Happy to join the 900 RTV family!

E

EvenOlder

New member
Hello everyone!
[Story Time]
Saved $10k to buy the new Honda Pioneer 700 4 seater. Wife wanted a Toyota Sequoia, I like having the kids (10 & 8 boys) in a big safe vehicle, put the $10k towards it. No money for UTV (Sad face)
Told story to a patient (i'm a dentist), he tells me he'd sell his Kubota 900 RTV for $5000. It was used to push-start sprint race cars. He needs $3000 of dentistry.
Go on interwebs, find this forum, feel likes a family with 2 Guns, Peanut, Border Collie, etc, etc. Every review says Kubota is most reliable/strongest.
Wife totally in love with it after seeing pics. Looks like a good way for kids to learn to drive. Write check for $2000 to patient with the Kubota, sight unseen.
[End Story Time]

Turns out it's a 2005 or 2006 (While I can find serial numbers, don't see a "made on" date). 205 hours. Starts instantly, runs great. Loud, but I'm assuming that's normal for a diesel with big vibrating drum of the bed above it.

I love cleaning it up. The kids love driving it. The wife takes the dog out for evening rides.

If you've got the time, could anyone take a look and offer thoughts on my questions?
Questions (with illustrating pictures)
Is this what the air intake should look like?
IMG_1551.jpg


Can I tell if the spark arrestor is gone from this picture?
IMG_1552.jpg


Any suggestions on easiest steps to repaint (has some rust) the brush guard?
IMG_1554.jpg


Thanks everyone! My questions will flow, and the pictures will be often.

Regards,
steve
 
EvenOlder said:
Go on interwebs, find this forum, feel likes a family with 2 Guns, Peanut, Border Collie, etc, etc.
steve
Click to expand...
Welcome to Net Tractor Talk Steve. Glad you found us. You're right, it is sort of a family feeling with those folks and others here. They have the answers to most of your questions and they are always happy to help.
 
Wow, what an excellent deal. That is an awesome find. Congrats!

Edit to add: Confusing answers removed. Pepr did a much better job of answering your questions.

These things are fun. you will love yours.

Welcome to Net Tractor Talk
 
EvenOlder, welcome to the family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like you purchased a good one for a great price. Operating hours are less than BorderCollie accumulated in a month. She is a GREAT ONE!

The air filter canister is the standard OEM, although it is missing the evacuator valve that covers the open hole located in the lower front portion of your picture. That valve allows minimal outward air flow to "burp" out some dust, I think. If your environment is dusty, the standard OEM setup will cause quick fouling of the air filter because of the location of the short intake snorkel. Its location is in the dusty area created by the right rear tire. Extending the intake snorkel upward above the bed will immensely help.

Your exhaust pipe is of a different design than my 2011 RTV 900 XT, but, I'd say that the spark arrester is not installed on yours. Those member with older units can provide better feedback on this question than me. I would suggest removing the mud dobbers nest on the right spring shackle. I'd suggest removing the intake snorkel and the snorkel to verify no mud dobbers nest in the intake snorkel.

Regarding the brush guard, if it were me I would remove the brush guard and take it to a paint shop to correct the rust issue. I hate too paint. To make it look good, the paint needs to be sprayed on and not by an aerosol can of paint.

It appears that there is rust between the bottom of the bed side panel and the angle iron stiffener. I'd recommend a closer inspection and correct if it is rust.

I wish I had you windshield.

Tell us more about you, specifically the part of the world in which you live and what the RTV will be used for other than taking the dog for a ride and training the off spring to drive.
 
evenolder;
welcome to the forum and congrats on your "new" rtv. lots of good folks in here. we will all help you spend your money to upgrade your kubota. take some time to read past postings as they will help answer many of the questions you might have concerning your machine. you might also consider purchasing a shop manual. recommended vendor--Messicks. a newly talked about product here is Fluid Film-- used for everything from general lubrication to rust preventative.
good luck and continue to share your photos.
keifer
 
Welcome aboard BUD..........Above all else...keep those mud daubers as long as you can. They really do give a very "broken in" effect.

Do a search about high rise air filters. Lots of guys have made their own and some have bought the kit from Kubota. Either way, one really needs to get that air filter UP out of the dust, dirt, and crud. Before I got mine, I was blowing it out perhaps every 25 hours or so. Now, golly, been so long that I guess I need to. Last time after a couple hundred hours the outer filter was still like new.

PLEASE do fill out your profile. It helps us get to know you a bit. Yes, a wench is nice. For some, when the neighbor is stuck and needs help getting out of the ditch, it really does add points to being the must call guy. If you like that kind of thing.

If you burn wood for heat, the stories are just starting as to how useful the thing is.'

Work lights are a nice to have item if you go out with the unit at night. Both front and back are really useful to some.

A really nice thing about around here is the fact that folks are helpful and whether you are one that has to have everything you can think of to add to your unit, or just run a striped down version..........YOU ARE WELCOME and ONE ..........
Anyway, on and on.........God bless......Dennis
 
Hi Evenolder. Welcome!!!! You are going to love your RTV. :)
Pepr is right,there is a rubber dust cap missing off of that air intake. It is gray in color and just slips on . it has a slit in the end. :) bordercollie

edit: On this old post, you can just barely see the little dust cap in one of the pictures I took on 9/4/11. http://www.nettractortalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14070&highlight=intake&page=2 .

On my '05 , the spark arrestor just screwed on the end of the muffler pipe. The newer internal ones have 2 bolts that hold the tailpipe on and when there are unscrewed, the pipe and spark arrestor come out as one piece. bordercollie
 
Last edited:
Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new to you RTV!

Let's see what I can add.

