DK45sehst gears getting rekt

[PA hayseed]

Ok, so I don't post on here nearly as much as I used to, but I do ghost (lurk) the site periodically. Here is my issue. the gears on the tractor (front end) have gone out again in about a year since the last repair. Tractor is about 7 years old and has about 900 hours on it, many of them hauling/moving shale, gravel and topsoil, as well as numerous hours plowing snow and cutting grass. Anyone else having this issue? I spend about 1/2 (or more) of my time in 4 wheel drive and the dealer said that could be a contributing factor, but they aren't sure until they tear into it. The rears hop or tear up the soil too much if I leave it in 2WD while doing loader work.

I thought about a replacement option, but I am not thrilled at what I see (for the price) for a new one. I don't think I like some of the options without the telescoping rears, the rear 3 pt adjuster, and the rear crank. I'm not all that thrilled with more electronics, as I figure that things will only get broken. I am looking at a cab for the first time. Suggestions on best replacement 45-50 HP tractor (my dealer doesn't have any of the old DK left, and didn't have anything with a cab). I have to run a 7' RFM, a 6' BB, 6' tiller and my FEL has to lift about a ton (more would be much better). I will await feedback. I don't want to go smaller, so a 35 or lower is out of the equation for me. I feel a 40 just would miss the mark on too many occasions. I don't think I need a 55 or 60, as the vast majority of construction/excavation work I needed to do has been done.

 

[TJP89]

I know that this is not a common problem. As far as Kioti replacements, there is the NX series, which replaces the DK series with tier 4 and more electronics. Outside Kioti, there is a huge collection. Maybe you should check out LS, I think it is the R series, pretty impressive, well reviewed, decent price.

I would look into a full front axle replacement for your tractor first. As I said, it's not a common problem at all (first one I've heard of), so you'd be safe there. The old DK is hard to beat, and it would be cheaper than a new tractor. Of course if you want a cab, it doesn't help you.

Others with more experience should be able to offer more advice too.

 

[PA hayseed]

I would look into a full front axle replacement for your tractor first. As I said, it's not a common problem at all (first one I've heard of), so you'd be safe there. The old DK is hard to beat, and it would be cheaper than a new tractor. Of course if you want a cab, it doesn't help you.

First off, thank you for taking the time to answer my question. As a follow up, if the gears getting fixed is several hundred, full axle replacement is like x-x thousands? I agree, repairing a broken paid in full tractor is far cheaper than buying a new one.

I'm guessing that if I fix the gears for a couple of hundred, dump the tractor on someone else (fixing it first of course), use the loot for a new beast, I am still out lots of money. THe question is, as I ask myself repeatedly, As I near retirement and want the tractor PIF before the golden years begin, is it better to go into the second life with a newer tractor or to save some dollars now and hope I don't have to replace my tractor if I get into a tight fixed income situation later on. I can't be nickel and dimed on this thing every year or so with gears. I would hate to replace the DK with something less durable.

For anyone lurking, I have moved at least several hundred tons of gravel with this tractor. I get triaxle loads (23-24.5T a load). Tons and tons of field stone (anything under 4' across), more topsoil than I can imagine, and it runs a 7' RFM in heavy grasses , box bladed some ground, and tilled rocks and stones like noones business. Mountains of snow have been moved. trees have been skidded. trees, trucks, vans, cars, and stumps have been pulled. My bucket isn't straight, my paint is not shiny, there are dents in the hood from falling rocks, It is starting to rust. It is a tractor. My biggest peeve is the lifting capacity of the FEL with heavy duty pallet forks on it, it doesn't do what it should (according to specs) and I have tried (dealer too). My 6' woods mower, well, I upgraded to a woods 7' tougher one. The 7' belt broke(expensive), but the wheels, build, and welds are so much better. My 6' taylor way BB seems indestructible to the point I don't use my rear blade anymore. The bolt on tooth bar hasn't lost a tooth yet, even keeping it on full time and using it in piles of sandstone boulders. The woods PHD has drilled its share of holes in clay/shale/sandstone areas. This tractor has been very reliable, but the gears (and to a lesser degree the flow) seem to be the weakest point. Hesitancy to get an inferior product is driving me crazy.

Sorry for the novel, just put it out there so anyone replying gets a sense of how it is used and how I want my tractor to work.

 

[chuck172]

"My biggest peeve is the lifting capacity of the FEL with heavy duty pallet forks on it, it doesn't do what it should (according to specs) and I have tried (dealer too). "

I haven't heard many complaints about the FEL lifting capacity of a DK!

 

[maximus1277]

PA- this is one seriously tested Kioti!!!! I would venture to say that for the type of loader work you do, a commercial grade front end loader would be more appropriate. Kioti should put you on their payroll as a research and development specialist! An average user moving snow or occasional loader work will never run into issues you described. The question I would ask myself if I were you is what kind of work I expect this machine to do in the future..., the answer may be that you need two different pieces of equipment...

 

[rd_macgregor]

Last summer (in two separate events) I managed to break both bevel gear cases on my 2006 DK45SC doing some heavy work in the woods. Repairs cost me over $3K (CD$) and, worse, nearly 8 weeks of down-time out of my too-short summer season.

 

[PA hayseed]

"My biggest peeve is the lifting capacity of the FEL with heavy duty pallet forks on it, it doesn't do what it should (according to specs) and I have tried (dealer too). "

I haven't heard many complaints about the FEL lifting capacity of a DK!

I've been down this road before with other Kioti owners, and I am sure the threads are still out there. They tell me it is something wrong with my tractor, dealer says its fine and I can't find anything wrong, it just doesn't have enough power. They show me gauges, they show me printouts, I can only say that my experience in reality isn't close to what they claim. Case in point, lift at the pins from the ground vs. lift at the pins 3' off the ground are not the same thing. Lifting on uneven terrain is different than a flat ground pickup. Countless skids of items couldn't be budged by the dk45, until I manually unloaded some of the items. I don't use clamp on forks, they are not that great as far as I am concerned. I use heavyweight 4' QA forks. the Kioti doesn't have enough lift for them and the items, that is why I may lean towards a 50-55hp tractor. Once again, probably the only peeve I have besides the gears. If my tractor could be counter weighted enough to move a house I would have tried it by now.

 

[PA hayseed]

Last summer (in two separate events) I managed to break both bevel gear cases on my 2006 DK45SC doing some heavy work in the woods. Repairs cost me over $3K (CD$) and, worse, nearly 8 weeks of down-time out of my too-short summer season.

wow, sorry to hear that. **Bill Clinton voice** "I feel your pain". Sounds like you use your tractor too. I am kind of pissed right now as my tractor sits in the same spot in the field and the grass is growing. I don't have the time for it not to be working right now, it is the busiest time of the year for tractor owners in the northern hemisphere. Things have to be done before fall.

 

[PA hayseed]

PA- this is one seriously tested Kioti!!!! I would venture to say that for the type of loader work you do, a commercial grade front end loader would be more appropriate. Kioti should put you on their payroll as a research and development specialist! An average user moving snow or occasional loader work will never run into issues you described. The question I would ask myself if I were you is what kind of work I expect this machine to do in the future..., the answer may be that you need two different pieces of equipment...

Yeah, I have been kind of thinking of getting a skid steer. Then what do I need a 45 hp tractor for, as the skidsteer can do everything this does and then some.