RTV1100 TEST DRIVE

K

Kubota Kanook

Member
Stopped by the bota dealer today to pick up some maintenance items (oil and filter changes) and while there I decided to enquire into theRTV1100. After getting the sales pitch, I asked if I could take it for a spin. They had 8 of them on the lot. 7 had the factory cab and 1 was the extended version. I surmise that the extended version, due to the nature of the construction, is not available with an enclosed cab???. I noted that a number of the issues listed on the "WISH LIST" thread had been addressed in the 1100 cabin. The horn and key location were more appropriate, the seat was definitely more comfortable (than my 04). The issue of a "breezee" rear seemed fixed (at least with the factory cab. The cab was very air tight and as noted in the "WISH" thread, this made the doors hard to latch. The unit I tested didn't have a radio, but if I were to get one, I'd probably go to my local stero store and pick up a decent multi speaker unit and install it myself. </p>


On the test drive, I deliberately forward/reversed in tight locations and on inclines including the ditch out front and the loading ramp used to load machines onto trailers for delivery. Shifted nicely out of gears(my personal beef with my unit) and performed very satisfactorily.</p>


There were no 900s to be seen and it made me wonder if bota has ceased production on the 900????</p>


I asked the question "Why doesn,t Kubota put apedal on the floor to facilitate reversing?" His expression was enough to tell me that I wasn,t the only potential buyer that asked that question.</p>


:::::CONCLUSION::::::</p>


Well crafted machine....loved it...</p>


THAT RTV1100 I test drove would be on the back of their delivery vehicle on its way to my place right now if it had a hydro pedal for reverse on the floor.</p>


Sorry KUBOTA but I won't spend that kind of money on machine that still insists the operator "grind the gears " to shuttle back and forth.</p>


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[quote user="zenchal26"]Have you tried to adjust your shift linkage yet?[/quote]</p>


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ZENCHAL26..............</p>


Yes I have and between the info I got from bordercollie and the excellent write up you supplied, I can definitely say that the linkage is now less "sloppy". Thank-you for the info...It is sincerely much appreciated. As a matter of fact I would go so far as to say that my shifter operation is less "sticky" than the one on the 1100 I test drove. The 1100 I test drove had exactly 1 hour on the meter so I suspect that stickyness was due to its newness.</p>


I am now convinced that the shifting difficulties that I encounter are due to the HST itself. The problem that I have is that if I come to a stop with a load in the box and need to change direction, (like if you have a load of dirt that you're dumping into a pile and you need to stop and reverse up to the pile and then dump the load)it is impossible to shift OUT of the gear I was in (say L for ex). In order to shift out of gear I have to shut off the engine and within a second I can easily shift it into neutral (the situation is similiar to trying to shift a gear transmission into neutral while "riding" the clutch, its reluctant to disengage due to the pressure being applied by the partially engaaged clutch). It is then necessary to restart the engine and shift into reverse. I am sure this is due to the pressure still being present in the HST thus exerting force on the gearing making it difficult / impossible to disengage. If I am on an incline when I back into the pile, I have shut down again in order to shift back into neutral, start the engine and then shift into a forward gear. My fear is that next winter when the snow comes and I'm using this 900 to plow snow, that I will be in the same situation as driving forward pushing snow and coming to a stop that there will still be pressure still there preventing me from reversing without shutting down and going through the whole dirt pile routine over and over and over again.</p>


Kubota addressed this issue in later editions of the 900 with "the knob" or the brake pedal "fix". </p>


I discussed this with the dealer while on my 1100 test drive excursion ( not a sales guy but a knowledgeable tech guy) and he knew exactly what I was encountering and concurred that in my case, shutting down to shift was the only solution. I asked if the "decompression "knob" or brake pedal fix were available as a kit to up grade my 04. He shook his head and advised that the upgrade couldn't be applied to my unit as the HST in the early units and the "decompressed" later units were different and thus the parts wouldn't fit. He told me the only way to fix this on my machine was to REPLACE the entire HST....$5000+ plus labour... Not going to happen. </p>


Perhaps I have a "creep" issue that if addressed may lessen this phenomenom from occuring, but I don't have the skills required to investigate without some direction..</p>


Now I can see why owners of later models may wonder what I'm complaning about or if they are being used for long hauls and occasional reversing then the issue would be of little concern.</p>


