More power from Kubota UTV DIESEL

Boeing · May 30, 2020

Fellas, I bought a Kubota RTV D-1100 Last summer and am disappointed with the lack of power that it has. It seems to run fine, no hesitation, pulls up hills OK but...on my two long hills it only goes at 11MPH. Even on the road it goes about 24 MPH and it takes a quarter mile to get to that.
I see lots of Diesel pickups that somehow modify their computers, exhausts or intakes and almost double their power. Is there anyway to gets some more output for the RTV?
Thanks

jeff9366 · May 30, 2020

The problem is not your engine output. The problem is the inherent characteristics of the HST transmission.

((11-mph does seem abnormally low on hills. Check level of hydraulic fluid in HST transmission.))

Diesel utility vehicles are workers, not sports vehicles. If you want speed, sell the diesel and buy a gas utility vehicle.

bdog · May 30, 2020

11 mph is pretty normal on a decent hill. I have five RTV-X’s. Two 900s and three 1120’s. The 1120’s have a little more power but not much. They definitely use a lot more fuel, relatively speaking. We run them 12 hours a day. The 900’s can go two days. The 1120s do maybe 1.25 days. Still much better than gas units which often we needed to refuel mid day.

We have not found anything to boost their power. They are tanks not sports cars.

ruffdog · May 31, 2020

Time for a turbo in the tank?

TurboKits.com Kubota RTV-X11 Gen3 Turbo Kit for 214-219 Kubota RTV X11 | On Sale: $2,495.

bdog · May 31, 2020

Read some reviews on the turbos for the RTV. They are not that impressive and mainly help with high altitude situations. My dealer has installed a couple and he said he didn’t think they were worth it.

thepumpguysc · May 31, 2020

Theres a video on utube that shows u how to make'm roll smoke..
Its not under your specific mdl. but they're basically all the same..
Look up> how to turn up a kubota diesel..
Have fun & dont blow'r up.!!

skipperbrown · May 31, 2020

11 mph??? Dang, you're leaving me in the dust. My 900 only makes 7 mph up a hill. A friend in the passenger seat once joked as we were going up a hill that he would just walk and meet me at the top later when I got there.

Boeing · May 31, 2020

Well, I feel better now that you guys have pretty much determined that mine is "normal". I would consider a turbo (my Grand Cherokee DIESEL has two, I think)
but $2400 is more than I would spend for a few more ponies.... I'm old and not in that big a hurry. Thanks again

stevewarner1957 · May 31, 2020

It boils down to they are what they are. The limitation is the HST transmission. The turbo kits will help for high altitude operation but not much at normal altitudes. I have a 1120 and I love it for my needs but for those with a need for speed I’m sure would be disappointed. I found that I increased my pulling power by installing the factory hand throttle kit. By opening the throttle that way the foot control is just the transmission. It acts just like a hydro tractor.

nbking · May 31, 2020

Yes I second the hand throttle kit, mine would go about 9 or 10 uphill, with the hand throttle I get like 15 on the same hills. It's supposed to be for the broom attachment, but it works great for my needs. I paid like $90 at the dealer and installed it myself, pretty easy to do.