I just purchased a used 2011 RTV900XT. The front drive shaft is bad with much slop. How do I remove the drive shaft

Robert Seigworth

New member

Equipment
L3901, RTV900XT
Jul 26, 2021
18
3
3
Florida
I just purchased a used 2011 RTV900XT. The front drive shaft is bad with much slop. How do I remove the drive shaft with regard to disassembly. Are there aftermarket drive shafts available. Kubota wants $650 for a new one piece drive shaft. Thanks.
 

eserv

Well-known member

Equipment
BX24, A1000 Kubota Generator
May 27, 2009
2,140
139
63
Hardisty, Alberta
I just purchased a used 2011 RTV900XT. The front drive shaft is bad with much slop. How do I remove the drive shaft with regard to disassembly. Are there aftermarket drive shafts available. Kubota wants $650 for a new one piece drive shaft. Thanks.
Remove the tin "skidplate" and remove the centre hanger bearing then the shaft will come out. The kit from Kubota is the best way to fix it.
 

Robert Seigworth

New member

Equipment
L3901, RTV900XT
Jul 26, 2021
18
3
3
Florida
Remove the tin "skidplate" and remove the centre hanger bearing then the shaft will come out. The kit from Kubota is the best way to fix it.
Thanks for the reply. My 2011 RTV900 has the one piece drive shaft. There is no hanger bearing on this unit. I was wondering how to disconnect the cv-joints from the transmission and the front differential end. I am new to CV-joints other than front wheel drive cars. There must be be a circlip or something I need to remove to start the removal process. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
 

eserv

Well-known member

Equipment
BX24, A1000 Kubota Generator
May 27, 2009
2,140
139
63
Hardisty, Alberta
Thanks for the reply. My 2011 RTV900 has the one piece drive shaft. There is no hanger bearing on this unit. I was wondering how to disconnect the cv-joints from the transmission and the front differential end. I am new to CV-joints other than front wheel drive cars. There must be be a circlip or something I need to remove to start the removal process. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Simply pull them back and they will come off. Start with the front one. The "skidplate" must be off. If there is a lot of slop in the front joint you may have to replace the front diff ring and pinion to correct it!
 

Robert Seigworth

New member

Equipment
L3901, RTV900XT
Jul 26, 2021
18
3
3
Florida
Simply pull them back and they will come off. Start with the front one. The "skidplate" must be off. If there is a lot of slop in the front joint you may have to replace the front diff ring and pinion to correct it!
Thanks so much! I did exactly as you suggested and now have the front drive shaft off and out from underneath the UTV. Do you know if a good machine shop could make or repair the old drive shaft? Good machine shops are hard to find in Central Florida anymore. Thanks.
 

eserv

Well-known member

Equipment
BX24, A1000 Kubota Generator
May 27, 2009
2,140
139
63
Hardisty, Alberta
Thanks so much! I did exactly as you suggested and now have the front drive shaft off and out from underneath the UTV. Do you know if a good machine shop could make or repair the old drive shaft? Good machine shops are hard to find in Central Florida anymore. Thanks.
I would repair it myself if I owned it, so, yes, I think a good or average machine shop could do it. It likely wouldn't be much cheaper than a new one from Kubota though! I would try installing it end for end, put lots of grease in there and you might get a lot more running out of it. The front seems to get sloppy first and end for end might help a lot