Just got a recall notice for my RTV-X but it looks like it covers machines built since Jan 2021. Some thing with the ball joints. If you bought one used, you may want to check the SN.
RTV recall
- Thread starter Sidekick
- Start date
Just got my recall notice in the mail this AM for my RTV-X1100C. Mine serial number is in the middle of the recall range. I will call them this afternoon and see what needs to be done.
Just a quick up date the dealer called back Thursday morning and said they had already done about thirty side by sides and hadn't found any loose steering parts. I checked mine and found nothing loose they will be in my area next week doing some for schools and the rail road and will stop by and do mine to keep Kubota happy.
Ball joints allow the wheel to pivot so it's "technically" part of the steering system. So is the tire and lug nuts following that line of reasoning. 
I guess you would say the ball joint is part of the suspension system but you aren't going to be able to steer it if the ball joint separates from the A arm. The shop manger said the tech would check all the steering and suspension parts. I have already check it myself and found nothing loose and all the keys were in the castle nuts on the ball joints.
Your first point - EXACTLY!
Second - ball joints that I have seen fail, come apart, the castle nut and pin are still connected to the stud.
The recall notice states "inspected and repaired". Kind of giving the dealers an out. If the part is going to be recalled dealers should have to replace them all, no questions. Seems the lawyers got involved.
Let me give a non-mechanical example. As a retired Energy Engineer when rating light bulbs the published "life" or hours a bulb will last is based on operating a sample (sometime 100's, sometimes 1,000's) of product. They are run X minutes on / Y minutes off. They do this 24/7 until 50% of the bulbs fail. That is the published hours on the box. Many bulbs will fail after just a couple of hours and many may last multiples of the published hours.
My point is if the ball joints are not noticeably bad today (when you or the dealer inspects it) whose to say it won't fail in the future. I would feel uncomfortable not having them replaced, even if the dealer say they are OK, and I would do it myself if no other option, a small inconvenience in time and money for the peace of mind.
After reading the notice again I see the ball joint "can loosen and separate".
Not sure if they are talking about the stud/castle nut or the ball and cup.
Either would would put the FU in fun.
Not sure if they are talking about the stud/castle nut or the ball and cup.
Either would would put the FU in fun.
The shop manger told me it wasn't a case of bad parts it was a case of the castle nut hadn't got torque and the keeper pin installed. He said all the ones they had done the recall, they hadn't found any loose.
Well, I'd been drinking since lunch so......Ball joints allow the wheel to pivot so it's "technically" part of the steering system. So is the tire and lug nuts following that line of reasoning.
Well that explains it, would have saved me from typing my long babbling rant and boring everyone who read it. LOL.
Glad yours is safe and anyone else is better informed , that's the important part. Thanks.
whitetiger
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Staff member
Equipment
Kubota tech..BX2370, RCK60, B7100HST, RTV900 w plow, Ford 1100 FWA
To set the record straight, MSC-2024-022-R2
RTV520, check the torque of the 3 fasteners of each lower ball joint.
RTV-X, check the torque of the 3 fasteners of each lower and upper ball joint.
Issue
The bolts and nuts connecting the ball joint to the front suspension arm may not have been sufficiently tightened from the factory on some units. The ball joint connected to the front suspension arm can loosen and separate from the front suspension arm, resulting in the driver losing wheel support of the utility vehicle, posing a crash hazard to consumers.
There is no mention at all of the castle nut being under torqued or the cotter pin being omitted.
RTV520, check the torque of the 3 fasteners of each lower ball joint.
RTV-X, check the torque of the 3 fasteners of each lower and upper ball joint.
Issue
The bolts and nuts connecting the ball joint to the front suspension arm may not have been sufficiently tightened from the factory on some units. The ball joint connected to the front suspension arm can loosen and separate from the front suspension arm, resulting in the driver losing wheel support of the utility vehicle, posing a crash hazard to consumers.
There is no mention at all of the castle nut being under torqued or the cotter pin being omitted.