RTV900 Tweaks

[lloyd123]

It's been mentioned several times on this forum about the seat restraint cable that Kubota is now installing on the RTV900.

I was at my dealer today looking at two new RTV900 arrivals and noticed that there are also some other minor tweaks that Kubota is making at the factory.

There is now a large piece of rubber material that is used to cover access to the power steering reservoir, coolant overflow and the radiator screen. My RTV900 only covers these up with some foam rubber on the bottom of the seat and a little plastic cover that's over one side of the radiator screen access hole. They've eliminated the small plastic cover and now have this large rubber flap that is held in place by three plugs on the left side.

I also noticed that Kubota is now installing a small black extender on the end of the exhaust pipe.

I wonder if any of these changes are safety related.

 

[flyingn]

Yea I noticed the seat gettin hot after a while of driving.. Ill bet this is why they did the underseat rubber piece..

Frank

 

[Ricochet]

The primary reason for the plastic flap/cover under the seat is to keep stuff from getting into the radiator. The muffler tip is a Nelson add-on spark arrestor.

 

[flyingn]

ok thanks jippy. Can I get all these 'updates' on my RTV at a reduced or free cost?? Due to the fact they are runing changes??

Frank

 

[Ricochet]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ok thanks jippy. Can I get all these 'updates' on my RTV at a reduced or free cost?? Due to the fact they are runing changes??

Frank )</font>

I don't know about that...ask your dealer. I kind of doubt you can get these running changes, since they are new production parts but they should be available sooner or later.

 

[lloyd123]

Would the spark arrestor diminish performance - increased back pressure?

I seem to remember someone on this forum with a JD that said they got better performance by taking off their spark arrestor.

 

[JESSE1]

I took the spark arrestor off my JD HPX diesel on the recommendation of another member. It seems to have made a difference. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif The fine mesh wire in the spark arrestor would fill up quickly with soot. If you remove it, keep it handy so you can re-install it if you ride in a national forest that requires spark arrestors.

 

[Dargo]

Ya know, I really haven't seen just a lot of fire coming out of the exhaust pipe of my RTV... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[JESSE1]

If you ever drive a diesel tractor at night under load you might be surprised at how many sparks are coming out the exhaust stack. Probably won't be a problem with a diesel utility vehicle since it won't be under a heavy load. The problem with a diesel is the amount of soot that forms in the exhaust system. Then if you put the engine under a heavy load the exhaust will get real hot and flakes of red hot soot will blow out. With an exhaust pipe close to the ground it could be a fire hazard.

 

[Ricochet]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Would the spark arrestor diminish performance - increased back pressure?

I seem to remember someone on this forum with a JD that said they got better performance by taking off their spark arrestor. )</font>

It does not diminish performance...back pressure change was nominal. I don't think you need it unless you plan to run around on USFS land of any kind...the muffler by itself does enough spark arresting but not quite up to USFS standards without the add-on.

 

[Dargo]

Not that I don't believe you Jesse1, but I've run a tractor at night, as well as my RTV, and I've never seen anything come out of the exhaust that was on fire. Now on my Cummins Diesel powered Dodge truck, when it was on the dyno a few months ago I could have sworn it was breathing fire. It produced 396 hp and 1012 ft. lbs. of torque! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

You see, I need that sort of power to haul my tractor and RTV. (at least that is what I tell my wife /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)

 

[Y2KF250PSD]

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JESSE1]

It's probably not as noticible if an engine has a turbo, but flakes of red-hot carbon will blow out-- that's probably the reason the Forest Service requires a flame arrestor. I've seen sparks fly from the exhaust on the 990 David Brown tractor I had 20 years ago-engine was non-turbo.

Flame out the exhaust was common on the older non-turbo diesels in trucks, especially if the fuel had been turned up on the engine. My Dad drove a '59 White Diesel that had a 220 Cummins. It was very common to see a foot of flame coming out the stack when the engine was working hard. In fact, he had a mirror aimed so he could see the stack- too much flame meant to back off on the throttle!

 

[lloyd123]

This is odd - according to the RTV900 service manual it already has a US Forest Service approved spark arrestor muffler. Why would they be putting on this extra spark arrestor on the end of the tailpipe? I didn't check but maybe the vehicles with the tailpipe spark arrestor just have a conventional muffler without the clean out hole.

I've attached the page out of the manual.

 

[DieselMule]

Dargo,

I hope you have a manual tranny in that Dodge! I had a Dodge with cummins that I "tweaked", and it was producing 375 hp and 1200 lbs of torque. The automatic trans would last no more than 15000 miles!

 

[Dargo]

DieselMule, the tranny is automatic and I can roll smoke off of all 4 rear tires practically at will. Also, it is warranted for another 2 years or 40K miles. Oh, did I tell you that it isn't stock either? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif It is a rather pricey ATS Stage IV full race setup. It was built with the intention of adding twins under the hood. No twins yet, but they are on the list... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Ricochet]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( This is odd - according to the RTV900 service manual it already has a US Forest Service approved spark arrestor muffler. Why would they be putting on this extra spark arrestor on the end of the tailpipe? I didn't check but maybe the vehicles with the tailpipe spark arrestor just have a conventional muffler without the clean out hole.

I've attached the page out of the manual.)</font>

Wow, you guys are observant! That's actually a "typo" till the muffler is certified by itself...they all have the removable plugs for cleaning. The add-on spark arrestor is a temporary thing, so it really isn't a "typo" now with the add-on.

 

[Dargo]

No "typo", huh? It states that this procedure should be done for the "lift" of the vehicle in the manual? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif What is the "lift" of the vehicle?? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Ricochet]

Huh? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Maybe my last reply didn't make sense. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[bczoom]

I believe Kubota meant to say "for the LIFE of the vehicle".