KIOTI'S 'Official' position on 50 hour trans service.

[Coyote machine]

Spoke to customer service and they got back to me today about the conflicting information about the 50 hour service requirements of the manufacturer. I was told the transmission oil change IS NOT necessary at the 50 hour interval. I will be following up with them tomorrow to see if they will put something in writing- possibly on their web site?
I'm also waiting on the status of the squealing noise when engaging reverse on my DK-40 SE/HST.
Thought I'd put this info out there for those who may have questions due to conflicting information in the owner's manual and from all the different opinions expressed here by TBN members and some dealers. FWIW, I seek what the manufacturer's representative, in this case KIOTI, North America, says is the correct thing to do in any given circumstance; especially when my tractor is under warranty. If I follow their requirements then I fell I've done my part to honor my obligations under their warranty agreement with me as the end user.

 

[grsthegreat]

Re: KIOTI'S 'Official' posision on 50 hour trans service.

hmmm, i have 25 hours on my DK45SE HST....am planning on changing hyd oil in another 25 hours.

wish i didnt have to, but to protect the tractor, i guess ill do it.

 

[Coyote machine]

Re: KIOTI'S 'Official' posision on 50 hour trans service.

hmmm, i have 25 hours on my DK45SE HST....am planning on changing hyd oil in another 25 hours.

wish i didnt have to, but to protect the tractor, i guess ill do it.

I don't follow your logic? You DON'T have to- that is the point. Its NOT required until 400 hours when both transmission and front end gear oil are scheduled.

 

[grsthegreat]

Re: KIOTI'S 'Official' posision on 50 hour trans service.

I don't follow your logic? You DON'T have to- that is the point. Its NOT required until 400 hours when both transmission and front end gear oil are scheduled.

errrrr. the manual says to replace the filter only...is that what your getting at?

switch the filter and top off?

 

[Coyote machine]

Re: KIOTI'S 'Official' posision on 50 hour trans service.

errrrr. the manual says to replace the filter only...is that what your getting at?

switch the filter and top off?

CHANGE both HST filters and top off the resevoir .... yes!

Your manual may be corrected since your tractor is newer than mine. The inside cover of mine says to change JUST the filter at 50 hours. The section 7-4 on scheduled maintenance contradicts the inside cover and says to change the trans hyd fluid at 50 hours. Kioti's official stance, as of today, from their Carolina headquarters is NOT necessary to change the fluid at 50 hours.

 

[dfkrug]

Re: KIOTI'S 'Official' posision on 50 hour trans service.

Here is why I replaced the fluid at 50hrs:

> Kioti could not tell me what brand or grade was in there

> The fluid looked like a cheap clear straight hyd oil. THF is better
for HSTs and wet brakes. I use only name-brand Chevron 1000 THF,
Kubota UDT, or Conoco 76 THF. (All look/smell the same, BTW.)

> There is a LOT of factory shavings and "flash" in there. I found some
pieces that were over 1/4" diameter.

> The MFWD axle/diff had clear hyd oil in there, too. I prefer a gear oil,
as specced in the manual.

 

[Coyote machine]

Re: KIOTI'S 'Official' posision on 50 hour trans service.

Here is why I replaced the fluid at 50hrs:

> Kioti could not tell me what brand or grade was in there

> The fluid looked like a cheap clear straight hyd oil. THF is better
for HSTs and wet brakes. I use only name-brand Chevron 1000 THF,
Kubota UDT, or Conoco 76 THF. (All look/smell the same, BTW.)

> There is a LOT of factory shavings and "flash" in there. I found some
pieces that were over 1/4" diameter.

> The MFWD axle/diff had clear hyd oil in there, too. I prefer a gear oil,
as specced in the manual.

I hear what you're saying but would like some clarification. Are you saying that the filter was missing catching the shavings and 'flash'? Was what you found a result of looking at the entire 12 gallons of hydraulic transmission fluid once drained?
Though Kioti would not identify what they use from the factory initial fill up do you really believe they would use an inferior, cheap hydraulic fluid for the break in? Wouldn't this be a foolish move on their part, since they say to change it first time at 400 hours along with the front end fluid?
I can't say what other tractor manufacturers are recommending but I have heard that Kubota, and possibly others are going the same route: i.e. to longer initial change on their hydraulic fluids.

 

[Gil Case]

Re: KIOTI'S 'Official' posision on 50 hour trans service.

Following your logic about it being foolish for the factory to use cheap transmission oil, it seems to me that it is foolish to pay $25,000 for a machine and skimp on not changing the transmission oil after break in.
As other have said, including dealer Wallace, there is a lot of junk in there at the 50 hour change. That is my experience as well.

 

[lockhaven]

Re: KIOTI'S 'Official' posision on 50 hour trans service.

this is turning into a school yard argument, to each his own. Changing does not hurt anything and according to Kioti not changing does not hurt anything. To each person do what you think is best.

 

[Coyote machine]

Re: KIOTI'S 'Official' posision on 50 hour trans service.

Following your logic about it being foolish for the factory to use cheap transmission oil, it seems to me that it is foolish to pay $25,000 for a machine and skimp on not changing the transmission oil after break in.
As other have said, including dealer Wallace, there is a lot of junk in there at the 50 hour change. That is my experience as well.

I did NOT say they use cheap, inexpensive hyd fluid- that has been implied by others. What I did say was 'wouldn't it be foolish for them to use cheap/inexpensive hyd fluid knowing the first fluid change they recommend is at 400 hour interval, along with changing the front end fluid.'

Anyone can do whatever they want regarding maintenance, it makes no difference to me one way or another. And one former Kioti dealer does not form a consensus as to what needs to be done regarding REQUIRED maintenance under warranty. That job rests on the shoulders of the manufacturer, as part of their obligation under their own stated warranty terms, which we as consumers are bound to follow as our part of the agreement. Going beyond the required maintenance specs and intervals is up to the individual consumer.
One other point regarding trans fluid change intervals- if one is using an HST trans there is less likelihood of filings etc. in the fluid then there is in a shuttle shift tranny due to those who choose not to come to a complete stop before changing direction. Findings of my dealer who has been selling and maintaining tractors since 1964.
And my personal experience from owning a DK-35 and putting 350 hours on it before trading up to my current DK-40 is NO fluid contamination visible or otherwise when changing over the HST filters and topping off the fluid. No massive amount of filings, flash or chunks of gears on the magnetic plug; designed to catch any particles that are not caught in the filter, either.
Something else to think about is the cost associated with changing the fluid prior to the recommended warranty required interval of the tractor manufacturer. Dealers profit from doing the work, necessary or not, and the fact that many current tractor owners are feeling burned by receiving HUGE bills for the 50 hour service partly due to the cost of 12 or more gallons of hydraulic fluid.
And lets not assume what Kioti is or is not using for break in fluid. It would be better for all to find out what exactly IS being used instead of jumping to conclusions.
I for one do not skimp on maintenance; I have way too much invested in expensive equipment including a 22' Mako center console boat with a 200HP Mercury Direct Injection motor that would cost nearly as much as my DK-40 to replace if it died from lack of maintenance. And trust me, aside from an airplane, virtually nothing is more expensive to up keep than a salt water boat and engine.
Don't get me wrong- I'm all for doing what is required to be done by the manufacturer to keep up my end of the warranty agreement, but I'm not going to perform non- required work unless I can see a proven cost benefit analysis in doing so via drastically shortened change intervals.