RTV Stuck in Reverse

[bobm737]

I found the problem with my transmission.* Thanks to Cory,the Kubota Dealer at Heber City, Utah. I called them and he said he had seen it on the 900 but not the 1100, he said to raise the bed and follow the shift cables to where they attached to the mechanism that shifts the gears.* Remove shift cables, and clear the wire harness's that are fixed to 3 of the 4 bolts that hold the shift mech to the top of the trans then remove the 4 bolts, verys easy, lift off the shift mech and there is a rod with a ball on the end of it that fits in a fork.* It had been forced out of the fork by my trying to force the shifter out of reverse when I iniatially got the gear stuck when plowing snow.* The slots where the ball then slides into when you put the shift mech back on the trans have to be lined back up first and this was done by using a small pry bar with tape on it to keep from scratching them, and I carefully put the shift mech back on top of the trans making sure the ball went into the slot, bolted her back on, hooked up the 2 cables and was back in business.* All done with a 5 min phone call to Cory and one hour of my labor.* Cory saved me a lot of time and money and even said he would take my 1100 in on a trade, I will let you all know how that go's.* Bob*

 

[Old Coot]

I glad you found a fix. It sure helps to have a good dealer to work with.

 

[purplehiss]

Thanks for the post. It pointed me in the right direction. My problem was different though. My RTV900 was stuck in reverse, but the rod you spoke of was correctly seated inside the fork.

When I looked into the transmission to see what the rod on the linkage engaged, I noticed that the two slots on the internal shift mechanisms were not aligned. That is what was causing the linkage to bind so it wouldn't move fully. I put lust a slight amount of pressure on one of the slots and it popped right back into alignment. I rebolted the linkage and all is well!

 

[Sparkyca]

The magic of shifting an RTV900 is 'Wait 10 Seconds while you hold your foot firmly on the brake'. The RTV is a hydro transmission, tied to a slidding gear transmission. You have to give the hydro 10 seconds to unload then it shifts like any other transmission. The gear transmission is trying to hold the machine in place. You have to transfer the load to the brakes before you can shift it. 100% fix for RTV shifting.

 

[NorthPoint Construction]

Is it me or did Kubota finally produce a product that was not ready for the market, I own and have owned many Kubota products. I have always bragged to my friends how the Japanese have perfected their products before releasing them to the market. Until now, i have the RTV 900 and I have heard horror stories of transmissions causing major problems. Well it's my turn now, I sent the kid out to plow this morning and about an hour later I didn't see him or hear him, soI went out looking only to find him up on a snow bank with the transmission jammed in reverse. The machine should never have been released to the general public. I'm mechanicly able but most people are not, they don't realize (Kubota) it's not like the 50's or 60's where you had to pull a choke to start something or remember when the hi/lo headlight switch was on the floor. Any way I read all the writings about this problem (transmission) I will let you know how I make out. Mark

 

[9973720wb19]

The magic of shifting an RTV900 is 'Wait 10 Seconds while you hold your foot firmly on the brake'. The RTV is a hydro transmission, tied to a slidding gear transmission. You have to give the hydro 10 seconds to unload then it shifts like any other transmission. The gear transmission is trying to hold the machine in place. You have to transfer the load to the brakes before you can shift it. 100% fix for RTV shifting.

I'll try this - thanks. I have not had any problems with my 2008 RTV900, but it is sometimes hard to change gears...it's the only complaint I have about it. I also found turning the wheel left and right helps and pulling on the pressure release valve on the dash

 

[NorthPoint Construction]

Were beyond that...... the adults know how to drive this thing, the pressure release knob when pulled at the correct time is more than enough. it's the kids, they have no mechanical backround and don't seem capable to wrap their heads around it. Mark

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Were beyond that...... the adults know how to drive this thing, the pressure release knob when pulled at the correct time is more than enough. it's the kids, they have no mechanical backround and don't seem capable to wrap their heads around it. Mark

Although this is true I really don't think Kubota is marketing this unit in anyway to be operated by children. They likely didn't think about it at all.

 

[redharley]

I agree with Sparkyca,if you take your time between shifts with foot on brake most of your problems will disappear.The other big difference I notice is when plowing snow most of us to not allow enough time for hydro to warm up before we start plowing.Start right out pushing snow up onto a pile then try to get it out of forward to reverse as fast as we can but we dang near break off the shifter.10 to 15 min's of warm up will help for sure,but if you have presure on the blade time is your answer for sure or that little black knob if you have an earlier model. Often wandered why these hydro's don't work like my BX just rock the pedal for forward and reverse.

