RTV K-Connect and Blower

[ItBmine]

Anyone here have the K-Connect on their RTV-X1100C? I'm taking my Boss plow off, dealer is buying it and I'm getting the K-Connect and snow blower installed.

The questions I have are with that subframe mounted underneath, can you still remove the rear skid pan in order to change fluids? And what about the front diff? Will it still be accessible?

I am also having them put all new fan belts on it before they put the driveshaft on so I won't have to deal with that for a while.

Then just have to see where they are going to relocate my front turn signals.

Good thing I also have a receiver hitch mounted winch with wiring on the rear also because use the front hitch will be off limits now.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I sure hope you have much better luck with the 'system' than those on their tractors. Over the years there's been a LOT of post about the dog clutches being destroyed in a few short hours of use. The 2 parts are close to $700 I think....
Pretty sure now that Ol' man Winter is here, there'll be more posts about it.

 

[ItBmine]

I sure hope you have much better luck with the 'system' than those on their tractors. Over the years there's been a LOT of post about the dog clutches being destroyed in a few short hours of use. The 2 parts are close to $700 I think....
Pretty sure now that Ol' man Winter is here, there'll be more posts about it.

Yet, I've talked to people that have had them for many years in heavy snow country and they haven't had an issue. So I guess we will find out.
One good thing with me is it will stay on and connected all winter, I won't be taking the blower on and off.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

hmm. 1/2 day after you take it off, you'll get 2 feet of snow ......

 

[Hkb82]

Blade to blower is a game changer if you ask me.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

The questions I have are with that subframe mounted underneath, can you still remove the rear skid pan in order to change fluids? And what about the front diff? Will it still be accessible?

don't be surprised when you look underneath that if you use the dealer for service / maintenance they return the RTV to you w/o the skid plates in place. That way they can service it for you easily.

If they left them on you going to have a harder job making repairs and reg. maintenance. Some going to depend if your plates are the solid metal ones or the high density plastic ones that have some flex to them and mount with the 4 bolts/washers.

 

[ItBmine]

don't be surprised when you look underneath that if you use the dealer for service / maintenance they return the RTV to you w/o the skid plates in place. That way they can service it for you easily.

If they left them on you going to have a harder job making repairs and reg. maintenance. Some going to depend if your plates are the solid metal ones or the high density plastic ones that have some flex to them and mount with the 4 bolts/washers.

No, I do my own services and the rear steel plate that needs to come off to do the services still comes off. The K-Connect driveline does touch that one. They may remove the front part though? Not sure. But I did see back half is still on when I was at shop.
I got a good dealer. Only pain is front diff, the oil will run down the K-Connect skid plate. And replacing fan belt will require removal of a driveshaft.

 

[ItBmine]

hmm. 1/2 day after you take it off, you'll get 2 feet of snow ......

LOL, ya we got pounded with snow while my RTV is in shop, but luckily I have a few tractors with loaders and blowers. But they are all open station.

 

[ItBmine]

Went to pick her up today! Can't wait to try it out! Only got these couple pics because I had to wash it, trailer and truck as soon as I got home to get all that damn road salt off everything, then put it in barn to thaw out.
There sure is a LOT of electronics involved in this thing. There are electrical boxes and relays mounted everywhere now. And comes with a kit to quick mount the original grill guard and front receiver when you take the power pack off.

 

[DustyRusty]

Post deleted. I decided to stay out of the controversy about the K connect.

 

[Hkb82]

Looks like a great way to clear some snow. Have fun with that thing.

 

[ItBmine]

Post deleted. I decided to stay out of the controversy about the K connect.

Well just like every automobile I have owned, I see all kinds of horror stories and I never experienced any of them in my life, so I guess we'll see. I know a few people with these on their RTV's in snow country and they've been running them 3 or 4 years now.
At least I have a good dealer if mine does fail.

 

[ItBmine]

Also saw this at dealer. Really looks good with the oversize tire option. It really makes the cab look a lot more scaled to size on this tractor.

 

[Hkb82]

The more tinted cans I see the more I want one lol

 

[GreensvilleJay]

It'd be interesting to see clear pictures of how the dog clutches line up on an RTV-blower setup.

 

[DustyRusty]

It'd be interesting to see clear pictures of how the dog clutches line up on an RTV-blower setup.

They don't function on the RTV like they do on the tractors. I sold my RTV snowblower last weekend and the buyer brought his RTV down on a trailer to put it on and check its operation. That is when I saw how it fits differently on the RTV than on the tractors.

 

[ItBmine]

They don't function on the RTV like they do on the tractors. I sold my RTV snowblower last weekend and the buyer brought his RTV down on a trailer to put it on and check its operation. That is when I saw how it fits differently on the RTV than on the tractors.

So which ones were you seeing problems with? Tractor or RTV?
I know the blower on the RTV makes a lot of noise but I watched a Messick's video and he said he has seen no failures.

Couple more pics. I still haven't tried it. Spent some time today repositioning some hydraulic fittings, rerouting lines, and redoing and putting loom on much of the electrical. Dealers aren't as picky as I am.

 

[DustyRusty]

I haven't seen any failures with my BX2822 or BX2816 snowblowers mounted to the K connect on my BX23S. It appeared to me that the way that the K connect connected to the snow blower was different than how it connected to my BX23S. When the snowblower on the RTV was raised, the drive stayed in perfect alignment with the snowblower. On tractors, the alignment of the dogs can vary as you lift the blower while it is running. I believe that this is what causes the excess wear on the two mating dogs of the drive system. For these reasons, I don't ever lift my snowblower very high off the ground unless I have disconnected the PTO from engagement.

 

[ItBmine]

I haven't seen any failures with my BX2822 or BX2816 snowblowers mounted to the K connect on my BX23S. It appeared to me that the way that the K connect connected to the snow blower was different than how it connected to my BX23S. When the snowblower on the RTV was raised, the drive stayed in perfect alignment with the snowblower. On tractors, the alignment of the dogs can vary as you lift the blower while it is running. I believe that this is what causes the excess wear on the two mating dogs of the drive system. For these reasons, I don't ever lift my snowblower very high off the ground unless I have disconnected the PTO from engagement.

Oh okay, I see what you are saying.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

this... On tractors, the alignment of the dogs can vary as you lift the blower

Isn't correct IF the drawings I've seen here years ago, from the install manuals are correct.
the dogclutch is on the blower side of the pivot point where the Ujoint is. Once engaged, the clutch can't move,physically impossible.
I spent a lot of time looking into this and concluded it's the actual $700 dogclutches of dubious quality. Every picture I've seen show a 3 tooth dog with maybe 50% overlap compared to a $100 Lovejoy that has 4 teeth and 100% overlap.You've got up to 20HP coming from the PTO, so you need proper parts.
That's what I'd like to see, the actual 'connection' between tractor and blower