KUBOTA RTV PROBLEMS

[bdaymon]

Wow what a big dissapointment. I bought a new 2014 RTV 500. Constant over heating problems. @ dealers cant fix it. Very weak power wise.
19 mph tops 16hp. Gets hot quickly.
I took it to the dealer and gave it back 70 hours total time.I told them the engine is compromised at this point. Boiled over a dozen times.
Kubota generally have a great reputation. Lets see how they treat me on the buy back

 

[timswi]

Wow what a big dissapointment. I bought a new 2014 RTV 500. Constant over heating problems. @ dealers cant fix it. Very weak power wise.
19 mph tops 16hp. Gets hot quickly.
I took it to the dealer and gave it back 70 hours total time.I told them the engine is compromised at this point. Boiled over a dozen times.
Kubota generally have a great reputation. Lets see how they treat me on the buy back

You did notice that this thread is over 10 years old?

 

[texasjohn]

Got it, you're aggravated.
On 11-20 acres you must have some wonderful roads and need to drive them at 20 plus mph when the max spec is 25 mph. Me, if I get over 10 mph in my pasture or ranch roads, it's just more rough than I want to endure.
And, you don't watch the temp gauge and stop before it boils over. I've had two times when the temp gauge got above normal on my 1140. Once the radiator was choked with dust which washed out easily with water hose. Also, the fan attachment to the shroud failed and fan blades were blocked causing fan motor failure. Fan replaced, all good.

TBN isn't going to be able to assist with your issues...unclear why multiple "dealers can't fix it." Engine cooling is not a new technology...you need fluid circulating thru the engine, a radiator for heat exchange, a fan to assist the radiator heat exchange and a thermostat to regulate the fluid flow and get the fluid up to temperature after starting engine. Unstated as to what dealers have done or how many times you have taken the vehicle to them to address the problem, mechanically, before you "gave it back." Clearly, for some reason the vehicle does not meet your need for speed or expectations therefore it is probably best you let it go and get something that, carefully researched, does meet your needs.

There are numerous TBN members who have RTVs, myself included, who use them daily and find them highly reliable and an indispensable vehicle for their needs on their property.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Wow what a big dissapointment. I bought a new 2014 RTV 500. Constant over heating problems. @ dealers cant fix it. Very weak power wise.
19 mph tops 16hp. Gets hot quickly.
I took it to the dealer and gave it back 70 hours total time.I told them the engine is compromised at this point. Boiled over a dozen times.
Kubota generally have a great reputation. Lets see how they treat me on the buy back

I understand your pain and feel for you. If what you say is true (Some times people join and never do any posts but one to be a "crap" post and then they are gone) then I to will be interested to see how Kubota and the dealer recover you to the fold.
I've bought 16 new and different Kubotas in 11 years and am a satisfied customer. I did buy one, a BX2350, that had a manufacturing design problem of abrupt stop in reverse and I could not live with it. I traded it toward another BX model and was given $500 off because of the "problem".
I'm sure you knew before buying that Kubota RTVs are NOT bought for speed but are bought for durability. Even their least expensive model should provide great durability and any problem should be resolved. It should never over heat under normal conditions and proper maintenance of open air flow. I have had some of my Fs over heat and removing the air filter screen and clearing it always brought them back to normal temp and this should also happen on the RTVs.
Every company has an occasional lemon come thru and/or a lemon dealer that doesn't resolve a problem. If what you say is true then you've found one or both in your purchase. Hope they give you another one with some charge for the period you used that one and the next one be more up to Kubotas normal quality.
I have a RTV1140, love it and never had an issue with it in over 3 years. It's not fast but it is dependable and a work horse.
I'll look at you personal profile and see how forth coming you've been when registering on TBN. Some people won't leave basic info when they're going to be trolls. Sure or hope your not one and your issue is resolved to your satisfaction.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Did leave basic profile info so looking forward to how dealer/Kubota resolves the issue. Good luck and hoping for a good outcome and customer TBN member satisfaction.

 

[bdaymon]

Two of my friends have identical ones.Thats why I drove theirs then bought one.Something electronical is wrong. I have cab and heat. When this happens the defroster immediately blows cold air and fogs winsdhield. That tells me the thermosat is closing for some reason. They changed the thermostat, fan module that tells the fan to come on. Then they tell me the heater isnt designed for the 500 and it is not getting adequate fluid flow. So I shut off the valve Kubota gives you with the heater to isolate the heat radiator. same problem.Then they tell me the intake air hose is collapsing. Nope that would not make it get hot.
Again for the chump that riidiculed my usage, Kubota has a reputation hat is so good you cant hardly kill them.This is just a lemon.I only hunt with this.
It is so weak that on a hill on the county road by my house that I have to stop and put it in low range.
I served lemon papers on Kubota last Friday. After that they have 5 days to correct it or refund my money.
I am diisappointed in their lack of concern for the problem and a fix.

 

[texasjohn]

clogged radiator, then.

 

[bdaymon]

Wish it was a clogged radiator. We checked that. Dealer checked it and ran it and could not make it overheat. Within ten minutes of use here at home it boiled over. Let it cool down topped off the anti freeze and this time 30 minutes of travelling on a county road it boiled over before it even hit the red line or light came on. Again defroster blew cold air out immediately prior to boil over. Literally a few seconds after blowing cold air it boiled over.
That quickly tells me that the thermostat closed for some reason. Served Kubota with a certified letter,[return reciept requested}. They signed for it 11 days ago and not even a phone call.
I want to restate Kubota has a great track record and have the reputation as "Ya just cant hardly killem" history.
At 63 I just want to hunt. I will not waste time or cash to sue them over this. Again just really disappointed with Kubota. I would buy a Kubota tractoe tomorrow if I needed but certainly wouldnt buy another RTV whatever size.

 

[timswi]

Wish it was a clogged radiator. We checked that. Dealer checked it and ran it and could not make it overheat. Within ten minutes of use here at home it boiled over. Let it cool down topped off the anti freeze and this time 30 minutes of travelling on a county road it boiled over before it even hit the red line or light came on. Again defroster blew cold air out immediately prior to boil over. Literally a few seconds after blowing cold air it boiled over.
That quickly tells me that the thermostat closed for some reason. Served Kubota with a certified letter,[return reciept requested}. They signed for it 11 days ago and not even a phone call.
I want to restate Kubota has a great track record and have the reputation as "Ya just cant hardly killem" history.
At 63 I just want to hunt. I will not waste time or cash to sue them over this. Again just really disappointed with Kubota. I would buy a Kubota tractoe tomorrow if I needed but certainly wouldnt buy another RTV whatever size.

As a previous owner of an RTV 500, I'm a little confused by your reference to a defroster. Generally there is no HVAC in a 500 unless it was added on, a whole other issue at play. The only RTV's that have HVAC OEM stock are the 1100ish series. 16HP, that's pretty much the advertised HP no deception there. Not a RZR, well did you test drive it?

Me thinks there is another thing at foot here..maybe I'm wrong. There's also that whole thing about RTV500's being air-cooled--Just sayin'

The sort of OP post:

Wow what a big dissapointment. I bought a new 2014 RTV 500. Constant over heating problems. @ dealers cant fix it. Very weak power wise.
19 mph tops 16hp. Gets hot quickly.
I took it to the dealer and gave it back 70 hours total time.I told them the engine is compromised at this point. Boiled over a dozen times.
kubota generally have a great reputation. Lets see how they treat me on the buy back

 

[GolfAddict]

Actually, mine is water cooled and got it with the cab option and a heater. The cab is actually a Curtis, but was made especially for the 500 and (I'm quite sure) only offered through Kubota dealers.