 

[SpudHauler]

I have had great luck lately with my RTV1100 09 (`90hr) after having the dealer adjust the neutral pressure as described in the WSM. Mine was always hard to shift from day one compared to my 08 RTV900. Then I adjusted the HST arm as per the WSM. Huge difference in shifting. They said the neutral pressure adjustment was off quite a bit.
And yes, PATIENCE is required, but not 10 seconds, 2 or 3. Just don't be in a big hurray. And a FEEL for the trany helps.
Then because I plow snow, I opened up the shift gate to make reverse easier to get to. Not really sure why that piece of metal is even there.

 

[NorthPoint Construction]

I got mine fixed, it took a bit longer than I thought (1 hour) the hardest part was to keep pressure on the long rod that goes through horizontaly through the shifting mechanism. The shifting rod must have poped out of the slots inside the transmission. the worst part of it was it was only 22 degrees out. I would like to know more regarding adjusting the pressure relief to make shifting easier. These are great machines with the exception of their not made for multiple drivers of different age and experience. it's not good when you have to train the person driving it especialy the non english speaking driver.

 

[fergusti]

Thanks a bunch to easy was dreading having to take this into the dealer.

I found the problem with my transmission.* Thanks to Cory,the Kubota Dealer at Heber City, Utah. I called them and he said he had seen it on the 900 but not the 1100, he said to raise the bed and follow the shift cables to where they attached to the mechanism that shifts the gears.* Remove shift cables, and clear the wire harness's that are fixed to 3 of the 4 bolts that hold the shift mech to the top of the trans then remove the 4 bolts, verys easy, lift off the shift mech and there is a rod with a ball on the end of it that fits in a fork.* It had been forced out of the fork by my trying to force the shifter out of reverse when I iniatially got the gear stuck when plowing snow.* The slots where the ball then slides into when you put the shift mech back on the trans have to be lined back up first and this was done by using a small pry bar with tape on it to keep from scratching them, and I carefully put the shift mech back on top of the trans making sure the ball went into the slot, bolted her back on, hooked up the 2 cables and was back in business.* All done with a 5 min phone call to Cory and one hour of my labor.* Cory saved me a lot of time and money and even said he would take my 1100 in on a trade, I will let you all know how that go's.* Bob*

 

[Big Forest]

Wow! that sounds like a complicated fix.

I had the same problem with my new 1100C and resolved it by rocking the vehicle by pulling and pushing on the bed to relieve the hydraulic pressure and then it came right out of gear easily. The Dealer said there was a new service bulletin and they picked it up and adjusted the shift linkage for me for free. They told me that it should never get stuck in gear from this point forward unless there is something wrong with the trany or hydraulics.

 

[buickanddeere]

Straighten the wheels and stomp on the brake pedal to release internal transmission pressure. Check the linkages for damage. Somebody will always "pull harder" instead of looking for the problem.
The 900's in particular had a ridiculous transmission relief valve system that would slid the wheels if the throttle was suddenly lifted. Persons are tossed forward and the drivetrain receives extra wear.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

If I know I need to shift or going to stop and need to restart I just push the pedal down then let up and in the second it is going from driving forward and then going to dynamic braking I just slip the shifter out of gear. Will use the brake pressure release or the pull knob when starting up from a stop. Only had the shifter come out of the notches once when another user manhandled the shifter using two hands to force the shifter. Remember the RTVs have square cut gears with no bevel, spiral or synchromesh and need to be shifted while stopped and under no tension.

David Kb7uns

 

[Wayne_H]

The older RTV-900's (like mine) does not have a pressure release connected to the brake, they have a "choke" like knob you yank on to release the transmission pressure. The original ones didn't even have that. I like our 900, but it was not ready for prime time when it hit the streets and this fix was entirely a band aid. My HST tractors have a foot peddle to shift between forward and backwards, this HST should be the same thing. Then you wouldn't have any problems would you?

Wayne

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Because of the stacking of the hydraulic motors in the VHT transmission for the wider performance range you can only have a one direction drive and must use gears to reverse.

I have an original early version of the RTV 1100 and it has both the brake and hand knob pressure release cables, the one on the brake could use a little adjusting as it really bleeds of slow if you do not stand on the brake.

David kb7uns

 

[Wayne_H]

David: Yes that makes sense. Did they do it that way for cost? I really like the HST's on the tractors we use because for plowing or FEL work all you do is move your foot to change directions. With my RTV it involves stopping, moving the dog away from the little pull lever, pulling the lever, then shifting gears. Sounds like a lot of work. It really isn't, but I wouldn't want this set up for plowing.

Wayne