Backhoe Cracked Transmission case between bolts attaching backhoe

[blue1jassid]

I bought a new Kioti NX4510 last fall. In April of this year I began to experience a hydraulic leak in the rear of the tractor. In July, after the leak had become much worse, the leak was traced to a crack in the transmission case between two bolts that attach the backhoe mount to the tractor. This fall, Sept. 7, I experienced another major hydraulic leak coming from the back of the tractor. This time it was traced to a crack between two bolts holding the backhoe mount on the other side of the transmission case. Is anyone else experiencing a similar problem? Solution?

Alas, the local dealer cannot even order parts for a "high cost" warranty claim until he has factory approval via a "HIgh Cost Repair Code" (HCRC). Kioti's Customer Service Administrator (CSA) has told me that is Kioti's policy and that it is not subject to review or discussion. The CSA said that if anyone proceeded with work without an HCRC, they would be responsible for the full cost of the work regardless of any warranty claim. My dealer, bless his heart, has taken it upon himself to order the part because Kioti has yet (today is November 1) to approve an HCRC. Has anyone else bumped into this sort of red tape and delay from Kioti?

Last, should it be possible to damage the transmission case via operation of the backhoe? Is it a common practice to mount backhoes to a tractor's transmission case rather than to the tractor's frame? Am I wrong in thinking that as long as no damage is done to the backhoe itself, there should be no damage to the tractor to which it is mounted? Or, expressed differently, how could backhoe operations, operations done within the operating constraints of the backhoe itself, cause damage to the tractor to which it is mounted?

Thank you all for your thoughts.

 

[Roadworthy]

It appears to me you are using an after market backhoe on your Kioti tractor. That may give Kioti an "out" for any warranty claim you make. Prepare yourself for potential disappointment on the warranty claim if Kioti corporate learns how the transmission case broke. No damage to the backhoe obviously doesn't mean no damage to the tractor.

 

[blue1jassid]

Hmmm, Backhoe is factory/dealer installed Kioti KB2485.

 

[chevy]

It is possible to break a tractor in half using a backhoe.

 

[MossRoad]

First, Welcome to TBN! :thumbsup:

Second, you may want to consider not posting any more of the business side of the deal until it is 100% resolved. Several times per year we have people join TBN to discuss repair/damage issues and a resolution from a manufacturer or dealer that may not be going in their favor. Then a few days/weeks/months later, the member requests that the post be deleted because the dealer or manufacturer has gotten wind of it and there may be legal ramifications unless the posts are removed.

Just a suggestion, as you haven't turned it into an ax-grinding thread yet, but things can quickly change and sometimes members will jump in and exacerbate the situation.

Good luck with your repairs. Hope it works out for you.

 

[rademamj1]

My Kioti CK4010 Backhoe mounts onto a special rail. Such a mounting system in no way should load or stress the transmission housing. Please double check to insure your backhoe is properly mounted on your tractor.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Normally the case is the frame for the rear part of the tractor. Is the leak from the rear subframe mount or the front subframe mount? Do you have any pics showing the bolts and exactly were the case is cracking, I have a NX 5510 with the factory subframe and have not had any issues but would like to know more of were your problem is. Myself along with others may be able to keep a eye on ours to possibly keep from having the same failure. Do keep us posted on what they find may be the cause.

 

[blue1jassid]

Hi All,
Thank you all so very much for your thoughts and suggestions. They are much appreciated because I am a new tractor owner .... Order for the Kioti placed last October 22nd. Thus, what I know about tractors can be placed on the point of a sharp needle with lots of room left over for dancing angels. Thanks all you angels! Still can't figure out how an angel can break a tractor in half via backhoe use ... other than backhoe wars.

Alas, I don't have pictures. The dealer has sent them to me but I didn't save them. All I can say is that they clearly showed crack lines between bolt holes. Given that the leak was manifesting itself below the PTO, I would surmise the leak had to be at the rear of the transmission housing. I haven't crawled under the tractor to take a hard look at where and what. Guess I should though I probably don't know enough about what "should be" to determine whether my backhoe is properly mounted. Hopefully, I'll learn how the transmission comprises the frame. My first leak started slowly in early April and didn't become a factor to operations until late May. It got slowly worse. In early June I was loosing a quart or so of hydraulic fluid per 6 hours operation. Because hydraulic fluid is so difficult to add through the dip stick hole, this effectively ended my operations. The local dealer (Saint!) tried an epoxy repair the first time while we waited for the part. The epoxy didn't hold at all. Hope this helps those of you that want to watch your tractors.

As a new owner, I believe I have been cautious and conservative in operating the tractor. That said, as a new owner, I may not know what "normal" operating parameters are and that what I am doing shouldn't be done and could lead to the problems I am experiencing. Please allow me to explain and seek your thoughts. My use has entailed digging up stumps, many ditches, some retaining wall work, and leveling a place for a garage. North Idaho is replete with rock outcroppings so I have chipped away at some rock though I have been careful not to drop the bucket to turn it into a hammer. A lot of my backhoe work has been at an angle to the long axis of the tractor and, in some tight places, I have done some trenching at nearly 90 degrees to the long axis. Would working at an angle to the long axis tend to torque the backhoe and hence the mounting brackets that the mounting rails slide into? Are the stabilizer arms designed to prevent this torquing? Should I be careful to dig only within a ten or twenty degree range of the long axis of the tractor and use the additional pivot range only for dumping the bucket? I haven't been able to find any limit to the range of operation in the manual. Is there such a limit ... explicit or implicit?

Hey MossRoad, thanks for the welcome and the caution. Please jump on me if I seem to be straying. As you point out, ignorance sure won't be bliss.

Again, thanks to you all for taking your time to help me.

 

[radios1]

according to Kioti, that is the correct backhoe for your tractor, but it is supposed to be subframe mounted, not mounted to the transmission!.. KB2485 Backhoe | Kioti Tractors

 

[zzvyb6]

according to Kioti, that is the correct backhoe for your tractor, but it is supposed to be subframe mounted, not mounted to the transmission!.. KB2485 Backhoe | Kioti Tractors

There are a couple of videos on YouTube showing the proper mounting and installation of the Kioti backhoes via a flimsy subframe. I could see where the front of this frame did not seat in the slots of the front mounts but below it. Then, when using the backhoe, especially when digging off to the side, a very large unconstrained bending moment would be applied to the back end mounts and the tractor casting could crack.

Other than excessive/abusive chopping or punching forces, I would bet the mounting rails would bend first instead of the transmission.