Kubota or John Deere

ovrszd · Jun 30, 2016

ultrarunner said:
The Sami is mine... brother really needed/wanted something with a dump bed...

Found this one about 150 miles away owned by a retired couple for 400 hours on it... kept in the garage... only thing I could find was a muffler repair where the pipe goes into the muffler... it's ok now but I'm sure it will need attention later.

I built a headache rack ony bed rack. I've hauled a LOT of dirt piled all that will stay on with the tailgate down. Couple time I've had to help it start dumping if the dirt is damp and will pile higher. Otherwise it dumps as intended.

ultrarunner · Jul 3, 2016

So it has been two weeks with the Kubota RTV900 on the ranch... it has been used every day and in general it is up to the tasks at hand.

I posted a few months back about the steep trail at the rear property line... no problem for the Dozer or L3800.

The RTV 900 is pretty much stretched to it's limit in low crawling up the trail with about 500lb in the bed...

Is it typical for these 900's to run out of power before traction?

This is the older version with L, M and H ranges forward...

No idea if the newer 2spd 900X is similar power wise to the older 900.

s219 · Jul 3, 2016

I'd have to look in the specs, but my understanding is that the new diesel engines in the X models have quite a bit more torque, enough so that they dropped the middle gear -- high is now adequate for what used to need medium. I don't know how it would compare the old models in low gear though -- depends on if the gear ratios changed. I bet if you could find all the specs for the motor and the gearing for both, some math might give the answer.

ovrszd · Jul 3, 2016

Yes, it's normal for your older 900 to run out of power before traction loss. Takes some getting used to. You'll learn that it will power thru better by coming off the throttle pedal a little rather than depressing it more. Very odd behavior that is unnatural.

Add a hand throttle which will increase the unit's ability in those situations. Puts the engine at maximum hp/torque while keeping the HVT at a lower gear ratio. If I remember right the kit cost me around $120.

ultrarunner · Jul 3, 2016

Wondered about the hand throttle option... the dozer trail along the fence line is steep and bladed smooth.

Last night I was also thinking I need to check the spark arrestor... doubt it is obstructed but simple to check.

ovrszd · Jul 3, 2016

ultrarunner said:
Wondered about the hand throttle option... the dozer trail along the fence line is steep and bladed smooth.

Last night I was also thinking I need to check the spark arrestor... doubt it is obstructed but simple to check.

I've had mine almost a year and put 120 hours on it. I've finally gotten used to the operation and it's required methods. I haven't accepted it all as necessary in the construction of these machines. Maybe some of it's issues could have been designed out. But even with the new ones owners complain of the same weird behaviors, just not quite as bad.

ultrarunner · Jul 3, 2016

I know loading up I needed to add blocks... the RTV was not able to "Climb" over the 10" curb.

It really does well in general... my brother was driving it up the steep slope I as was watching from a distance... did ask if he let up on the pedal and he said yes...

Also this one will stop quickly when you take your foot off the pedal... which was known and confirmed prior to purchase... just something to get use to.

Could be that I am use to my Kubota and Deere tractors losing traction and not losing power.

Being new to RTVs with the only prior experience a one cylinder air cooled Gator it is all a learning experience.

Have wondered if the new X-Models worked out the quirks and the if the x1120 will run out of traction before power.

ovrszd · Jul 3, 2016

I added a Coast Valve so it wouldn't slide to a stop when the pedal is released. I like that a lot better. Makes much better use of the system, especially in hills. Others will say it's more effective in stock form. My point always is, if I need to stop I am capable of removing my foot from the go pedal and applying the brake pedal. In stock form this machine uses energy to move, even if it's heading downhill.

ultrarunner · Jul 3, 2016

Not sure which way I will go on the coast valve...

My 11 year old niece was showing me around the ranch and it was her first time driving the RTV...

She did well but never quite got the hang of easing off the pedal... in two wheel drive the rear wheels would slide on the gravel.

Didn't want to overwhelm her and we also got some L3800 seat time... her older brother is very good at both and sometimes she feels left in the dust... guess it is a brother/sister competitive thing.

Anyway, he has somewhere to by yesterday afternoon and we spent some time and my niece really enjoyed it and so did I... as we went to check the seedlings we stopped and she reset those the deere had messed with... it was nice to see.

She was so excited to tell her 14 year old brother what she had learned and he was quick with a smart remark

ovrszd · Jul 4, 2016

Yep sibling rivalry.

