New to site - not sure if this site includes Kubota ATV's but..............................

[45er]

I have a 13 year old Kubota RTV-900. Up until a few days ago I thought it was the best thing since indoor toilets. However, while riding on my land, the retaining ring that holds the key ignition switch onto the dash panel vibrated off. I didn't notice this until I parked the unit in my shed. The ring was gone. I thought, no problem, I'll call my local Kubota shop and buy a new ring. Couple of bucks at the most. NOT! They told me they don't stock the retaining ring and I'd need to buy a $100 switch module even though there's not a darned thing wrong with it.
After calling hardware stores, automotive parts houses and a few others, I'm running out of options. The male part of the ignition module is 7/8" in diameter. Surely there's a source for such a threaded retaining ring out there somewhere? Any ideas?

 

[Tughill Tom]

Something like this? Low-Clearance External Retaining Ring, for 7/8" OD, Side-Mount, Black-Phosphate Spring Steel | McMaster-Carr

 

[anthonyv]

Maybe a threaded ring from an electrical conduit or romex connector?

 

[85Hokie]

IS this the correct switch? And or the ring that is missing?

 

[45er]

IS this the correct switch? And or the ring that is missing?

View attachment 67161

That looks correct. The diameter of the threaded part of the switch that protrudes through the plastic dash panel is 7/8" inch.

 

[Chanceywd]

If it is metric thread it might be about 22 mm.

 

[Pau7220]

You'll need to check the thread size and pitch but you're looking for a panel or jam nut. You may find it in the drawers with the bagged hardware in lowes, hd, or ace hw. Anthonyv had a good idea also. I believe the nut that holds a fluidmaster in a toilet tank would be pretty close.

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[Rwire17]

Maybe a threaded ring from an electrical conduit or romex connector?

Yes, a 1/2“ electrical thread is 7/8” diameter. Hopefully the threads will match.

 

[Chanceywd]

I believe 1/2" romex fittings etc is 1/2 npt so probably too coarse but you never know. I have worked at a lot of electrical for a living and trade sizes are pipe thread.

Bill

 

[Pau7220]

Yes, a 1/2“ electrical thread is 7/8” diameter. Hopefully the threads will match.

If you get the pvc nuts and they're not a perfect fit... you can stretch or shrink them with a heat gun.

 

[Fordtech86]

Can you post a picture of the switch. There are several models when you search for rtv900 on messicks and a couple different switches. They all appear to maybe just snap into the dash panel.

note I don’t have one and have no experience with RTVs, just what I see from part diagrams

The free WSM maybe agrees

 

[Magicman]

Electrical connectors/pipe threads will be much too course.

 

[anthonyv]

Well aware electrical conn are course threads, since we are guessing as to the thread size I can only suggest something like EBAY or hardware & get a tap of the size you need & thread something to fit (washers, chunk of metal drilled & tapped). searched thru some old boat anchor electronics, but 1/2in jam nuts was the largest I could find. Some faucets have a fine thread ring around this size, possibility.

 

[lugbolt]

yes Unfortunately kubota does not sell the nut. But Kubota is not immune to this issue, Polaris, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, and others have the same issue-if you lose or break the nut you have to get the entire switch. On at least one Yamaha, the switch is over $200.

I worked at a dealer, and I did catch one customer who purchased a switch, took it home, removed the nut, and then returned the switch "didn't end up needing it"...most of the time there are no returns on electrical components but since this particular gentleman was a good customer, they made an exception. And got took.

Another option. As a tech (but not with Kubota anymore), when I replace a part such as a keyswitch and I know the nut is not availalbe separately, I'll keep the old nut (and a lot of times also the rubber/plastic key cover) and toss it into the junk drawer of the toolbox. With that in mind, you might ask one of the techs if they've got one laying around. It'd save you $100, or maybe $95 if you slip him a $5 bill....and if you go that route, the tech won't forget you, meaning if you need service later on down the road, they'll remember that.

 

[GeoHorn]

You'll need to check the thread size and pitch but you're looking for a panel or jam nut. You may find it in the drawers with the bagged hardware in lowes, hd, or ace hw. Anthonyv had a good idea also. I believe the nut that holds a fluidmaster in a toilet tank would be pretty close.

Fastenal Industrial Supplies, OEM Fasteners, Safety Products & More

Fastenal is the largest fastener distributor in North America. Shop our huge selection of OEM, MRO, construction, industrial, and safety products.

www.fastenal.com

He DID indicate he admired “indoor toiltes”…..

 

[Chanceywd]

You'll need to check the thread size and pitch but you're looking for a panel or jam nut. You may find it in the drawers with the bagged hardware in lowes, hd, or ace hw. Anthonyv had a good idea also. I believe the nut that holds a fluidmaster in a toilet tank would be pretty close.

Fastenal Industrial Supplies, OEM Fasteners, Safety Products & More

Fastenal is the largest fastener distributor in North America. Shop our huge selection of OEM, MRO, construction, industrial, and safety products.

www.fastenal.com

That fastenal nut is pretty coarse too, 2.5 pitch is about 10 threads per inch. If I were to guess without seeing the switch it might be somewhere around1.0. If you have some small metric taps at all maybe use them as a thread guage?

 

[GeoHorn]

Small-gauge ”safety” wire (.032 stainless) , wrapped a couple times tightly around the threaded area and then twisted in a pigtail will hold that switch just fine. So will JB Weld.

 

[RichardAaronlx2610]

Maybe a threaded ring from an electrical conduit or romex connector?

I was Going to suggest the same thing. Had to do this with our man lift at work

 

[Oil pan 4]

Looks like an industrial equipment panel light or switch retainer nut.

 

[Nicksacco]

Building on some ideas aforementioned:

1) Possibly use the electrical or PVC nut threaded on as much as possible with silicone to make up the difference.
2) a rubber grommet used in a sink drain.
3) a rubber regular grommet or large Oring.
4) The JB Weld idea might work and you don't need to bury everything in the epoxy. Perhaps 3 blobs 120 degrees around an electrical fitting or PVC (similar to #1).