KUBOTA RW 25

[newjcb123uk]

I thought I'd post some pics of very first machine I ever bought of a Kubota RW 25. She was four wheel drive. Before I had my plant business I owned a corporate entertainment business -Country Pursuits with quad bikes, go-karts, landrovers, shooting, archery etc. I had the use of a tractor to keep things tidy but the quad track needed a digger. I spotted this little baby in the Autotrader and was located in Newry for I believe to be around £3k. After seeing it I knew it was coming home with me.

To cut a long story short it was no love affair - the cab was designed for its native small Japanese operators and the backhoe end was loose as a dogs danglies and changing gear from forward to reverse was a days work. Power for travelling was poor and the rear wheel steer nearly had me writing off a few cars very often.

I realised it was too small for what I needed and eventually bought a lovely massey 50H which was a fab machine ( unfortunately I had to sell it for financial reasons when a Country Fair I organised went pear shaped)

Anyway I did a deal with my big fat uncle Derek that he would buy the Kubota but of course he didin't have any money but he sort of bought it anyway I'm still waiting on the "final installment"

After Derek did a disappearing act on my Auntie he took the Kubota with a whole lot of other stuff and that was that for a few years - my wee first digger was never to be seen again. Untill that is an accidental stumbling in a tractor dealers yard in Ballyclare. The guy knew I bought machinery a showed me this little dusty Kubota in his junk shed covered under a pile of junk. Turns out Fat Derek owed the guy money and let him "borrow" the Kubota. My Kubota was destined to come home again - get this for £2K - nice one Derek - I did have the last laugh

The little Kubota was brought home to CJM Plant and duely refurbished - she now resides in Spain on a self build housing project. A guy travelled from the south of England after seeing a rare advert I put the Kubota in on the famous E-bay. I had thought of keeping this little Kubota for nostalgia sake but I already have a nice Thwaites All dig and thought the fantastic profit I made on this Kubota made more sence in my pocket.

So hope you enjoy the pis of this little Kubota and I wonder will she ever reappear again?

[IBH]

Nice photos, is it just me or did Kubota look at an Italian Benati backhoe loader to get the design?

[newjcb123uk]

I found some more pics of my departed Kubota and it's cramped cab. I can still remember the familiar smell and the "winey" gearbox. My restored All Dig is beside it for comparison.

[John Gaunt]

Great pictures Christopher, of what must be quite a rare machine !

[Polaris]

Just to give update on RW or 'TONKA' as we affectionatly call it , its still working hard for me not in Spain (deal fell through) but in centre of France.

[TullyveeryClassicJCB]

Thats a fantastic machine you have there. I actually remember bidding on this on ebay way back all those years ago. I think it looks like a mini Hymac 370C from the front.

[Carla Van De Beek]

I live in Australia and run my RW25 Kubota Backhoe everyday. I've owned this machine since 1987 and I just love it!! Still going. I think I have the only one left in Australia, maybe the 2nd left in the world. Looking for seals for the rear axle. I do have a parts manual and can supply the no's.

[Jeremy Rowland]

Hi Carla and welcome to the site; I do not know the parts availability for your machine, but I would have thought that if you take the sample seal to a bearing/drives supplier then they should be able to match you a suitable seal.

Jeremy

[XS650]

Seen two Kubota RW25's recently, a real minter doing a house drive in Whitby ( no pic as passing on my Bonny bike ) and this one which has been in a builders yard in Middlesbrough unused for a long time.

kubota rw25.JPG