CK35 HST shattered piston at 400 hours

[Coyote machine]

Yes, Kioti Ken is another example of Kioti's direct intervention in a situation gone bad that was rectified by a persistent TBN membership encouraging KK to stick with the brand through the nightmare until full resolution was accomplished. I had forgotten about that excellent outcome until he brought it back on the radar here. There too I was fully engaged in urging KK to stick with his dealer and Kioti for the full ride.

I can't address what other companies might do in the same situations; but I can say Kioti has consistently done what was best for their customers. In the end, that is what matters. The rest is noise.

 

[ksbrdmkr]

Datsun came through for me on a cam lobe that went flat, worn down to some air pockets, out of warranty with a new new replacement cam that I installed on my Datsun 2000. It is great when the company's stand behind their products.

 

[CenTex Chris]

An update... good news and bad news (not too bad, just annoying):

Got a call from the service manager today that the CK35 is ready to go. That's the good news. The bad news is that the dealership is not covering the labor after all. Not sure if he forgot what he told me before, or if they simply reconsidered and decided not to apply their goodwill fund that I had previously described. It's no big deal... I don't have any leverage here anyway. I'm to cover ten hours of labor (although he says they put about 16 into it, and I have no reason to doubt him, so that seems fair enough). With some parts that I'm also getting billed for, it comes to $650. I also have to cover the cost of shipping the engine from North Carolina to Texas. That's another $165. So I owe them $815.

You know what, I'm fine with it. For a new motor that's a perfectly good deal. I'm happy to pay.

I'll drag the flatbed up there tomorrow, but unfortunately I won't get any seat time for awhile yet... I have to jet off to The Big Apple on business (yes, work... gotta pay for this stuff somehow) and won't be back for ten days or so. It'll have to stay on the trailer while I'm gone. Will let y'all know when I can get behind the wheel again finally. Much appreciated as always!

 

[sd455dan]

I agree - there was no compelling legal basis for a suit, as the machine was clearly out of warranty. That's why the OP needed to make an appeal to the person authorized to approve out-of-warranty repairs, and the toughest part of that is reaching that level of management. Kioti was NOT legally responsible for repairing or replacing this out of warranty engine, but chose to do so to protect and enhance their brand reputation - which is why MANY business decisions are made. Threads like this one will provide more positive advertising for Kioti than they ever could have purchased for the cost of an engine, and they will be able to analyze a real-world failure to determine if it was a fluke, a production error, or a design flaw. All that, almost certainly, factored into the decision to make their customer whole.

Kioti may never determine what caused this failure with absolute certainty, but their best shot is if they have the complete engine. They may decide that this is a rare enough event as to be unworthy of intense investigation, but I doubt it. Engineers love a puzzle, and will do their best to find evidence that places the blame on a supplier or assembly person.







EXACTLY- very well said









Lots of factors involved, but a lawsuit wasn't a significant risk for Kioti. They weighed the facts as best they could, and came up with a decision that giving excellent customer service is in their best interest as a company. Very honorable on their part, and smart business. An old adage in customer service is "Give a customer great service and they will tell a couple people. Give poor service and they'll tell twenty."

Kioti is getting a lot more than two on this one. And the OP is getting MORE than he hoped for - think he'll recommend Kioti anytime it comes up? It's been 40 years since I first heard that Airstream story, and I still remember it.

You have to wonder what Deere or Kubota would have done. We can't know, but we will know what Kioti did this time. I suspect they made a shrewd investment by doing so.

Totally agree, and this was a great outcome for the OP-

Kioti certainly acquitted themselves admirably,

edit- after reading about the dealer (unilaterally) modifying the agreement -not nearly as impressed with them as Kioti corporate

 

[kiotiken]

An update... good news and bad news (not too bad, just annoying):

Got a call from the service manager today that the CK 35 is ready to go. That's the good news. The bad news is that the dealership is not covering the labor after all. Not sure if he forgot what he told me before, or if they simply reconsidered and decided not to apply their goodwill fund that I had previously described. It's no big deal... I don't have any leverage here anyway. I'm to cover ten hours of labor (although he says they put about 16 into it, and I have no reason to doubt him, so that seems fair enough). With some parts that I'm also getting billed for, it comes to $650. I also have to cover the cost of shipping the engine from North Carolina to Texas. That's another $165. So I owe them $815.

