Loader CK27 HST first workout

[Rhinohio]

Hello folks, put my tractor to some real work for the first time over the weekend. Moved ~16 tons of gravel to dress my driveway and area around my camper. This little tractor is a workhorse and I'm very happy with my purchase.

One of the swivel fittings on the FEL's lift cylinders started leaking at around 2 hours into the job. It seems like the nipple on the cylinder's countered bored too deep which don't allow the o-ring to compress and seal. I added an o-ring with a slightly larger cross section which stopped the leak, at least temporarily. The dealer is about 2 hours away and didn't want to take the time going there and back only to return with a replacement o-ring since I'm pretty sure that won't fix it. When it goes in for 50 hour service I'll have the dealer repair it if it doesn't fail completely before that. Other than that small inconvenience, it performed flawlessly.

However, I do have one complaint. The loader's hydraulics response is too fast. Admittedly, I'm a novice and this is the first piece of equipment I have ever operated so I have nothing to compare it to. But no matter how much I tried to feather the controls, it always moved faster than I intended. I've read much on this great message board about similar experiences but was always written off as "practice, practice, practice"... I don't think that's going to work for me. Is there a way to slow it down with a flow regulator or the like without affecting performance or reliability? I've read threads about Top 'n Tilt where Brian (Fit Rite) recommends flow control for his kits. For those who've owned other brands, is this unique to Kioti or is it simply my technique? The gravel project is about half complete and would like to gain some control with the machine before finishing. I see no real world applications where the FEL would need to move so quickly... just my opinion.

Thanks to all in advance, your expertise is always valued.

Mike

 

[ksbrdmkr]

Try slowing the engine speed down unless you need the power for digging. Slower engine rpm less gpm from the hyd pump.

 

[k0ua]

My Kioti is also very fast response. I got used to it in about a week. Anything else seems slow now. As said you can throttle down to slow it some when you need precision.

 

[paulfun9]

Yes slow the throttle down a bit till you get used to it then slowly raise it back up as you get smoother.

 

[Rhinohio]

Okay thanks guys, but I'm not sure that's going to work for me. I have a fairly steep hill to climb to the camper and it liked to be ~2200 rpm to keep from lugging and I just worked it at that speed. Didn't occur to me to slow it down, dumb newbie!!

I was thinking, maybe there's some sort of regulator, flow control or metering capability on the loaders' valve but a quick overview of the service manual didn't make that obvious. I'll dig a bit deeper but nothing jumped out at me.

I'll keep practicing, but I think it just moves to darn fast.

Thanks again,
Mike

 

[k0ua]

Okay thanks guys, but I'm not sure that's going to work for me. I have a fairly steep hill to climb to the camper and it liked to be ~2200 rpm to keep from lugging and I just worked it at that speed. Didn't occur to me to slow it down, dumb newbie!!

I was thinking, maybe there's some sort of regulator, flow control or metering capability on the loaders' valve but a quick overview of the service manual didn't make that obvious. I'll dig a bit deeper but nothing jumped out at me.

I'll keep practicing, but I think it just moves to darn fast.

Thanks again,
Mike

In climbing the hill, I would like to ask what range you were in on the hydro.. Remember HI is only for flat road travel without loads. Med. for light work where you need to move fast, and LO for the majority of heavy work where the tractor is heavily loaded. Remember you can approach the pile at any speed, but you can throttle down a bit if the hydraulics are moving faster than you need, and throttle back up to travel if you need to move fast.

 

[texasjohn]

since you are new to HST operation, be advised that you can reduce/avoid the lugging symptom by letting up on the HST pedal. Seems counter intuitive, but try it next time you have the lugging symptom. there is a range where by reducing the "load" you are putting on the tractor to "go fast" that it can go slower and use the available power/rpms to keep RPMs up...ie not lugging. This assumes you have chosen the right gear range in the first place and that the overload is just temporary. If letting off on the pedal is insufficient/inadequate to get past the load point, shift down to lower gear. I operate my HST almost all the time in M range. Low for very slow speed control or ground engaging attachments...front or rear.