To check the year, look at the VIN plate located on the frame behind the battery. If it's 16 characters in length, the 9th character is your year. If it's 17 characters, the year is in the 10th position. E.g. on 16 character = KRTV900A510nnnnn.

Fluid Film is your friend. I spray it all over as a rust preventative.

As mentioned, your general location, terrain, altitude (if really high), general usage and such helps us to point out other things you may need to be aware of. Looking at the area code on the side of the bed, it appears you're in western Florida. HEY, I'm going to be in your area next week. We're vacationing between Palm Harbor and Venice. If that general area is correct, first thing that comes to mind is sand is not your friend. Try to avoid getting it into the moving parts like your u-joints.

If you're in woody, brush or other conditions where debris can get under your RTV, consider getting Tommy's stick-stoppers.

Regarding the work lights, yes, they're very nice as the OEM headlights on the early models are weak. Be careful on where you put them. If you're parking or driving into a standard garage, anything on top of the roof will get ripped off.

For painting the front grill guard, you can take the professional route as already mentioned. Myself... well, my guard doesn't take a lot of impacts so I went the spray can route. I didn't like the light gray so I wanted it the same color as the ROPS. Kubota has spray cans in that color. Personally, I used Rustoleum Hammered Gray which is a close match (and half the price).
 
In the photo showing the muffler, is there a bolt missing? Look at the end of the tail pipe, then look to the right and down a few degrees. I don't have a RTV so have no idea what the missing bolt supports.

Bob
 
Welcome to "OUR WORLD" .....

Steve, looks like you hit up on a good thing.
See you have "rental" numbers or something on the side of bed. It can be removed by a hair dryer. Warm them up and peel off. Don't get 'em to hot.
Little mineral spirits / paint thinner / or gas will get off the glue residue.

Your spark arrestor looks like it is been removed. Should have a screw right at the end. Removed mine and set the screw back into the pipe.


Make or purchase yourself a High Rise Intake for your Machine.
Service: Your probobly due a service at 200 hrs, unless the PO had it done right before your purchase. This is SERIOUS !!!!
Use ONLY Kubota Filters on your tranny.
May I suggest a Wix or Kubota for Engine.
Replace transmission fluid with ONLY KUBOTA Super UDT 2.
Engine oil = I would suggest either Kubota, Rotella, or go synthetic with Amsoil
Diesel. BE SURE TO USE A QUALITY DIESEL ENGINE OIL !!!!
Fuel filter= Wix or Kubota
Our family will do our best to help you take care of your new machine. Wearing seat belts that is supplied in the RTV's is a big plus.
If you take a look at this link:
http://www.nettractortalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2391
You will find what many family members has installed and used on their machines.

Excuse the dirt on the RTV, been using it hunting much !!!
 

Attachments

  • Kubota Muffler 1.jpg
    Kubota Muffler 1.jpg
    55.8 KB · Views: 134
rlk said:
In the photo showing the muffler, is there a bolt missing? Look at the end of the tail pipe, then look to the right and down a few degrees. I don't have a RTV so have no idea what the missing bolt supports.

Bob
Click to expand...
Yes, there is. That's a cover to protect the filter/tranny from rear impacts. To replace, be advised it's metric.
 
EvenOlder said:
Loud, but I'm assuming that's normal for a diesel with big vibrating drum of the bed above it.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's a diesel. They are a little more noise. Myself, to try to keep down some of the viberation on the bed. I install Limbsavers that goes on bows to help keep down the "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" sound.

............ two guns
 
I noticed a difference in noise level when I bought the 2011 compared to the 2005 model . I attribute it to the spray in bed liner.. If you decide to go that route I have had excellent results from it (came that way new) and I am sorta tough on mine ... but I do act like I am paying for it-and am.. try to be considerate of my orange buddy...'. ;). One thing about the liner, if done right, no rust to worry about back there.
Enjoy your new machine and again CONGR:dancing:TULATIONS!! bordercollie
 
That really is a great deal you got on that RTV, Steve/EvenOlder. I paid $5,500 for one that has 1300 hours on it and is not in as good a shape. You might ought to throw in a couple of extra fillings for that guy down the road. : )
 
For the noise radiating out of the bed. Actually, it's a whole bunch of vibrations of the sheet metal with the tailgate being the worst........I got a horse stall mat from the local farm supply, I think TSC has them. Then I trimmed it to fit the bed on the table saw and cut some notches at the corners to make it nice and tight. The thing probably weights 30 or 40 pounds so that and the "rubber" properties help absorb LOTS of that sheet metal vibration noise..............On and on......God bless.......Dennis
 
Everyone:
Wow!
Figure such a niche vehicle and I'll check in every few days...
16 replies in just 3 days!

Thanks and hello to everybody.

@bczoom: Thanks for the serial number explanation: I've got an '04. You'll love down by Venice area- make sure you get to the beach and go shark tooth hunting at Casperson!

Went out to replace the tranny/filter cover bolt that's missing-
removed cover to discover the bolt was sheared off in it,
20min of pb blaster, hammer drill, concrete and normal metal drill bits... that bold is fused.

Continued to clean off mud dobber nests, clean up in general, wedge a bit of closed cell foam in the right rear bed between the rear gate and side panel (solved most of the irritating noise). I'll be putting in a dense rubber mat as well as suggested by D&D farm (commercial gym flooring).

Used the hydraulic bed opener (works!), checked engine oil, a bit too much (engine hot) and jet black.

So time for fluid changes. I'm good with engine oil, but the transmission?

Time to buy a service or shop manual, unless it's online?

Thanks everyone!

Regards,
steve
(filling out profile now)
 
Last edited:
Evenolder, My internet went off before I could edit the post so just sent you a pm when it came back on..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top