Oil & Fuel 50hr service & gripe about shop manual...

[williekioti]

I agree with Vince on the Service Manual thing. It should cover the break down and subsequent reassembly of every component of the covered machine(s). I too have had several Kawasaki bikes/manuals in the past and found the same results as Vince (in fact Kawi would update them to cover specific info, so the suppliments are coveted too). Very detailed and easy to comprehend. The other side benefit is when they describe the use and show details of specialized tools many times it provides enough evidence to create your own......not always though. I tend to collect service manuals for any equipment I acquire and the good ones are very specific and very comprehendable.

I am not putting down the Kioti manuals, have found the owner's manual to be more than sufficient for regular service stuff. Have the download version of the Service, have browsed it but have not had a need for it yet. My take on the 50hr is ALL fluids and ALL filters get replaced. Cheap insurance in my book. There was some fairly major shards and metal fragments on my drain plug magnets @ 50hrs, there is a reason for this recommendation..........

Oh yeah, get the largest drain buckets that you can fit under the tranny........switching mid stream is a very, very messy proposition.

 

[DK35vince]

I agree with Vince on the Service Manual thing. It should cover the break down and subsequent reassembly of every component of the covered machine(s). I too have had several Kawasaki bikes/manuals in the past and found the same results as Vince (in fact Kawi would update them to cover specific info, so the suppliments are coveted too). Very detailed and easy to comprehend. The other side benefit is when they describe the use and show details of specialized tools many times it provides enough evidence to create your own......not always though. I tend to collect service manuals for any equipment I acquire and the good ones are very specific and very comprehendable.

Thank you !
If I'm paying $70 or more for a service manual I expect it to be very detailed on a complete teardown/rebuild of every part of that machine.
I don't buy a service manual to help me change the oil.
I buy a service manual so I can fix my own machines no matter how serious the problem.
I know a good service manual when I see one. My Kawasaki manuals shine, my Kioti manual doesn't.

 

[grsthegreat]

Thank you !
If I'm paying $70 or more for a service manual I expect it to be very detailed on a complete teardown/rebuild of every part of that machine.
I don't buy a service manual to help me change the oil.
I buy a service manual so I can fix my own machines no matter how serious the problem.
I know a good service manual when I see one. My Kawasaki manuals shine, my Kioti manual doesn't.

well, if you really dont like it...take it back.

i actually like mine. But i do have an understanding to working on tractors, so maybe i dont need all the details your asking for.

I have some old Chilton's books on auto and truck repairs, and they do have a bit more step by step details on how to dismantle and re-assemble than the Kioti manual does. But all i really need to see is an exploded view of the item im looking at.

But again i really like the detailed pics and explanations i see in my Kioti manual. so i guess its back to the old saying....to each their own.

 

[Coyote machine]

The newer DK series service manuals are adequate for what their intention is- to service the machine - not do a complete in a box assembly from bolt one to final key turn. A kit assembly of a bike is a little different purpose then a standard service manual used in any automotive/tractor shop. If your intent is to do a complete dis-assembly/reconstruct then maybe you should have gotten a kit tractor in a box. Its been my experience that the Kioti's don't have that many service issue related problems beyond adjustments of brakes, clutch, etc. that are standard maintenance intervals. Your specific experience may vary.

 

[DK35vince]

The newer DK series service manuals are adequate for what their intention is- to service the machine - not do a complete in a box assembly from bolt one to final key turn. A kit assembly of a bike is a little different purpose then a standard service manual used in any automotive/tractor shop. If your intent is to do a complete dis-assembly/reconstruct then maybe you should have gotten a kit tractor in a box. Its been my experience that the Kioti's don't have that many service issue related problems beyond adjustments of brakes, clutch, etc. that are standard maintenance intervals. Your specific experience may vary.

I quess your trying to say I shouldn't expect more from a $70+ OEM service manual than I should from the $15 service manuals you can buy for your car/truck at the autoparts store.

 

[DK35vince]

well, if you really dont like it...take it back.

i actually like mine. But i do have an understanding to working on tractors, so maybe i dont need all the details your asking for.

I have some old Chilton's books on auto and truck repairs, and they do have a bit more step by step details on how to dismantle and re-assemble than the Kioti manual does. But all i really need to see is an exploded view of the item im looking at.

But again i really like the detailed pics and explanations i see in my Kioti manual. so i guess its back to the old saying....to each their own.

My manuals are for the older DK series.
My original service manual is from 2001. In 2003 they came out with an updated version, so I have that one also. But its not much better than the original.
Maybe the newer DKse manuals are new and improved (like Islandtractor says).
I certainly hope thats true.

 

[grsthegreat]

My manuals are for the older DK series.
My original service manual is from 2001. In 2003 they came out with an updated version, so I have that one also. But its not much better than the original.
Maybe the newer DKse manuals are new and improved (like Islandtractor says).
I certainly hope thats true.

I have the brand new one. i believe its 2009 if im not mistaking. Its very well made. Lots of pictures, lots of explanations and a very large section on troubleshooting.

I cant compare to the older versions as i havnt seen those.

I did use mine when i had to access my cabs ceiling for routing some wires, and the step by step and pics made it very easy

 

[Coyote machine]

I quess your trying to say I shouldn't expect more from a $70+ OEM service manual than I should from the $15 service manuals you can buy for your car/truck at the autoparts store.

No DK35vince, I'm not trying to tell you anything- I understand the point about Kawi manuals and what they choose to include; but what my point is about is that tractor and professional auto manuals like Motor don't do a complete engine, transmission, yada, yada breakdown of every single component of a car, and believe me they cost more than $70 each.
So for the OP, as already suggested, if you don't like it RETURN it and get your $70 back. If it was done on a CD-rom it would probably cost less than the forest shredder version too. I'm all for that, and have told Kioti headquarters that already.

 

[murphy1244]

Maybe build a tractor out of your Kaw??? For detail I always buy a parts manual too.

 

[ritcheyvs]

Lets face it, the manuals for the older models are poor, shame on you, Kioti. For example, the manuals for my DK45S fail to show about half the grease fittings. And I don't imagine Kioti will ever rewrite them. Thankfully we have this forum to pool lessons learned. Also, there's enough commonality with newer models that those manuals contain clues.