smithdenny
Member
On doing my 200 hour inspection on a DK55, I was very surprised to find 18 of the 20 bolts securing the FEL bracket to the tractor were loose. The rearmost two bolts were unscrewed about 1 inch, close to falling out. One bolt on the left side of the tractor were out about a half inch. I had trouble reinstalling that bolt. All of the threaded holes seemed to be tapered threated holes. This hole seemed to be tapered too much as it was very difficult to reinstall properly. After running the bolt is as far as I could using a hand ratchet, removing the bolt to clean and reinstalling again for over an hour I was finally able to seat it. No, not cross threaded, it seemed to just be tapered too small. Two other slightly loose bolts seemed to get tighter as I tried to loosen to the point I simply retighten them instead of possibly damaging threads. All of the rest of the bolts I were able to remove and reinstalled using blue Loctite as well as the original lock washers.
On a another issue, I have had problems with greasing three of the pins on the FEL. Two of those pins seem to require high pressure from the battery powered grease gun but are greaseable. One pin never seemed to be greaseable. That is, the gun would pump grease out the high pressure (10,000 lbs.) relief value but never around the pin. Yet the zerk fitting always would release grease if the ball valve was pressed. On earlier attempts to grease I had wondered if the pin could possible be that tight being new? Today I removed the pin to inspect and found there were no relief hole from the interior well of the pin to the outside face of the pin. Grease could go in but not out. After drilling such a hole it seems to be working fine. Should have checked it earlier. And will remove and inspect the other two higher pressure pins ASAP.
I am a tractor newbe, this is my first and only tractor. I love this Kioti but am dismayed over these issues. Is this common with others experiences? Or with other brands? As far as usage I have operated this tractor about 125 hours over the last 12 months mostly brush hogging, spreading half inch gravel with the FEL and light back dragging with FEL to level loose gravel and soil.
On a another issue, I have had problems with greasing three of the pins on the FEL. Two of those pins seem to require high pressure from the battery powered grease gun but are greaseable. One pin never seemed to be greaseable. That is, the gun would pump grease out the high pressure (10,000 lbs.) relief value but never around the pin. Yet the zerk fitting always would release grease if the ball valve was pressed. On earlier attempts to grease I had wondered if the pin could possible be that tight being new? Today I removed the pin to inspect and found there were no relief hole from the interior well of the pin to the outside face of the pin. Grease could go in but not out. After drilling such a hole it seems to be working fine. Should have checked it earlier. And will remove and inspect the other two higher pressure pins ASAP.
I am a tractor newbe, this is my first and only tractor. I love this Kioti but am dismayed over these issues. Is this common with others experiences? Or with other brands? As far as usage I have operated this tractor about 125 hours over the last 12 months mostly brush hogging, spreading half inch gravel with the FEL and light back dragging with FEL to level loose gravel and soil.
