I have a 2018 Kubota RTV XG850 Sidekick with a bad starter. Dealer price seems exorbitant. Starter is marked Mitsuba SM17 I believe it is actually a SM17B. Any ideas where to find a replacement other than the dealers?
XG850 Starter replacement
- Thread starter green hills jim
- Start date
Go to Amazon and search for “DB Electrical” starter motor replacement for your machine. They are typically less than $100 and are identical to the OEM in fitment and quality.
Have used a LOT of DB electrical starters, alternators.
They are NOWHERE near OE quality. But they are dirt cheap, and they have some warranty. I've had to use that warranty many times. Inconvenient, and in the case of customers' stuff, a royal pain in the neck-especially if their stuff is used on the farm or whatever. I ALWAYS recommend OEM parts but give the option for the chincanese stuff with a warning that it may or may not last forever.
Got an issue with my MF tractor as we speak. They say they're gonna take care of it but they need the starter back before they can ship a new one. We will see...
They are NOWHERE near OE quality. But they are dirt cheap, and they have some warranty. I've had to use that warranty many times. Inconvenient, and in the case of customers' stuff, a royal pain in the neck-especially if their stuff is used on the farm or whatever. I ALWAYS recommend OEM parts but give the option for the chincanese stuff with a warning that it may or may not last forever.
Got an issue with my MF tractor as we speak. They say they're gonna take care of it but they need the starter back before they can ship a new one. We will see...
I've tried all of those and all I found on ebay were some used ones in Germany. I tried phrasing the search in many different phrases and with different qualifiers but found nothing equivalent to SM17(B)
Hey jim, you ever find one? Mine just went as well and having a tough time. Bought a few from amazon but fitment was a bit off.
Mine just came apart. From what I have read that starter Mitsuba SM17B is used in some Yamaha and Suzuki products. There is a problem with the epoxy holding the magnets to the case. Yamaha has been covering replacement under warranty. I have had my Kubota service guy file a price question with corporate to find out why they charge $779.00 for a new one. It should be less than $200. If anyone finds a replacement please post the application and part#. I have 3 of the Sidekicks in my family and friends so it is only a matter of time before I will need 2 more. I tried talking to Mitsuba in Japan but they didn’t want to talk to me. Said I needed to speak with Kubota. I refuse to pay the $800 for a 3 pound starter which Mitsuba wholesale’s for less than $100
Any help or advice is appreciated.
Any help or advice is appreciated.
My starter went on my Sidekick and the price of new one shocked me. My mechanic removed and had it repaired for 100 bucks. He said it wasn't a hard fix. Magnets needed to be glued. Been working like a charm.
Has anybody else tried removing it and taking it to a repair shop? My Kubota mechanic said it wasn't the first one he had taken off and got repaired.
20 years ago I could have but the guy retired and the motor rebuild shop closed it's doors.
Have you tried getting your brake rotors/drums turned lately? Everything is considered disposable these days just buy a new one imported from china
So I tried one off a Yamaha ATV and it was the Mitsuba SM-17A which is 12mm shorter so the mount bolts would not line up. I have 2 more on order that are original on a Honda and the other a Suzuki motorcycle will let you know if they fit. I tried to have a conversation with Kubota corporate and they would not ingage just tell me to talk with my dealer. Unfortunately I am afraid Kubota is using a business model that is common with a lot of Japanese motorcycle manufacturers which is sell the original product at a low price point but don’t release any of the components to aftermarket manufacturers so you control the replacement parts and more importantly the $$. I am driving about 50 miles this week to see if a shop can provide the six magnets and glue into place. All my magnets came out in pieces.
You're 100 percent right , everything is throw away. I thought I was going to have to buy a new one. It's been a few months so far but we'll see how the repair holds up.
I guess I might be fortunate that my Kubota mechanic knew a guy he could get to do it. The labour for the removal and install was twice as much as the cost of the repair itself.
I guess I might be fortunate that my Kubota mechanic knew a guy he could get to do it. The labour for the removal and install was twice as much as the cost of the repair itself.
Sorry Small Farm I didn't notice your post when I sent. I guess my magnets were still ok. I'm not sure if they used new ones or not but I thought the mechanic said they only had to be glued.
Well another starter magnet casualty here. Same as another poster that Kubota blew me off. My dealer is trying to pull some strings but no luck so far. Rebuild shop can't find any info or parts to be able to rebuild. Mine is a 2019 model. Not sure if newer models us the same Mitsuba SM17B starter. Magnets at about 8-9 o'clock came loose, broke and ground to powder
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the engine is based on (or made by??) Fuji. Part of Subaru, or is it Subaru is part of Fuji? I forget. Maybe that'll help a starter rebuilder find the parts.