Cost of Maintaining

[grsthegreat]

yeiks...way too high.

i always do my own service. for the Kioti DK45SE HST i got all 3 filters for around $85.00, about $85 for the hydraulic fluid, plus i still need to get 2 gal of 90 wt gear oil for the front end 50 hour swap.

add about 2 hours to swap fluids and lube and check all torque on tractor....its not too hard to think that your dealer overcharged you.

now, im not sure if you had anything other than general maintenance done at the time. Did he pick up your tractor and return??

Ive always done my own work, its not too hard, if you don't mine getting dirty.

I actually enjoy tinkering with the tractors. Sit in my heated shop, music playing.....beats working

not to get off the subject too far, but today i brought in my old horse trailer into the shop, turned on the heat and stereo, and got to work fixing the electrical lights, interior upholstery repairs, and waxed the exterior. I had a GREAT day.....sure beats having to wire a house.

 

[Sulla]

I don't think your bill has anything to do with the brand, I have read about and had friends that have been wacked for good-sized service bills for many different colored tractors. I guess what I'm saying is Kioti is inherently no more expensive to own than any other color IMO. Now, not seeing your particular bill/invoice I won't say you were ripped off, I have no idea what kind of time the service dept put into your machine, nor do I know what the going rate for stuff is where you are.

I personally did my own 50 hr, it was straight forward and the only hitch as someone else mentioned is planning how much oil comes out of a particular drain plug. I don't remember the exact cost of it, but recall it being in the neighborhood of $150-170ish. That was for ALL oils (engine, tranny & frt axle) & filters (filters from the dealer, oils purchased locally). I think I spent a leisurely 3 or so hours doing it, enjoyable wrench time actually getting to know my new toy. I could have easily had my dealer do it, but in the interest of learning and not wanting to see it go down the road on the back of a truck I went for option two/B. Also, my selling dealer wasn't put off at all about it, even gave me a complete rundown on what should be done and assessed. Nothing required special tools or rocket scientist knowledge. This option may not work for everyone, or they may want a Pro to do the first one, in these cases requesting an estimate up front is not out of bounds.

That's really my question. I like to do my own work on my motorcycles and cars. I thought I'd have the first service done by the dealer just in case. I do not doubt that the work was legitimate, they've never taken advantage before. What got me questioning is that John Deere's hard quote for the first service if I buy a new tractor from them with pick up and delivery was only $250.00.

I am going to be getting a bigger tractor with a number of implements and am trying to get a fix on the cost of ownership.

The JD is more expensive to buy, seems a little less costly to maintain and resale looks to be a little better. But upfront it cost a lot more. I'd have to save a lot on service to make up the difference.

 

[williekioti]

That's really my question. I like to do my own work on my motorcycles and cars. I thought I'd have the first service done by the dealer just in case. I do not doubt that the work was legitimate, they've never taken advantage before. What got me questioning is that John Deere's hard quote for the first service if I buy a new tractor from them with pick up and delivery was only $250.00.

I am going to be getting a bigger tractor with a number of implements and am trying to get a fix on the cost of ownership.

The JD is more expensive to buy, seems a little less costly to maintain and resale looks to be a little better. But upfront it cost a lot more. I'd have to save a lot on service to make up the difference.

But see, that's just it. The $250 is a "promotion", just like throwing in the break-in service with the purchase of a new machine. Some dealers just give you a break on the price tag or throw in some extras or on financing......

If servicing is important to you (and there is NOTHING wrong with that IMO) negotiate that up front when purchasing...... Yeah?

 

[DK35vince]

I recently greased and change the fluids on my DK 35.
6 qts Rottella T synthetic motor oil $30.
Oil filter $8
Hydraulic filter $30
11 gal Shell Heavy Duty trans/hydraulic fluid $110
2 gallon 80/90 gear oil for front axle $20
1 tube grease $2
Total= $200
Estimated time involved= 2 hours

 

[JoelD]

Seems intuitively like crazy money to me

Joel

 

[grsthegreat]

i just purchased all the stuff to do my 50 hour maint (but i still have 25 hrs to go).

all 3 filters = $115 (all kioti brand)

3 x 5gal shell donax-td transmission fluid (brand recommended in manual - only need 12 gal, but 5's are cheeper) = $174.00 total but $140.00 used this time

OIL = 8 quarts - i have in stock, dont remember price

2 gal 80w90 front axle = $10.00

total cost = $265.00 + oils cost (?)

it will take a few hours.....but this is fun work.

Not sure what Kioti dealership would charge, but this way i dont have to transport unit.

 

[WM75Guy]

You need a breakdown of what was done and compare it to your manual. They may have done more than required. While I don't have Kioti it seems high to me. Thats what I paid for 300 hour service on my NH TC40DA and I told them to change every fluid and filter on the tractor as I had just bought the tractor used.

New Holland manual for 50 hour service says to change hydraulic filter, fuel filter, HST filter (if applicable) and engine oil (6.3 quarts)and filter. Hydraulic fluid (9.6 gallons) and 3 more filters are not changed until 300 hours.