But it's designed, assembled, and working exactly as Kioti intended. ... right? Just lack of your preferred design.
NO ACTUALLY. It is NOT IMO designed to have the brush guard have to be lowered to open the hood. I could be wrong - but I don't think so. My new friend I met recently, happens to own a new DK series, and he does NOT, IIRC have to lower his brushguard to open his hood.
Sorry, I don't need to be in here arguing with you, was just trying to understand if you actually had another QC issue on your new tractor.
I wanted the broken anvil guard because my used CK3510 came with a grapple, and I had brush work to do right away. but I was pretty broke after spending my available funds on the used tractor package itself. So I was glad to see they are local to me, I picked it up in person to save the shipping, and specified no paint/powder coat because again, money. I just hit it with a spare rattle can of clear. 3 years later it is holding up ok, but getting a little patina in spots (and so is the rest of the tractor). I almost always park indoors, so that helps.
Thanks for the pics and details about your brushguard. I like the bare metal look - it looks in pics like stainless steel. Her'es wishing it were but priced as bare metal!
I will likely order one, with some custom 'logo' work. I may paint it silver to mimic SS; not certain 'till I see it.
I will add this, though.... pulling the pin to lower the brush guard is actually quite a bit MORE difficult with the broken anvil guard in place. Have to reach behind it and have less space for your fingers to turn the pin while you pull on it.
I don't disagree overall, it is a pain.
Thanks for that mention - maybe we're beginning to see some things in common?
I wonder if my latch and pin pieces are in/on the wrong sides of the guard? I seem to think the vid I watched of the guy who installed the brokenanvil guard on You Tube, had the latch pin handles pointing toward the hood instead of the handles facing forward?
Facing toward the hood, as I believe mine are - (not there to verify currently), would make opening the brushguard near impossible with the brokenanvil's screen/guard in place - if I'm picturing it correctly...
Can you verify which direction your pin handles face?
Not clear on the 'patina' thing going on...is this on the CK paint and brokenanvil screen/guard? Can you show it in a pic of either/both?
Curious what grapple do you have?
Mine is a log grapple by Igland, GR-20. Strong as OX! Unbelievable what it can do, will carry, etc. I added expended metal to keep brush from coming through openings to my DK's expanded metal grillguard. Both have saved my a$$ numerous times. Early on with my DK-35 I did manage to drop part of a tree on the hood - didn't yet have the grapple...Think I was trying to manage tree with pallet forks - oh well.
I'll have to take a close look next time I'm at the CK.
As far as other items that I would put in category of QC, nothing comes to mind yet -since I've had little time to thoroughly go through every aspect of the CK. Overall I'm more than happy with the overall experience to date.
I'm starting to put it to use now that I have the 3rd function assembly mostly sorted. This has allowed me to get my HLA 2000 snowplow doing some snow moving.
I have not adapted my DK's Aquiline MPC rear chains to the R14s that came on the CK> It may be too dificult, too much work to make them fit the smaller tires, so for now I'm seeing what the CK and R14s can do on their own power.
I have to also lighten the boxblade and it's 2 55 gallon barrels filled with sand to within the 3PH weight capacity of the CK. 2 barrels and boxblade weigh over 2100#s!
That's way too much for the CK to lift and carry as
ballast in addition to filled rears, which it came with.
Lots of things to get done...