RTV 500 Rattle Sound

[737pilot]

Just a heads up to check your radiator filter if you run through any tall grass. I was putting out out roundup at the hunting camp and didn't notice my temp guage was creeeping toward hot. I stopped to get a cold drink and heard the boiling water so I checked the filter and it was clogged with grass seeds. Cleaned it off and temp immediately came down. Never got to the red zone and no lights came on. I'll pay more attention next time I'm in tall grass. Don't even notice the rattle issue with the new alternator. Hope you never have to replace one out of warranty, the tech said they were about $600.

 

[737pilot]

To all you RTV500 owners. So what do you think about the machine. Good and bad. I like mine overall except that its underpowered and the seat is too hard.

 

[nra4ever]

i like mine. no rattle yet so far so good. i think the power is adaquate for what i do(move garbage up to the front on garbage day and haul my gardening and landscape tools around). I wish there was more top speed just for fun. best speed was 28 mph down a slight hill.

 

[timswi]

To all you RTV500 owners. So what do you think about the machine. Good and bad. I like mine overall except that its underpowered and the seat is too hard.

The seat doesn't bother me too much...Agree that it is underpowered, tolerable, but underpowered. Mine rides terrible. I have the HD front struts for the snow plow and there is no give whatsoever. Need a kidney belt to run over rough sufaces for any length of time.

It is a popular little machine wherever I take it though.

 

[rdam]

Anybody aware of an aftermarket push/brush guard? Or rear bumper? I'm not keen on the gray powdercoat Kubota version for $200.

 

[timswi]

Anybody aware of an aftermarket push/brush guard? Or rear bumper? I'm not keen on the gray powdercoat Kubota version for $200.

Not much aftermarket for this yet. Most stuff is for the 900 & 1100. Hope that changes soon. The Kubota accessories are priced way too high.

 

[737pilot]

Timswi,
I didn't like the factory shock setting so had the tech let out the spring to its softes ride level. There 5 settings and I beleive 1 is the sofftest. It made a big difference and it rides much better. The one negative to this is you bottom out if you have too much weight and then your riding with no shocks at all. Going back to the power I think a $8300 machine should be able to go up a hill without having to shift to low gear. To me low is for pulling extra weight not its own weight.

 

[timswi]

Timswi,
I didn't like the factory shock setting so had the tech let out the spring to its softes ride level. There 5 settings and I beleive 1 is the sofftest. It made a big difference and it rides much better. The one negative to this is you bottom out if you have too much weight and then your riding with no shocks at all. Going back to the power I think a $8300 machine should be able to go up a hill without having to shift to low gear. To me low is for pulling extra weight not its own weight.

737,

I know the rear shocks have adjustments, But the front doesn't appear to have any. That is causing the stiff ride. With the plow on It's fine, without, that's another story.

Agreed, this should put out more HP than it does for what it costs. Running with other guys in Polaris's, it's embarassing. Beginning to think about moving on to another brand. Hope they come up with something soon. Kubota listining?

 

[737pilot]

I think its what we said many times before. It is what it is. I like the machine for what it does and the small size is appealing to me. If you want performance definatley go with the polaris. If you want a turtle then Kubota wont dissapoint.

 

[timswi]

I think its what we said many times before. It is what it is. I like the machine for what it does and the small size is appealing to me. If you want performance definatley go with the polaris. If you want a turtle then Kubota wont dissapoint.

I agree with you...I love the size, I can tolerate the ride....But, I paid 9500 for this and I think it should make more power, not speed, than it does...It put-puts up hills that aren't all that steep...Very annoying for something that costs this much. Love the features and build otherwise....Needs a way to get the power to the wheels better...My main complaint now. Except for the absurdly heavy $1500 plow.

Kubota needs a computer flash for this..I know the power has to be there, the Ranger is almost twice as big and only has 100 more cc's..Why? oh Why?

Nice and muddy I see 737...NICE!!!!

Show some pictures as to how you tie yours down on the trailer without breaking plastic. I tie mine off of the ROPS "arm rests"...works but?

 

[rdam]

I don't think this machine is supposed to be compared to a Ranger or Rhino. It's for work. It has a tractor type HST transmission which NONE of the other UTV's have. It's not meant for speed. Mine does every bit of the advetised 25 MPH and that's plenty.

It's got a 2" receiver front and rear. A soft sprung, fun runner would NOT be able to handle that.

Speaking of which, the 2" receivers make excellent places to tie down from, especially if you have a "Hook" on a 2" hitch ($9.99 at Harbor Freight).

 

[timswi]

I don't think this machine is supposed to be compared to a Ranger or Rhino. It's for work. It has a tractor type HST transmission which NONE of the other UTV's have. It's not meant for speed. Mine does every bit of the advetised 25 MPH and that's plenty.

It's got a 2" receiver front and rear. A soft sprung, fun runner would NOT be able to handle that.