I don't fault Kubota as they did address the issuein more recent production models than mine. I fault my selffor not doing my homework. This stuck in gear syndrome was unobservable in the 1100 I test drove so this only left my obsession with a reverse HST pedal as my sole criticism of the RTV1100..</p>


Perhaps my blurb above will shed some light on my keen interest in CHARLES "McGuiver" approach to the HST.</p>


My RTV900 pulls like an OX and I really like it despite its early model limitations, but I would have traded it yesterday in an instant if that lovely 1100 had had a HST reverse pedal.</p>


My hearty thanks to all the members who offer their advice and assistance...You are a great bunch people...........</p>
 
Kanook:</p>


Well written posts andI agree with you 100% on the shifting ideas. I suggest Kubota look at the RTV transmission design and re-engineer it so there isone pedal for forward motion and another pedal for reverse motion. End of shifting problems. It's not like this is a new idea because you see it on mostlargeand small tractors manufactured these days. And, it must be a proven idea because you see the two pedal concept even on commercial equipment.</p>


Keifer, a RTV wannabe</p>
 
KK,</p>


It may be moot for you now, but here's an alternative to shutting down the RTV to change gears.</p>


When you stop, if the gear selector won't come out of gear, apply the emergency brake (pretty hard). Wait about 8 seconds then shift. It's worked every time for me. I've never had to shut mine down.</p>


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[quote user="bczoom"] apply the emergency brake (pretty hard). Wait about 8 seconds then shift. It's worked every time for me. I've never had to shut mine down.[/quote]</p>


I've tried this. Even left it sitting that way and went into the house for a coffee. Came back and it still needed to be shut down. That is why I suspect that I may have a "creep" issue with mine. If you don't know what I mean,..its as though the HST is still trying to exert some pressure on the drivetrain even with the pedal fully released. Perhaps a mechanic in the audience could have some suggestions on this.</p>


As an aside....While checking out the hardware at the dealer I noted that one of the RTV1100 had a KANLAN snow plow hanging off the front. Now I have no affiliation with KANLAN or any other manufacturer. They make a relly great attachment for the RTV. Really well engineered and crafted. Even has the controls for the lift/lower/angle/vblade/scoop functions mounted right on the shift lever. Your hand is going to be there anyway in most plowing situations. The fact that it is built in Canada gave me a momentary feeling of pride in one of our local manufacturers.(Us Canadians sometimes feel a little timid when it comes to blowing our own horns). Anyone in the market for a blade attachment for their RTV should at least give these guys a peek.</p>


BCzoom....thanks for the tip...</p>


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<span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">My 04 did the same thing yours is doing, until my shift fork broke in the Trans. I brought it to the dealer to fix it and haven’t had that problem since. I suspect you are right about having pressure when in neut. I red the book on this does not seem like it’s too hard to check.</span></p>


<span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"></span></p>


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<span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>


<span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">After reading my post on shifter adj I left something out.After adjusting the shifter, you also need to adjust the HST lever. Do this by disconnecting the ball joint from the lever. Move the lever all the way fwd until it stops and mark the case where it stops. Then push the pedal down all the way. Adjust the pedal stopper so the HST lever is 1mm before your mark on the case. After that is set put the pedal all the way down and adjust the throttle cable so the throttle lever is all the way open. </span><o:p></o:p><span></span></p>


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[quote user="zenchal26"]<span style="font-family: Arial; color: #000000;">My 04 did the same thing yours is doing, until my shift fork broke in the Trans. I brought it to the dealer to fix it and haven’t had that problem since. I suspect you are right about having pressure when in neut. I red the book on this does not seem like it’s too hard to check</span>[/quote]</p>


Zenchal26.....Did you ever find out what the dealer did to your machine to make it disappear? I haven't done any additional tweeking on my 900 since setting up the linkage and trying to get the hst lever centered and dropping the rpm. I also replaced the hst oil and both filters.It will get a good workout in the next few days as I will be moving about 25 cu yd of crushed stone using the rtv...short haul of about 75ft and lots of forward/reverse shifting. </p>


Bordercollie...The pages you sent me appear to contain some info I could use, but I cannot make out sufficient detal when I blow them up.</p>


Could you resend using Google Docs instead....???</p>
 
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">I'm not sure what else they did when they replaced the shift fork. I assume since they had to split the HST open to change the fork inside the Trans they went through all the linkage and pressure settings. I know before I had the work done if I parked the bota in the garage and put it in neut it would stay put now I put it in neut and she rolls toward the doors (floors pitched to the doors). </span></p>
 
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