DK40 front end

ualjack · Dec 1, 2006

Well the front end ring and pinoin are broken again #3 times now. this time the dealer says the ring and pinoin stipped. he says that mine is the only DK40 to have this problem and that if carrying a load in the bucket and making sharp turns may cause this. if so what good is the tractor? now I'm out of the labor end of warranty and only covered for parts. I only have 160 hours on the tractor. and I'm not too happy about the situation. anyone else having this problem on a DK40? Jack

DK35vince · Dec 1, 2006

I remember you posting about this same problem about a year ago.
Sorry to hear reshimming the ring and pinion didn't resolve the problem..
I have read about several front end issues on the DK 55 in the past, but not the DK 40 (other than the problem you are having).

northcreek2624 · Dec 3, 2006

Jack,I should be a poster child for abusing my DK40 and fel.Mine is a 2002 model with about 400 hrs. and have had no problems.You definitely seem to have a lemon there,perhaps the entire front casting should be replaced,something is not right there....Mike.

wushaw · Dec 4, 2006

I would say to R&R the complete axle housing and use the old one for some decorative feature not to be used in service anymore.
After all you are on the third time

ualjack · Dec 9, 2006

I think its a great tractor when everything is working. and the front end is the only problem I seem to be having.but, now I'm almost afraid to use the 4x4 and stay in 2x4 but, with winter and mud season on, I have little choice but to use the front wheel drive. I contacted Kioti headquarters and they are a week past due of when they said they would be in contact. mabe I should let the front end break again and try to get them to replace the whole front end. unfortunatley, when I bought my tractor it was a 2 year full warranty and 4 year parts only warranty. You would think that since this has been an ongoing problem Kioti would have taken care of it fully. mabe I could get them to trade me straight across for the new 45. ha ha.wishful thinking.

JeffandTamara · Dec 9, 2006

UALJACK:
What were the initial symptoms that you experienced on your front end problem? I am having some unusual vibration that seems to be coming out of the front end.... One point though, I don't see much difference whether the 4WD is engaged or not???

obxtractor · Dec 10, 2006

I have destroyed my first set of gears in a CK 30. The vibration and even a noise was there before the gears finnaly let loose. It doesnt matter if its in 4 wheel or not because the gears and the the front axle parts always turn. The shifting mechanism only stops the front driveshaft. I have been told that if we use the 4 wheel on hard ground it destroys the gears. Makes sense because there is nothing built in for the two sides of the axle to slip, such as on most of the rear axles or your truck. I am trying to look at it as, I wouldnt have my truck in 4 wheel on hard ground so I guess the tractor shouldnt be either.

ualjack · Dec 17, 2006

I did'nt have any noise or indication that the front end was going to blow apart until it did( with a load metal pop) it seems to happen when digging into a load and I had to use the 4x4 to keep from slipping and spining the rear tires. on the last time the dealer said the gears were stipped.

wallace · Dec 17, 2006

Were you doing the same thing the first time when it broke?

VictorW · Dec 18, 2006

it seems to happen when digging into a load and I had to use the 4x4 to keep from slipping and spining the rear tires. Sorry, I haven't figured out the quote function.

ualjack, I'm trying to understand what you were doing. You were digging into a load and the rear tires were slipping, so you put it into 4x4 for extra traction. Were you lifting with the loader at the same time you were trying to go forward? That's what a loader is for and we all do it. This would push the front tires down hard giving them extra traction while the rear tires were already slipping. Maybe this is puting to much of the forward motion force on the front axle being that the rear tires are slipping and the front tires are biting in hard. Just a thought. The front tires and axle are doing all or most of the work. You would like to think that the front gears where made strong enough to take this being that is the way a loader is commonly used. You push into a pile and lift at the same time.

I hope you just had a set of gears that weren't set up right and they gave out from abnormal wear. Years ago, I worked in an auto/truck garage and was very careful setting up differentials to their proper tolerances, otherwise you can ruin a ring and pinion quickly.

Please let us know what they think the cause was. I would hate to destroy the front gears in my CK30hst by pushing into a pile and lifting but then, how else do you do it!!!

ualjack · Dec 20, 2006

Everyone I talk to says they all use their tractor the same way I do and lock into 4x4 to get traction to pick up a load and no one else seems to be having this problem. I know the guys who replaced the ring and pinoin the first time said they just put it in and didnt check backlash or any other clearances they just took them out and put the new ones in. 3rd time a charm? I dont know what to think. I know the dealer here has all contract employees and I dont think anyone is employeed by the company other than himself.

bluechip · Dec 21, 2006

Be sure to have some counterweight on the rear, either filled tires or a weight package on the 3 point. All Kioti loader lift capacity specs are based on a certain amount of ballast on the rear. If you balance the tractor on the front axle (especially by adding weight to the loader which of course increases the total weight you are moving) then direct all 40 HP to the front axle, any "sudden movees" like letting the clutch out too quickly or trying to steer when under power (makes the front wheels turn at different speeds, which causes the power to go through the smaller spider gears). can damage the differencial gears.

That said, the ring and pinion wouln't be what I would expect to fail, bu the smaller spider or bevel drive gears. do you know for sure the ring and pinion gears are what was replaced?

VictorW · Dec 21, 2006

ualjack; I have never just installed a set of gears without checking the tolerances, backlash, contact point, etc. Once in a while you're lucky and don't have to do anything. Sometimes, the gears are close and it's a quick job. Other times, it's a full set up. I hope they do the checking this time. The originals might not have been correct from the factory.

On my CK30, I normally have my six foot back blade hanging for extra weight if I'm going to do some serious digging as bluechip mentioned about using a counter weight. It also makes the tractor more stable with a full bucket.

Please keep us posted on which gears they replaced and their diagnosis as to why they failed.

ualjack · Dec 25, 2006

I had my box scraper on the back each time it broke. and it was the ring and pinion and they said second time around the shaft back to the tranny was twisted and it was replaced.

Agro-oti · Dec 25, 2006

ualjack said:
I had my box scraper on the back each time it broke. and it was the ring and pinion and they said second time around the shaft back to the tranny was twisted and it was replaced.

Stupid questions. But are you engaging the front axle while the rear is spinning? Are you locking the rear differential?

northcreek2624 · Jan 12, 2007

Is it possible that this tractor has had the wrong size tires from the start?When you said that the shaft was twisted it made me think that it might be a front to rear tire ratio thing.Just throwing it out there....Mike.

ualjack · Feb 11, 2007

I had the 4x4 already engaged. dont think I know of anyone who would try that while moving. and all the front ag tires I see are the same size as mine.

bluechip · Feb 12, 2007

Tractor 4x4 drive trains have no way to comensate for different speeds between front and rear axles (there is a fixed ratio to account for the different tire circumference). this is why you can only use 4wd in conditions where a tire can slip to compensate. driving a 4wd tractor on dry pavement while 4wd is engaged can damage a front drive. Also making the front axle do all the work when your tractor and loaded bucket is balanced on the front axle, can damage the drive. The twisted drive shaft is evidence that the front are rear axles where turning at different speeds. It would be easier to damage by simply driving on dry pavement in 4wd. Wouldn't hurt to be sure you have the correct front and rear tires mounted.