Speaking of which, the 2" receivers make excellent places to tie down from, especially if you have a "Hook" on a 2" hitch ($9.99 at Harbor Freight).

I totally agree with you in terms of speed. I knew that going in. But up hill power is another story. I really don't care how fast it goes in general, 25MPH is plenty. but 5MPH up hill is another story especially when you have alot of long hills. It really should do better. My BX would probably out run it on some of the slopes I have to deal with, and that's really not what this machine is about. All I want is for it to not run out of RPM's, which is what it wants to do, until I pedal back, which doesn't help much either.

 

[737pilot]

Im with you TIMSWI. It just needs more power!!!!!!! It barley carries its own weight. On second thought, up a hill, it won't even do that. But it is built like a tank. In 3 years i'm gonna trade it a get a Polaris ranger.

 

[timswi]

Im with you TIMSWI. It just needs more power!!!!!!! It barley carries its own weight. On second thought, up a hill, it won't even do that. But it is built like a tank. In 3 years i'm gonna trade it a get a Polaris ranger.

With you 737, me too...One more year though...I Love the way it's built, but they really blew it on a few things. I looked at many of these things and the Kubota really stood out. Unfortunatly I couldn't get a real world test drive before I bought it. Wish it had 10 more horespower, then I'd be happy. Can live with the brutal ride, but the lack of power drives me crazy...Is Kubota listining to us?

 

[737pilot]

So how is your rattle today????????

 

[timswi]

So how is your rattle today????????

Not quite as noticable after I did the 50HR service, could just be my imagination though.

Who is the lucky soul that gets to slog through the mud with the camera?

 

[rataca]

timswi.
You mentioned an aftermarket snowplow at your dealer in a post somewhere. Do you know the manufacturer? Or any other info. Need a snowplow for my rtv500. My driveway is gravel and I have serious concerns with the weight of the kubota plow and what has been said about using the plow on gravel. Thanks.

 

[timswi]

timswi.
You mentioned an aftermarket snowplow at your dealer in a post somewhere. Do you know the manufacturer? Or any other info. Need a snowplow for my rtv500. My driveway is gravel and I have serious concerns with the weight of the kubota plow and what has been said about using the plow on gravel. Thanks.

rataca,

First off welcome to TBN...I don't know the manufacturer, but it was being sold by a Kubota dealer in Cranberry PA...They said it is more like an ATV plow. If you have gravel, that's what you want. The Kubota plow is brutal on gravel, it's entirely too heavy. Works great on solid (concrete, paved) or completely frozen gravel.

I wish that plow was available last year, I would have bought it instead.

Question for you...Does your RTV downshift with the gas pedal floored? Or do you have to let up on the pedal?

 

[rataca]

timswi.

Thanks for the reply. Id like to buy the factory equipment snowplow, but as I mentioned Im dealing with mostly gravel. I may call that dealer, mine has no alternatives.

As far as your question. I have to let off the gas pedal about 20% before it will downshift, it will not downshift with the gas pedal to the floor. This brings up my biggest complaint with the vehicle - a severe lack of power/speed on grades. Sometimes I think I could walk faster than it goes up paved hills in our area. I get real grief from my friends and neighbors with gators and rangers. I purposefully didnt buy any of those because the kubota does most everything I wanted it for, I didnt want excessive speed, but this borders on ridiculous.

Any information on heaters or cab enclosures for the rtv 500?

Thanks.

 

[timswi]

timswi.

Thanks for the reply. Id like to buy the factory equipment snowplow, but as I mentioned Im dealing with mostly gravel. I may call that dealer, mine has no alternatives.

As far as your question. I have to let off the gas pedal about 20% before it will downshift, it will not downshift with the gas pedal to the floor. This brings up my biggest complaint with the vehicle - a severe lack of power/speed on grades. Sometimes I think I could walk faster than it goes up paved hills in our area. I get real grief from my friends and neighbors with gators and rangers. I purposefully didnt buy any of those because the kubota does most everything I wanted it for, I didnt want excessive speed, but this borders on ridiculous.

Any information on heaters or cab enclosures for the rtv 500?

Thanks.

Thanks for the response. I get the same treatment from my quad neighbors...It does need more power. 25MPH is fast enough for me...General power would be much appreciated.

I have the Kubota roof and windshield with a aftermarket poly rear window. It definitly helps keep the chill off. I looked at the one-piece slip over cabs, but I'm not a big fan of the vinyl windows.

I have been kinda looking at heaters, but I'm not sure if the charging system would be thrilled with that or not, and I really didn't want to install a perminant coolant driven heater.

As far as the plow, if you put a piece of rubber on the bottom of the blade and take some of the weight off of it with the actuator, you can plow gravel, you just need to really watch or you'll be moving stone everywhere.

Here's what my set up looks like: Zoom in on the bottom of the plow.