RTV900 ... Temp Gauge Solution Yet?

[Heatwave]

I researched, found, and read all the prior posts on this forum pertaining to RTV900s running close to the HOT range on the OEM temp gauge. One suggestion I intended to try was to swap my ZD21 mower temp gauge and my RTV900 temp gauge. I gave it a swat, but getting the gauge out of the ZD21 was more than I could accomplish; it requires taking the right fender off the mower.

I'm still where I started. Do you know whether Kubota is putting more accurate temp gauges in their RTVs today? Or, can you suggest an after-market temp gauge that might do a better job?

 

[TWO GUNS]

[QUOTE=Heatwave
Pertaining to RTV900s running close to the HOT range on the OEM temp gauge.
I'm still where I started.


Heatwave,
You are like many of us..... that guage at first will drive you crazy. BUT >>>>
Very Simple, as long as it don't go into the red, you are fine. PERIOD.

Believe it or not, there is nothing wrong with the guages. The just will scare the hell out of you if your used to a temp needle running far away from red. A couple of years ago, we took a lazar temp guage while ours was close to the red, read the temp on engine, hoses, radiator, and everything was fine. Don't remember the exact numbers, but they were in the good by a long shot from getting hot. This was done on three RTV's !!!!!

 

[Heatwave]

I appreciate your informative response, Two Guns. Many thanks. I'm fairly confident my machine isn't running too hot ... like you, I've put the laser temp reader on the coolant hoses, top of the radiator, engine block, head, sending unit, etc., and never got a reading over about 185 deg. But I was a career Naval Aviator and one of our earliest lessons was "Always trust your instruments."

During the 100 deg.+ days we've had this month, my needle was easing over the line into the red band. That just bugs the heck outta me ... I spend my time eyeballing the gauge instead of enjoying my ride. Again, I put the laser gauge on everything and all was copascetic, buy it still chaps my behind.

By the bye ... what's all that white stuff in your pic?

Thanks again, Mate.

 

[cowdog]

When I bought my 2004 rtv900 used I brought it home and started driving it and the temp gauge kept creeping up past the half way mark and close to the red and I thought for sure that it was overheating but about the time it got right in edge of the red the fan would kick on and drop back off. I thought about taking a baseball bat back over to the guy I bought it from but I called my local dealer instead. They said it was perfectly normal. It is still very aggravating. Later I traded up to the 2010 model to get hydraulic dump, vht plus transmission, wider seat, quieter machine and atv tires. I got it home and started driving it and the temp gauge only goes up about half way and the fan comes on and the red is only about 1/8 wide at the upper end of the scale it is so nice not to have to wonder if it is running to hot or not. Its kind of funny because on my b7500 kubota tractor the temp barely ever moves up past 1/4 on the gauge.

 

[TWO GUNS]

[QUOTE=
By the bye ... what's all that white stuff in your pic?

That was taken about three years ago when mother nature got messed up.

Didn't last long, but thought of taken a kodak before it left.

........ jamie

 

[TWO GUNS]

When I bought my 2004 rtv900 used I brought it home and started driving it and the temp gauge kept creeping up past the half way mark and close to the red and I thought for sure that it was overheating .........


Has something to do with the OHMS that the sending unit has putting out to the guages from what I was told from different sources and Kubota themselves.
Kubota Guages comes from different sources. No two sources have there OHMS set the same. Something in the area of in 2005, Kubota might have purchased guages from one place that the sending units sends xxx amount of OHmS to their units. And change suppliers in 2006 and 2007, and their sending units sends more OHMs than the previous, which would make the guages read all together different, but the running temp will be the same. Hope I am explaining this close enough.

**** ANOTHER NOTE: ALWAYS KEEP YOUR RADIATOR CLEANED OUT. And do it from both ends, top and BOTTOM. The bottom of the radiator will hold more mud/dirt than on can imagine. Also, after cleaning the radiator, run engine for a little while and let the radiator dry off. That was told to me by a professional radiator shop forman, he said it will keep the from rusting up on the outside, for that, they will do !!!!

ALSO, put you a batch of radiator conditioner like was discussed on previous threads, it will help much on the performance of your cooling system and help take care of it .

......... two guns

 

[Heatwave]

Many thanks for your replies. ISSPRO has a decent website that lists beaucoup temp gauges. I may contact them regarding a replacement temp gauge and sending unit ... I guess you need both to have an accurate system.