DK40- Minor annoyances

murphy1244 · Jul 28, 2013

/You mean the whole column moves up and down?

grm61 · Jul 28, 2013

Mark Headley said:
I have a (new) 2012 DK45SE-HST. One annoying thing is the play in the tilt column. When its latched in a given spot I can lift up and down and there's an undesirable amount of play- maybe 1/2 inch +/-, dealer said this is normal and I don't have another to compare to. Is this 'normal' on your DK rigs?

Mine is like that, if your talking about moving it up and down in the direction it tilts.
It is the column that moves.

Mark Headley · Jul 28, 2013

The play is in the up/down direction like it's in the tilt mechanism itself- if that helps.

TWITRA · Jul 29, 2013

As far as the tire valve stem issue....your dealer was...well, lazy and neglected to dish the tires properly. When we receive the tires from kioti, they are shipped with the dish at the most minimum of back spacing. There are tags on these tires labeling them right or left. No matter the spacing of the dish, minimum, moderate or maximum, the valve stem is and always should be on the outside rim face. As far as the column issue, there is unfortunately some play evident in the tilt, be it minor, but it can be of annoyance. Just remember, the steering wheel is there to provide steering function and not leverage to remove yourself from the tractor seat.

IXLR8 · Jul 29, 2013

TWITRA said:
As far as the tire valve stem issue....your dealer was...well, lazy and neglected to dish the tires properly. When we receive the tires from kioti, they are shipped with the dish at the most minimum of back spacing. There are tags on these tires labeling them right or left. No matter the spacing of the dish, minimum, moderate or maximum, the valve stem is and always should be on the outside rim face.

Time to get out my manual and see just what I have for a tire setup. I just received an email from my dealer about the valve stems being on the inside. He said they always deliver the tractors with the tires set the way Kioti ships them. He said he believes that gives the widest stance and putting the valve stem on the inside offers it the most protection from harm. So it seems he does it that way on purpose. The reason I noticed the valve stem being on the inside was the tires are way over inflated, only the middle 5" or so of the tire touch the ground. I wanted to let some air out so the contact patch would be the full width of the tire... maybe I would tear my lawn up less with a bit more contact area. The only way to let some air out, and not have the liquid come out, is going to be with the valve stem at the top. I don't know if I can even see the VS when it is at the top tucked up inside the fender like it would be, never mind get a tire gauge on there so I can read it. Although as long as I get full width contact, does it matter what the pressure is?

ritcheyvs · Jul 29, 2013

TWITRA said:
As far as the tire valve stem issue....your dealer was...well, lazy and neglected to dish the tires properly. When we receive the tires from kioti, they are shipped with the dish at the most minimum of back spacing. There are tags on these tires labeling them right or left. No matter the spacing of the dish, minimum, moderate or maximum, the valve stem is and always should be on the outside rim face...

I can't speak to the SE models but my DK45S manual shows four (approved) ways the rims can be bolted to the disk and the valve will be on the inside for for half of those. I had my dealer remount the wheels as narrow as possible for access through my six foot barn door and the valves are on the inside. This does make air pressure service more difficult but there is plenty of room for an air chuck or a gauge. You are absolutely right that there is only one way the tires should turn.

caver · Jul 30, 2013

My annoyance is where they put the parking brake lever.

murphy1244 · Jul 30, 2013

caver said:
My annoyance is where they put the parking brake lever.

Knee wrecker for sure

tcreeley · Jul 30, 2013

If you are putting a ballast in the rear, try to have it stick out as little as possible. I use the tractor supply carryall on mine during the winter for wood and leave it on. I also plow snow and leave my plow on. I get tired of the extra "length" when I am trying to maneuver in tight places. It is easy to forget about the carryall when you are using the bucket or plow.

I am surprised you need a ballast if your tires are loaded. My tires are and I don't use a ballast - don't need it.

kiotiken · Jul 30, 2013

I'm going to have to check, my valves are on the outside and I can't imagine the tires could be set wider, they're already 6" past the rear fenders. Anybody know with the width is if set to the widest setting with R4's? I don't feel my tractor is unstable, but I would have it set as wide as possible if it isn't already.