Keybal
Bronze Member
After all of the talk on this forum about the different items on the RTV that have failed or starting to fail, I went on the Kubota website last week and contacted them to request a list of items that have been upgraded / recalled on the RTV 9000.
In received a call from someone at corporate this morning to discuss my inquiry. I was informed that the only items listed for official action were the front hood and the cap for the hydraulic tank.
When I inquired about the rattle in the front end and talk of loose universal joints, he told me that this was not a recall item and will be handled on a individual basis. He also indicated that the specs or tolerances for the front driveshaft have been tightened up for the new units.
I told him that I'm getting the rattling noise. He told me he would contact my dealer and send then the new parts required to fix the machine. He also asked if my machine was still under warranty. When I told him that it was he said that was good and there would not be any problems getting the work done.
I guess what I'm saying is that this sounds like a "If you don't ask, we won't tell" issue that may be a problem if your machine is out of warranty.
I have mixed feeling about the whole thing. On one hand, I glad that a real human being, that spoke real English, took the time to call me and address my concerns. On the other hand, I think Kubota should realize that this is the first model of this type of machine that they have ever built. I have a feeling that they sold a lot more machines than they thought that they would. BUT, they should also realize that the first or even second year of a completly new type of machine is still part of the shake-down period and be upfront about the problems and the fixes required.
I have no idea if the following statement has any validity, but that has never stopped me. Here are my thoughts: I'm assuming that the serial numbers for the RTV start at 10,000. My machine is in the 22,000 range from last August. That being the case, they have sold a minimum of 15,000 machines to date. Even at an average cost of $10,000.00, that is 150 million dollars in income, less the dealers commissions. Again, a lot of assumptions in the above (maybe each of the 4 models has it own starting serial number) and they have only sold a few thousand RTV's.
Either way, be upfront, resolve the problems as they are discovered and continue to make the quality machines that Kubota is know for.
Kubita basically invented the CUT market 25 years ago, and now they are kicking everyone else's butt with the RTV after just one year.
I just hope that they take the high road and resolve the issues that exist.
Just my thoughts.
In received a call from someone at corporate this morning to discuss my inquiry. I was informed that the only items listed for official action were the front hood and the cap for the hydraulic tank.
When I inquired about the rattle in the front end and talk of loose universal joints, he told me that this was not a recall item and will be handled on a individual basis. He also indicated that the specs or tolerances for the front driveshaft have been tightened up for the new units.
I told him that I'm getting the rattling noise. He told me he would contact my dealer and send then the new parts required to fix the machine. He also asked if my machine was still under warranty. When I told him that it was he said that was good and there would not be any problems getting the work done.
I guess what I'm saying is that this sounds like a "If you don't ask, we won't tell" issue that may be a problem if your machine is out of warranty.
I have mixed feeling about the whole thing. On one hand, I glad that a real human being, that spoke real English, took the time to call me and address my concerns. On the other hand, I think Kubota should realize that this is the first model of this type of machine that they have ever built. I have a feeling that they sold a lot more machines than they thought that they would. BUT, they should also realize that the first or even second year of a completly new type of machine is still part of the shake-down period and be upfront about the problems and the fixes required.
I have no idea if the following statement has any validity, but that has never stopped me. Here are my thoughts: I'm assuming that the serial numbers for the RTV start at 10,000. My machine is in the 22,000 range from last August. That being the case, they have sold a minimum of 15,000 machines to date. Even at an average cost of $10,000.00, that is 150 million dollars in income, less the dealers commissions. Again, a lot of assumptions in the above (maybe each of the 4 models has it own starting serial number) and they have only sold a few thousand RTV's.
Either way, be upfront, resolve the problems as they are discovered and continue to make the quality machines that Kubota is know for.
Kubita basically invented the CUT market 25 years ago, and now they are kicking everyone else's butt with the RTV after just one year.
I just hope that they take the high road and resolve the issues that exist.
Just my thoughts.
