RTV on a hill

Dargo · May 24, 2004

I have a Kubota RTV and really like it. I was wondering if anyone else has had a problem that I just came across. The ground in my area finally dried out enough for me to try to climb a steep hill in the back of my property. I put it in 4X4 and low range, engauged the diff. lock, and had at it. Unfortunately I didn't make it. That was not the problem. The problem is that when that happens I cannot get the RTV out of low and into reverse. I tried so hard that I was afraid of bending or breaking the shift lever. I put on the parking brake, shut off the engine, tried punching the throttle and then moving it out after the bump to no avail. Afraid that I would break something, I actually drove up behind it with my tractor and, with a used tire in between to prevent any damage, pushed the RTV up just a bit and it came right out of gear and I was able to back down. Maybe I'm a bit slow on the uptake, but I tried it again with the same results. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Has anyone else had the problem of getting their RTV out of drive and into reverse when they could not make it up a hill?

Dozernut · May 24, 2004

Dargo
It's the nature of the beast. When this happens crank your steering wheel all the way left or right, then back the other way as far as it will go and it will drop in gear. This is in the manual so I can't take credit for it. How was the cruise?

Ricochet · May 24, 2004

Thanks RB! I've never faced that situation and I forgot about that message in the manual. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

How are things up north y'all?

MessickFarmEqu · May 25, 2004

How about a picture of that Hill?

Ricochet · May 25, 2004

Yeah, that's a good point/idea/request. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Dargo · May 25, 2004

Okay, I'll try to attach the picture of the hill. It's not a really big hill. As a matter of fact, the trail going up it was made with the worksite Gator I had. Maybe it is the tires on the RTV that keep it from climbing like the Gator. By the way, trying the steering deal definitely did not work. I got stuck again trying to go up the hill and tried turning left, right, left, right, any way I could and it would not help. The RTV was still stuck big time in gear. Hopefully there is a fix for this issue because as is, I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable planning a off road trip with it.
Okay, why won't the pic upload? It is only 580kb. Maybe I can email it to someone and they can post it. For some reason I can't. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Dozernut · May 25, 2004

Check your linkage, I had a bolt come loose on mine, which locked it up. The linkage is on the passenger side over the rear axle.

Dozernut · May 25, 2004

Yo Jippy
Things are good up North. The RTV is running fine and has been earning its keep hauling dirt. Been cleaning the shop so I will be able to turn around in it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. Later dude!

Ricochet · May 25, 2004

LOL...good to hear! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

rmorgan · May 25, 2004

Dargo--

An 850 kb picture won't load to this site--gotta be less than 100 kb.

My experience on hills with the RTV is that the tires (on the worksite model I have) are a significant limiting factor; they load up instantly and turn into slicks. The machine will go up anything I can point it at dry, but wet is a different matter. I'm torn between accepting this limitation because the quasi-turf tires are great on the lawn, vs. adding some ATV tires to get some capability in the mud (other than with the winch). However, I haven't had the stuck-in-gear problem you describe--what a pain in the tail!! Keep us posted?

Dargo · May 25, 2004

Okay, I gave it a big time squeeze and crunch. Maybe this time the picture of the little hill will not be too big! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ricochet · May 25, 2004

I think it is a traction issue like Dozer mentioned. Under dry conditions and/or some momentum/speed you should have no problem climbing that hill.

rockyridgefarm · May 26, 2004

Ok, Dargo, why do you think the 6x4 took this hill so much easier?

Dargo · May 26, 2004

I would have to venture to guess that it is the tires along with other things. The tires on the Gator were larger and had a slightly more agressive tread. It could also perhaps be that when you lock the differential on the 6X4 Gator all 4 rear wheels pull. When the differential lock is engauged on the RTV both rear wheels lock, but only one front wheel pulls. Just a guess. I've no doubt that with a big run at this particular hill I could make it with the RTV, but I always just crept up it on the Gator 6X4. Again, for my needs I prefer the RTV and my concern is only with it not coming out of drive when I do not make it up a hill. I do not think a UT can be all things to all people. If I bought the RTV only for climbing hills I'd be upset, but that was not my particular need. Therefore, my only issue is the being stuck in gear thing.

rmorgan · May 26, 2004

Dargo--

I wonder if all is right with adjustments on your RTV--although it's always hard to gauge hills in a picture, I've been going up and down hills which seem to me to be significantly steeper than that, including one which is a challenge to walk up, but which the RTV takes without complaint. Your situation is certainly one for us early-adopters to watch . . . Thanks for reporting on it!!

lloyd123 · May 26, 2004

Not that I have vast expanses of land but I do have some wooded areas on my property with fairly steep slopes. Judging from Dargo's photo I would say at least as steep if not more. I've had no problem going up these with the Worksite. Even stopping midway and restarting has been no problem. I've also had no problem taking the shift out of gear when stopped on the slope although getting it back into another gear sometimes requires the accelerator to be revered while in neutral to turn the gearing to a different position. This is covered in the manual.

I think the suggestion about turning the wheels left and right is only mentioned in the manual to free up the 4WD to 2WD selector if it won't release or to disengage the locking differential if it won't release normally. I don't believe Dargo's problem of getting the range selector out of a gear is even listed.

I would suspect that there some sort of alignment problem with Dargo's shift mechanism. Probably not a difficult fix.

I'm assuming that Dargo's RTV is not making it to the top of his hill because the wheels start spinning in that material that looks like clay to me (?). If so, the Camo tires would probably work much better than the Worksite tires.

EDIT

Just had another thought - If Dargo's linkage is out of alignment then perhaps he not's really in 4WD or has the locking differential engaged even though the levers are in position. That would account for having problems making it up the hill and having the gear lever lock in gear.

Dozernut · May 26, 2004

Quote
"I think the suggestion about turning the wheels left and right is only mentioned in the manual to free up the 4WD to 2WD selector if it won't release or to disengage the locking differential if it won't release normally. I don't believe Dargo's problem of getting the range selector out of a gear is even listed". End quote.

Yes you are correct about the manual! I have used the steering wheel method when my RTV balked at shifting. A little movement is all it takes and sometimes this is enough. If you reread my original response you might take note that I did not mention the range selector and was quite aware that it was not listed!