister? I believe my FIL's is missing the spark arrestor or something.

Have made several tries but trying again to post these pics......OK.....trying again

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Have made several tries but trying again to post these pics......OK.....trying againView attachment 571017View attachment 571018View attachment 571019View attachment 571020View attachment 571021View attachment 571022

How many Kubotas can you find/see in the last picture?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

How many Kubotas can you find/see in the last picture?

If you quit buying them, their stock will drop.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Thanks for posting. Looks like I need a new exhaust tip.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Hint helper pics...........ATTACH=CONFIG]571029[/ATTACH]

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

If you quit buying them, their stock will drop.

I've only bought 25 Kubotas from Barlows Kubota Dealer in the last 15 years so doubt I'm affecting stock prices. .

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I like that mower...

 

[Sawyer Rob]

It's to limit the chance of having a "cold seizure". If you run it hard when cold, the piston expands faster than the cylinder can, especially where the cyl studs are.

I'd be willing to bet you, that it's more for the hystat than it is for the motor...

BTW, the 400 motor is made by Subaru/Robin, not Suzuki...

SR

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I'd be willing to bet you, that it's more for the hystat than it is for the motor...
That's what the owners manual leads one to believe.

 

[ruffdog]

I'd be willing to bet you, that it's more for the hystat than it is for the motor... SR

True, anything with a hydro benefits with it warmed up too. My knees even need to be warm to operate correctly.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

After buying and trading it back in, I would not recommend an RTV500, except maybe for younger smaller people. Only has like about 14 horsepower, and they have a problem that can happen if you don't pay close attention to keeping the radiator screen clean. I have read if you don't keep it clean, the thing will overheat and can blow the headgasket and/or crack the head. Parts cost about $600/700 and that's no labor. The one we had was blowing bubbles into the coolant reservoir, which is the sign of a big problem. So if you go to buy one of these used, be sure to drive it at least 30 minutes, and check the coolant overflow reservoir for bubbles coming out of the tube that goes into it. Be careful and don't burn yourself while checking it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

SO, I guess you want something you don't have to do any maintenance to, or pay attention to the ---------------> water temp gage?

We have a 500 here, and it get's used for WORK nearly EVERY day, it hasn't given us any over heating problems...

SR

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

SO, I guess you want something you don't have to do any maintenance to, or pay attention to the ---------------> water temp gage?

We have a 500 here, and it get's used for WORK nearly EVERY day, it hasn't given us any over heating problems...

SR

LOL, maintenance free sounds great.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I bought the new RTV500 and actually made my first payment online Sat and set up auto pay for the entire 48 months. We all love this small RTV500 but we all still drive the RTV1140. One is in the garage and one is still outside as it has been for 8 years.
Have made and installed a Lexan 2 piece windshield (Had to move the lower half a couple inches because hood hit it when raised), side mirrors, front bumper and golf cart top and have bolts ordered to install the light bar across the front between headlights. Have a couple of box kits of bed liner from my stock but grandson says maybe don't install bed liner.
Will send pics when light bar installed. This one, RTV500 will not be out in any dust or mud. Will use the RTV1140 for wet work . I checked the air filter on RTV1140 a couple of weeks ago after 8 years use and it looks new as do all the air directing lines to the new looking filters. I had checked it a few years ago.