DK40SE Squeal When Moving in Reverse.

[kattywumpus]

My dealer updated me Friday stating they are still working on. He also updated me were my new backhoe KB2485 was in the shipping process.

I hope they get this fixed soon, after about 3+ hours of use the sound gets to a level that very annoying.

On a positive note I'm so glad I spend the extra $ for a cab. I can tell you the AC works great even in this 90+ degree weather! It like jumping in a ice box which is great when it hot as **** outside! Saturday I was clearing an area for a large portable garage for the tractor. When I start I blast the AC to cool down the cab. I was out of cab for about 10 minutes cutting small trees and brush with the chainsaw when I return there was a lot of condensation and a little frost covering the upper part of the windows!

 

[kattywumpus]

Received an update from my dealer, his mechanic found after an hour plus of use the pressure out of the hydraulic pump for the HST drop a 1000 psi. They ordered a new pump. I have to note my dealer has really improved his communication. I been receiving an update email or call once or twice a week. They also took care of the tractor transportation to their shop. This behavior is making me hopeful he will resolve the issue. I should get the tractor back in a day or two so I see how it preform then.

 

[kattywumpus]

Unfortunately I did not get the results I was hoping for. The dealer stated in an email the issue was fixed and it is not. If anything it gotten worst, it now starting to make the very loud squeal going forward. The squeal appears to occur when going forward down a slope in addition to doing it in reverse. To get an ideal how loud the squeal is, my wife could hear it from in the house with all the windows closed, with the TV on, and the tractor about 300 feet down the driveway.

To add insult to injury the dealer mounted the backhoe sub-frame upside down. The sub-frame on this backhoe is designed to give additional ground clearance by lifting the backhoe about the frame. By mounting it upside down the ground clearance is reduced. There is a clear mounting diagram in the backhoe manual.

On top of that the dealer want to charge me close to $400 for 50 hours service, keep in mind most of these hours came from them running the tractor to troubleshoot the problem. There have been other issue too, for example when they were off loading the implements at my house using the FEL they swing the scrape blade into the tractor hood. The dealer did replace the hood, but it been one screw up after other. I have lost confident in this dealer ability to provide good service. I may have no choice but to get a third party involved to get this resolved. Most likely this is the last time I will purchase anything with Kioti on it.

 

[SABULA FARMER]

I can understand where you are coming from, I recently purchased a Bobcat after being a loyal Mahindra owner for 3 1/2 years. I truly liked the Mahindra but failed to feel the same way with the service department at my local dealership. I decided to cut all ties and move on. I dont think that Kioti is a bad choice, If you have another dealer that can square things away, I say go that route....You have a great tractor. I hate to see anyone in the situation that you are in, but I was there and can understand the frustration.
Good Luck, and give that Kioti another chance, you will be glad you did in the long run.:thumbsup:

 

[IslandTractor]

$400 for a 50hr service is actually not bad as long as it includes all filters and fluids as well as having them check the tractor over for loose nuts etc. I've always done my own service but recall that Rick Wallace charged something close to that and his prices were always competitive.

 

[MichiganIron]

Make sure you have the backhoe re-mounted. It isn't intended to be mounted in that position.

 

[wallace]

Wow, I am speechless...Is this the kind of Kioti dealers that are replacing me?
Come on..... put a subframe on up side down:ashamed:????????????
Hope he put the engine oil in the engine and not the trans oil in the engine.

 

[dourobob]

Very disappointing that a "reputable dealer" would do an installation like that.
And it appears the original squeal, instead of being fixed, is worse.
Is there someone further up the KIOTI chain-of-command that you can talk with??

I can't imagine KIOTI would not want to make this right!

Bob

 

[kattywumpus]

$400 for a 50hr service is actually not bad as long as it includes all filters and fluids as well as having them check the tractor over for loose nuts etc. I've always done my own service but recall that Rick Wallace charged something close to that and his prices were always competitive.

The price maybe be good under normal circumstance but my situation is not normal. I have barely put 18 hours on this tractor most of the hours has come from the dealer running the tractor in their attempt to troubleshoot the issue. This does not mean they worked on the tractor for 32 hours, they just left it running in they yard for those hours in attempt to get the HST hot. Plus with all issues that have occurred you would think the dealer would give me a break. I would not have minded the cost if the squeal issue was resolved but it wasn't. And then finding the backhoe frame installed upside down really piss me off. This type of mistake indicates to me a total lack of focus on the task at hand. It also makes me wonder about the dealer level of experience with these tractors.

I don't think the people at the dealership are bad people, I think this is more a management and a business plan issue. I purchase the tractor from this dealership for two main reasons, it the closest dealership to Portland, Maine and the price was competitive. I think main reason its failing on the service end is the classic trying to do too many service lines for the number of resources. In addition to being a Kioti dealship, they are also a tool rental, party equipment rental, RV rental, motor cycle service shop, and 3rd party repair shop for other business. It just appears to me they need more experience mechanics.

I have talked to a couple other area dealerships. The first they insured me that the squeal was not normal. The current dealer has said that Kioti has indicted that this is normal, I have a hard time believing this since I have driven HST tractors since I was 12 years old. From a small Cub Cadet to a large John Deere. A whining sound is normal but not a continuous squeal. The other dealerships also reminded me that this type of issue was going to be difficult to resolve and most likely would require the affected part to break. The part breaking is what I'm trying to avoid because with my luck it will happen when I'm at camp in northern Maine replacing the water line 600 feet up the mountain. Plus I would like to save my ears. The other dealers feel that my current dealer really needs to lay out my case with Kioti and hopefully get Kioti to resolve the issue. If not they maybe willing to step in and see what they can do. The other dealers are also looking at the video to see if they have any recommendations.

 

[kattywumpus]

Very disappointing that a "reputable dealer" would do an installation like that.
And it appears the original squeal, instead of being fixed, is worse.
Is there someone further up the KIOTI chain-of-command that you can talk with??

I can't imagine KIOTI would not want to make this right!

Bob

I would love to have some phone #s!