You know what, I'm fine with it. For a new motor that's a perfectly good deal. I'm happy to pay.

I'll drag the flatbed up there tomorrow, but unfortunately I won't get any seat time for awhile yet... I have to jet off to The Big Apple on business (yes, work... gotta pay for this stuff somehow) and won't be back for ten days or so. It'll have to stay on the trailer while I'm gone. Will let y'all know when I can get behind the wheel again finally. Much appreciated as always!

That's very disappointing. I agree that $815 for a new engine, installed, is a great deal but for me, that's not really the point. An agreement is an agreement and it should be honored and AFTER the work is done is not the right time to be changing your mind about the costs. I'm very fortunate that I have a great dealer. My experience with Kioti itself has surpassed my expectations and so has my dealer. I'm glad Kioti has given you the same level of support, too bad your dealer hasn't.

Like you say, fantastic out come. Enjoy your "new" tractor.

 

[LD1]

That's very disappointing. I agree that $815 for a new engine, installed, is a great deal but for me, that's not really the point. An agreement is an agreement and it should be honored and AFTER the work is done is not the right time to be changing your mind about the costs.
.

Agreed.

I'd be a little upset if I took my tractor in, and it was agreed upon that warranty would cover things and I wouldnt owe anything.

Then two weeks later when tractor is done only to find out that they changed their minds and now I owe almost a grand for labor and some parts.

That would tend to irritate me.

 

[tman1020]

I think you have the right attitude about things and glad to hear you got your tractor back. No matter how you look at it that's a great outcome to a bad situation. Maybe you can have your neighbor get it off the trailer and try it out for you while you're gone.

Just kidding!!!

 

[jlgurr]

I think you have the right attitude about things and glad to hear you got your tractor back. No matter how you look at it that's a great outcome to a bad situation. Maybe you can have your neighbor get it off the trailer and try it out for you while you're gone. Just kidding!!!

I'll venture a guess the neighbor is relieved.

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[C4Ranch]

An update... good news and bad news (not too bad, just annoying):

Got a call from the service manager today that the CK 35 is ready to go. That's the good news. The bad news is that the dealership is not covering the labor after all. Not sure if he forgot what he told me before, or if they simply reconsidered and decided not to apply their goodwill fund that I had previously described. It's no big deal... I don't have any leverage here anyway. I'm to cover ten hours of labor (although he says they put about 16 into it, and I have no reason to doubt him, so that seems fair enough). With some parts that I'm also getting billed for, it comes to $650. I also have to cover the cost of shipping the engine from North Carolina to Texas. That's another $165. So I owe them $815.

You know what, I'm fine with it. For a new motor that's a perfectly good deal. I'm happy to pay.

I'll drag the flatbed up there tomorrow, but unfortunately I won't get any seat time for awhile yet... I have to jet off to The Big Apple on business (yes, work... gotta pay for this stuff somehow) and won't be back for ten days or so. It'll have to stay on the trailer while I'm gone. Will let y'all know when I can get behind the wheel again finally. Much appreciated as always!

U and I have the same mindset on these things.

Look at it as an expensive oil change that erases all of your prior use/hours on the engine.

 

[Fawken]

You can do as you choose. And I certainly will not engage in any sort of discussion with those who seem to think this board is a place for mindless arguing. You have the agreement well documented and my own course of action (which I have EVERY right to express) would be to insist upon them honoring what was agreed to by ALL parties. New tractors, autos, homes, etc. come with both a manufacturer's warranty and an implied warranty against latent defects- which both Kioti and the dealership admitted was the case.