DK 40 HST Hydro Whine

[Brokermike]

Ever since I had my 2009 DK 40se in for the the 250 hr service the hydro seems to whine, and since it is a hydrostat drive it honestly doesn't seem to travel as fast as it did before.
I've put 50hrs on it since the service this summer, and I can't shake the feeling something is wrong. I've checked the fluid, it seems fine.

Essentially the hydro whines when I pick up the 3pt hitch (which right now has an 800 lb ballasty on it for loader work), the rpms also seem to drop significantly while it is lifting the 3pt. I never noticed this before

Also if it is idling, it will be fine for a few minutes and then you can hear the hydro start to whine.

It seems slower when traveling

Oddly the power steering and loader capacity seem fine

Anyone have any thoughts?

Any thoughts

 

[bp fick]

Need more information. Did you do the 250 service yourself? Did a dealer? What fluid was used? Where different filters introduced into this equation?

Answering those variables is the beginning point.

You would not be the first TBNer to have changed his HST fluid and find it produced somewhat awful results.

 

[Brokermike]

I had the service done by Cherry Creek Sales and Service in Jacksonville VT. They were my closest dealer after Kioti shut off **** near every dealer around me. As it turns out they lost their franchise right before my service, but I was told they were still an authorized service center. It was all by the book and the bill was over $700. They used all kioti filters and oil according to my bill. As time wears on and it gets colder the problem seems to be getting a little worse.

I know it's not a fuel problem, I'm religous about adding diesel additive and my fuel filter looks fine

 

[bp fick]

Correct me if I am wrong, please. Kioti no doubt re-brands filters and you could certainly take a peek and be sure the hydro-trans filter is correct, by number. Trust, but verify.

However, does Kioti re-brand an HST fluid? I am not sure. If this dealership uses a fluid that they buy, at a price point, it simply may not like your tractor or your tractor simply doesn't like it. Again, you would not be the first to discover that your tractor doesn't like a somewhat lower grade UTF/hydro-trans fluid.

If following a fluid change, the HST whines more and doesn't seem to have it's old vigor, and if this is more noticeable during colder weather, I'd bet a dollar to a doughnut that it is more generic, house brand type fluid that doesn't have the low temperature viscosity to flow quickly in cold weather.

Hope you get to the bottom of this. I'm sorry to hear you paid so much for this service, but that is pretty standard dealer pricing, which is why so many here prefer to do it themselves. Just saying.

 

[Brokermike]

In hindsight I'd do it myself in a heartbeat, but it had some warranty work to be done at the same time, and i figured I'd kill two birds with one stone. I was originally quoted "around $500" and after adding up the filters, etc I figured that wasn't too bad. Unfortunately my margin of pricing error and theirs doesn't match up.

 

[VictorW]

The fluids recommended in my manual, Shell Donax for one, is a multi viscosity, 10w-20 fluid. I was able to find it when my change came due and I noticed nothing different after service. As bp fick mentioned and others have mentioned in previous posts, there was a difference when they did their service and used a heavier weight fluid and like you and it became worse as the temps dropped. Apparently this hydro likes a light weight oil. As far as I know, Kioti doesn't make or rebrand oil so this dealer used whatever they used. I know one local dealer uses Pennzoil Hy-Trans but I never could find the weight. I'll bet the oil is the problem but to get them to change it to something else probably will be a fight you won't win.

 

[VictorW]

I just wanted to correct some info after checking the Shell Donax TD oil. It is a 10w30 multi vis hyd oil but they also make two other versions which are 5w-30 and 15w-30. Pennzoil Hydra-Trans is a 10w-30 oil.

There are straight weight oils and I hope that isn't in your tractor for these cold Winters.

 

[LaVoie Equipment]

As you can see you are going to hear a lot of different information about hydraulic oil. KIOTI does not have a private label brand at this time. We actually use and sell CASTROL UTF. I checked with CASTROL years ago and this is what they converted the BP brand to - BP owns Castrol.

The whine can come from several things. VISCOSITY of Oil can make it whine. Cold out there - THINK THIN! LOL.

My recommendation (least expensive) would be to remove and replace the Main Hydraulic filter (Refill filter before installation - remember this is a suction filter; this will cut down on air getting into the system). Then all the oil unless they tell you exactly what they used.

One other thing you can try. We use LUCAS Hydraulic Oil Booster in all our KIOTI Tractors. Great additive.

Tony

 

[Coyote machine]

Broker Mike,
We conversed back about a year ago when I got my first Kioti, a DK-35se/hst. Now I have a new DK- 40se/hst. My dealer in Granville, NY had me change ONLY the filters and the oil to fill the filters, when installing the new ones. He swears that it is not necessary and they almost never change out all the fluid of the tranny on the hst tractors. First of all it is too expensive to do, and it is NOT necessary, UNLESS there is a problem with the fluid like water contamination, etc. I never encountered a problem with the DK-35 after or before changing just the trans filters.
Since i switched to the new DK-40 se/hst Kioti, which currently has about 58hours on it there has been a mostly consistent, but occasionally intermittant whine when putting the tractor into reverse after it has warmed up. There is a thread from about a month or so ago about it and the lack of resolution to the problem by Kioti. I made my selling dealer aware of it and he says he has one other DK -40 tractor owner that is encountering the problem too. Note: the noise issue is NOT necessarily related to the issue you are having re: loss of power and other items you mentioned.
Send me a PM and we can converse further about where to get your Kioti serviced and the loss of power/ trans whine concerns re: DK- 40 series tractors.

P.S. I'm in Rutland County, not far north of you.