My grandkids all learned to drive on the timber trails driving buggies and/or side by sides. Scares me that some kid's first experience with vehicle control is in traffic on public roads....

ultrarunner · Jul 4, 2016

I started working my first "Real" job at age 12... at a Dealership washing, vacuuming cars and putting those license plate frames on... it wasn't long before they had me start all the cars each Saturday and then by 13 I was moving them around the lot... I was an expert at negotiating tight spaces and parking lot jockeying long before I ever got on the road... It was a lot of fun for a kid and I made $50 a week that first summer and gave Mom $20 every weed on payday...

seemynewname · Jan 26, 2017

As for that RTV900 that won't climb a hill - that is the nature of the beast, not that it won't climb, but that it will only climb if you know how to use it. When you 'accelerate' you are actually gearing up within that speed range, by backing off the pedal slightly your forward speed will slow, but your pulling power will increase. With a hand throttle you can optimize that process by keeping the rpm up while backing off the 'accelerator'. Tractor or Kubota ATV all hydros work that way.

ovrszd · Jan 27, 2017

seemynewname said:
As for that RTV900 that won't climb a hill - that is the nature of the beast, not that it won't climb, but that it will only climb if you know how to use it. When you 'accelerate' you are actually gearing up within that speed range, by backing off the pedal slightly your forward speed will slow, but your pulling power will increase. With a hand throttle you can optimize that process by keeping the rpm up while backing off the 'accelerator'. Tractor or Kubota ATV all hydros work that way.

Yep. Hand Throttle allows the operator to maximize the RTV HVT system. Not claiming it's a perfect system. Simply stating it has to be operated with a full understanding of what's going on when the "go" pedal is pushed.

seemynewname · Jan 28, 2017

ovrszd said:
Yep. Hand Throttle allows the operator to maximize the RTV HVT system. Not claiming it's a perfect system. Simply stating it has to be operated with a full understanding of what's going on when the "go" pedal is pushed.

Yup, it all starts with learning to use the equipment. I cringe every time I hear someone say that 'a hydrostatic drives/works like an automatic'

bookmyer · Feb 2, 2017

I have a Kubota 1140 CPX. I have gotten a lot of use out of this machine and it has been fine for me. A couple of problems with the machine are that it will overheat due to where the radiator is positioned. The front tires kick up dust that gets funneled straight into the radiator grill. This has been corrected on the newer models. Also I do think the RTV would benefit from a larger HP engine. It is not a good hill climber but it will get you there. I have no experience with the Gator but it looks like it has less HP than the Kubota. I'd bet it is a much lighter machine just looking at pictures so I guess that helps out. I kind of like that my Kubota is built like a tank. That being said I am sure that either one would work for what I use my RTV for.

DIXIEDOG · Feb 2, 2017

bookmyer said:
I have a Kubota 1140 CPX. I have gotten a lot of use out of this machine and it has been fine for me. A couple of problems with the machine are that it will overheat due to where the radiator is positioned. The front tires kick up dust that gets funneled straight into the radiator grill. This has been corrected on the newer models. Also I do think the RTV would benefit from a larger HP engine. It is not a good hill climber but it will get you there. I have no experience with the Gator but it looks like it has less HP than the Kubota. I'd bet it is a much lighter machine just looking at pictures so I guess that helps out. I kind of like that my Kubota is built like a tank. That being said I am sure that either one would work for what I use my RTV for.

The Gators are also built like a tank. The places my Gator 825i has been still amaze me and it's an absolute beast plowing snow....unreal how well it does with the Boss V plow. They ride so nice you almost forget you're in a side by side, I like the ability to work as well as play the Gator offers. It's a nice trail riding machine as well as workhorse at home.

MF283 · Feb 3, 2017

YEP, Love my 825, plenty of power for what I do & it will climb things I shouldn't be trying to. 50HP & top speed of 45 works great to if I need to get out on the road from one place to another. They're like tractors or vehicles, if there were only one brand, it would be boring.

Ronnie

ArlyA · Feb 6, 2017

I'd go with a deere. What we do requires much HP and in test operation of them (more than one), they all fell short in that regard. Nonetheless, they make a good work machine for 99% of there users..

mike69440 · Feb 6, 2017

Sumner0329 said:
That is a substantial amount of weight, and how awesome is that to be able to carry all that weight. I don't think we will be hunting any Elk anytime soon but it gives you a great idea of it limits and capabilities.

We had near 1500 Lbs in our Rtv 900 squashes it real good and you need to go slow, but it carries its own weight.