Kubota 900 RTV

[Gary Fowler]

I have a line on a used 2006 Kubota 900 RTV with glass windshield, canopy top, spray in bed liner, factory winch and hydraulic dump bed and front bumper guard for $8750. It only has 68 hours run time. I was wondering if this was a good deal. Everything looks new on it. Owner bought it in Feb 07 and not used it much at all. He keeps it garaged all time and changes the oil once per year. I read some reviews on the 2006 model and it has some mixed sentiments over shifting and front drive shaft issue of CV joint reliability, but other than that it seems to have good marks. I was also wondering if anyone knows of any issues with a 2006 model that I should be looking out for. This one hasnt ran enough to damage anything I dont believe.
__________________

 

[9973720wb19]

I purchased a new summer of 2008 RTV900 construction version without roof and window. Paid $11,000. I have 140 hours and feel I don't really use it much, so 68 is very low hours...hope this helps.

 

[redharley]

I do not think I would be afraid of this model,from what I know they can be hard to get into gear when cold and when not steeping on brake pedal hard enough to release hydro presure once you get used to taking your time it works.My 09 will even to this at times when I forget and rush it on a hill or plowing snow with weight against the blade.As for the cv joints other than some torn boots I don't know of any real problems my friends with this model has had,his has over 450 hrs.For price comparison you can check the internet or build my Kubota to come up with a new price, gives you some thing to compare.make sure to drive it before you buy it

 

[nolefan]

I purchased mine in June of 2006. Have a little over 200 hours and have not had any issues at all. Mine has the dump bed and front guard but not the other items you mentioned. I paid $10,500 for it back then which I didn't consider a bad deal. Mine has the pressure relief pull out knob on the dash for when it sticks in gear but I find I don't need to use it all that often. I really love mine for what I use it for. Hope this helps.

 

[R_Walter]

I also bought new in June 2006 the RTV 900 camo version with the dump bed and hardtop. I've got only about 80 hours on mine... no issues to date. It can be hard to shift on a steeper incline and it is loud and it doesn't go well in mud or snow with the stock worksite tires on it. However, it is built like a tank and hauls everything I can load on it including firewood that I cut and sell, hay, rock and downed big game including an 800 lb elk once.

Buy it, use it, work it and don't look back. It's not a toy, but a piece of work equipment. If you want a toy for the yard in a suburban neighborhood, you won't be happy with the RTV.

 

[Ken45101]

Ours is 3 years old, had the relief knob on the dash. 420 hours, with the lug tires and gets around very well. Dump bed, winch, snow plow. Sometimes wish it had a windshield or roof We love ours, it get used every day for hauling hay to the horses. It's made it through axle deep sloppy mud.

Ken

 

[Gary Fowler]

Well I havent seen it yet, but I am the proud owner of a 2006 Kubota 900 RTV with 68 hours My brother in law accepted it for me last evening and paid the previous owner the full $8750. The guy was nice enough to deliver it directly to my house which saved my BIL about 180 miles of towing a trailer and it got to me a day early. He said it was everything the guy said and then some. Looked brand new. I am waiting on some photos of it today. It has the tractor type lug tires so it should go in the mud. I will probably be looking at how to put some doors on it or else see what Kubota has for doors for winter use.

 

[Wayne_H]

We've had ours now for three years, about 300 hours on it. It gets the job done, but if you live where it is hilly and need to change gears or go into reverse it is a royal pain. Stop, pull out the choke knob (actually transmission pressure valve) wait a few seconds for the pressure to bleed off, then shift. It works and gets the job done, but Kubota did a very poor job on that and in my opinion it is not ready for prime time, the fix is a band aid. I've got two Hydro tractors, one 25 years old and one ten years old and I don't have that problem....

Wayne

 

[smstonypoint]

Gary,

Congratulations on your purchase!!! How about posting the pics after you get them?

As others have mentioned, shifting gear ranges and into/out of 4WD can be quirky. Reading the owner's manual is well worth your time.

Steve

 

[SpudHauler]

Wayne H,
I had my RTV1100 09 back to the dealer with 60+ hrs on it and had them adjust the neutral pressure. Two plugs in the rear, very hard to remove, two gauges, and they adjust the hex bolt on the right side that has the 17mm lock nut. The idea is the pressures should be equal and they adjust the servo to make it that way. They said mine was "way off". It's in the WSM. And then I went to great pains to set the HST arm exactly as described in the WSM. 1mm less full travel at wide open or pedal to the floor. Then made sure the pressure release arm, operated by the braking system, was adjust with no slack in the spring. Too much and it bleeds pressure, too little and it is not effective.
And wow what a difference in shifting.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Wayne H,
I had my RTV1100 09 back to the dealer with 60+ hrs on it and had them adjust the neutral pressure. Two plugs in the rear, very hard to remove, two gauges, and they adjust the hex bolt on the right side that has the 17mm lock nut. The idea is the pressures should be equal and they adjust the servo to make it that way. They said mine was "way off". It's in the WSM. And then I went to great pains to set the HST arm exactly as described in the WSM. 1mm less full travel at wide open or pedal to the floor. Then made sure the pressure release arm, operated by the braking system, was adjust with no slack in the spring. Too much and it bleeds pressure, too little and it is not effective.
And wow what a difference in shifting.

