Hello! and questions

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Squirrelwood

New member
Hi All,

found this forum after looking into RTV900 problems. We purchased our RTV in 04 and she has worked hard for us. I need to check but I believe we are right around 3600 hours. Over the past two years we have had a lot of starting issues. Add in some nasty cold and forget it. New battery, alternator was pulled off tested. starter we did the same. Finally got her up and running and engine started making noise. Kubota mechanic that has been dealing with her from day one said "she's done" and don't bother fixing it. Connecting rod? so I have my daily work horse sitting in the driveway and I am not even sure what to do with it. At this point I will prob just sell it as is and move on. I can't keep throwing $ into a machine what won't run. A close friend that runs hers just about as hard as we do is already on her second one in 10 yrs. Are we just unlucky?? Seems from posts here that people are getting lots of life out of theirs. I don't have time to pull it apart and rebuild. I am just beyond frustrated that the dealer and mechanic just shrug and say well that is the life expectancy. ??? for a 12K machine? sorry guys, just venting. I run a not for profit and we don't have 12K to drop every 9 years. the machine has been maintained. It isn't like we neglected it and then had a problem. The main tasks it performs is hauling water to fields, hauling feed, firewood and bedding. It occasionally towed a chain harrow but we use the small NH for that. Beyond the water tank weight this machine has not been pushed beyond its abilities. We don't plow with it.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I do not think I will be buying another RTV.

Thanks, Beth
 
there is no way I would take his word for "it's done" Take it to someone else and find out for sure what is wrong.

You could put a whole new engine in it if needed, but no way will they know that without checking it and being a real mechanic.
 
Welcome to the forum Beth!

I'm with razerface... take it to a different mechanic.

I'm not a diesel mechanic nor did I sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night so I'm not able to fix your RTV over the internet but if it's running, even if it is making noise is a good thing. Hard starting could be one of several small things. A noise... well, that has to be heard in person.

I'd definitely get another opinion from a non-dealer mechanic.
 
Welcome aboard Beth......Doesn't in any way seem as if that machine was even worked hard. I am with the other guys of trailering it to a gooood mechanic and fixing it. Where in NY are you?????..........There are LOTS of guys on here that can recommend a good place that also live up your way. You may be really lucky and be able to take it over to Messicks..............
It really sounds as if it could be a couple or three things that have added up to a bigger problem; but really hard to diagnose on here...........A rod knocking is a distinct HARD steady almost thump/knock..........The hard starting could be so MANY different things.......So....hang on and let's get it fixed........God bless.........Dennis
 
machine is not running now. I've had a couple different people look at it. We are about an hour north of NYC. Pine Bush Equipment is the dealer.

thanks for all the advice. I can try and get it running. B
 
Talked to business partner about the noise. She said it was a combination of a squeal and a hard knocking. Fairly loud. Mechanic said it was from "bottom end of engine". that's all the info I have.
 
squirrelwood ....

Welcome to the forum. Sorry your having problems. But I also agree for what other members are saying, Get other opinions.



Don't ever give up. Don't lay it to rest.

Do depth researce before making a decision !!!!

.......... two guns
 
There is a rtv 1100 engine for sale on craigslist bowling green Kentucky for 750.00 ads says cracked head but rest of engine fine
 
Welcome aboard Beth, sorry to hear about your RTV problems, like the others I wouldn't give up either, get another opinion from someone use to working on older machines and farm equipment, before spending an money get an oil analysis done they are fairly cheap and can tell you a lot about your machine, problems or not.
 
Welcome Beth. I am also sorry to hear of your problems. I wish I knew about engines but I have very little knowledge in that dept.
I have met some of the best folks here and would be glad to call them brother or sister. I do value their opinions and also agree that a second opinion is worth a shot. Good Luck and keep us informed . bordercollie
 
BaiJiu said:
Welcome aboard Beth, sorry to hear about your RTV problems, like the others I wouldn't give up either, get another opinion from someone use to working on older machines and farm equipment, before spending an money get an oil analysis done they are fairly cheap and can tell you a lot about your machine, problems or not.
Click to expand...
Something else I should have mentioned was to cut your oil filter open, if you have major damage your oil filter will have the evidence to confirm you have a problem but won't tell you what the problem is without having an analysis of the filter findings. Good luck.
 
I am not familiar with your area but most lubrication dealers, college labs, university labs all do this type of analysis, actually many labs do it. You could try looking on line for your immediate area. Possibly some other members from your area will know and jump in. Sometime filter shops offer this service as well.

Try calling the Kubota dealer and ask the service department if they have oil analysis kits and who they send their kits out to for analysis, they should handle it for you if not, you can likely get a kit from them, fill the bottle supplied and ship yourself.
 
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Squirrelwood said:
this is going to sound dense but where do I get an oil analysis done? B
Click to expand...

it may be wasted money now that the engine is already in trouble. Oil analysis is very useful as a tool to use while the engine is aging,,watching for bearing material to appear in the oil, ect. It sounds like you will for sure need work done, so using the money for that work seems more benificial right now.

Pulling the pan and check the bearings is a perfect start.
 
That doesn't sound good but it does run so it's not DOA.

I wouldn't run it much more until that sound is diagnosed and corrected. Hate to do any more damage.
 
Given that this machine is a 2004 and has 3,600 hours with that much noise, STOP running it.

It needs to be torn down for assessment.

Major damage somewhere. Rods, pistons, crank, valves. Who knows.
 
Just watched your Video. Bummer!! Most common cause of bottom end problems on these, starts with a cracked head. They then get a little hydro locked, and or the water washes the cylinder down and they try to seize. That's when this happens.
picture.php

At least it has been my experience the bottom ends are pretty tough. If this is the case and it needs a crank $500 and a Rod $125, and a head $750, and a rebuild kit with over sized pistons $745. Plus machining, and labor..Dammmmm!
 
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