You can check this yourself without a dealer visit if you jack the rear of your unit up securely and start the unit....press the throttle to WOT if the tires are moving in either direction you do not have neutral pressure and that will cause hard shifting.




Congrats on your purchase Gary...enjoy you RTV

 

[Gary Fowler]

Here are a few photos of it. I am still in Nigeria working but I got the photos posted to me by my sister in law. Mine has the pressure release knob on the dash to neutralize the pressue if it gets hard to shift.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have a few more photos to show. I will try the check on the pressure adjustment if it is hard to shift when I finally get to drive it next month. The wife drove it over from my brother in laws house and didnt like it at all. Said it drove like a tractor. I thought that was the whole purpose of having one. She said she will stick to her golf cart. If it is muddy and /or snowing she would just stay home. I will have some work to do to convert her over I suppose, but, maybe that is a good thing. I wont have to look for it when I need it.

 

[smstonypoint]

The wife drove it over from my brother in laws house and didnt like it at all. Said it drove like a tractor. I thought that was the whole purpose of having one. She said she will stick to her golf cart. If it is muddy and /or snowing she would just stay home. I will have some work to do to convert her over I suppose, but, maybe that is a good thing. I wont have to look for it when I need it.

Gary,

Good looking machine.:thumbsup: My wife enjoys driving our RTV 900 -- a mixed blessing for me. She thinks the purchase was money well spent, but I get less driving time.

You must have the patience of Job. IIRC, you said that you weren't going to be back in the States for several weeks. After finalizing the purchase of my RTV, the dealer said that he would deliver it that afternoon. I started pacing at 1 pm and was getting really antsy by the time it finally showed up at 2 pm or so.

Steve

 

[2fast2]

Gary,
Your original post was to inquire whether it was a good deal. Well, after looking at all those pictures, my opinion would certainly be favorable. Nice looking machine you have there.
As for your wife's comments that it drives like a tractor, well, that is a tough one. Designers spend tremendous effort on drive quality and comfort for all wheeled machines, obviously automobiles but also UTVs I suspect. Like a tractor, like a tank, like a sports car, those impressions are intended. I think Kubota wants their corner of the market to be the tank / tractor - like work UTV machines and I bet somebody at Kubota would have a big smile if they heard your wife's comments.
But if she jumps off the golf cart (designed for smooth comfort) and drives a work machine like your RTV, it is no surprise she will notice the difference. Once she starts to use it for something other than transporting herself from A to B, she will probably learn to love it. My wife loves her Gator, but she uses it for her landscaping, beekeeping, etc.
Your wife will come around. Maybe you'd rather that she didn't
If you have a float-type battery charger, maybe someone can hook that up to your RTV so when you get home in a month you can jump right on and fire it up for a test ride.
On second thought, you probably should greet your wife first. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[nolefan]

Congratulations. Nice loooking RTV. I noticed he had the sides of the bed coated with bed liner which is a nice protective idea. One thing I did to mine this past summer was to pull up the rubber mat on the floorboard of the cab and put a coating of bed liner on it. I don't hardly have a level place on my property and had slipped one too many times getting in with wet or muddy feet. It also helps to protect the floorboard as moisture does get up between the stock rubber mat and the metal floor. Although I didn't, for the reasons mentioned, you can always re-install the rubber floor mat after using the bedliner. To help with protecting the dump bed and as a possible aid in quieting down some of the engine noise and vibration I bought one of the thick rubber stall mats at TSC and cut it to fit in the bed. Just some project ideas when you get back home.

 

[riptides]

Wow, impressed with the overall appearance of that machine. That was a *good* deal.

I think you'll be very happy with it. I am lucky to have no had the shifting issues that many have had with the RTV's. We have flat land.

I tell everyone it is the most used machine on the properties. Kids, SO, guests, laborers and I all fire it up for some work or fun.

I don't know how people function without them.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

I thought it was a good deal before but after seeing the pics it was an even better deal....it looks great.

 

[xterra]

I'll tell ya right now thats a good deal. I'll also tell ya that the shifting on these things is hidious. I bought a 900 rtv 2 years ago, I love it,but the shifting just plain sucks. When I plow snow you can't even take it out gear without shutting it off, to take off the pressure. I can't believe a company could sell a product like this. The guy I bought it from said it takes awhile to get used to how it starts and stops. I bought the coast valve, didn't make any difference.
I love the machine...hate the way it shifts. It will piss you off.

 

[Ken45101]

Any shifting that bad needs either adjustment or repair

Rarely do I even need to pull the dash know to shift. Shut if off? Never.

Look at the earlier post here yesterday by spudhauler for more information.

Ken