How Many Hours on Your Kioti?

[ritcheyvs]

It's a 2009. And it would die within 1-2 seconds of firing up. So I had tested the ignition switch, took out the fuel and air filters and tested for fuel and air blockages, and tested all the relays. Then today I came across a similar problem in this forum and it mentioned the stop solenoid which you mentioned. So I thought I'd give it one more look tonight and traced the wiring from the solenoid back to the battery tonight and sure enough, I found a damaged wire (from a mouse I guess?) that went to the solenoid. So I patched the wire and it fired right up! I couldn't believe it was that quick and easy to fix.

With all that said, I guess I'll keep my tractor for now but I had to already replace my ignition switch too so I don't have much confidence in this tractor. Every year something (big or small) has gone wrong with it (maybe that's normal with a tractor?). So I'm hoping this year I'll get lucky and this will be my only problem!

JP: Good for you. kudos.

FYI, the "new" version of the stop solenoid (which you have) uses two coils. The high current "pull" coil activates the solenoid (which allows the injection pump to do its thing) and a low-current "hold" coil that keeps it activated as long as the start switch is on. There is a timer that cuts power to the pull coil after about a second. Sounds like the wire to your hold coil got damaged.

The Kioti ignition switch is a known weak point which can also cause your symptoms and other problems. A replacement is about $100 but they aren't that hard to replace. This switch (electrical side) can also be disassembled, cleaned, and lubed; which generally restores function. I cleaned mine (2006 model) the first time it messed up and replaced it the second time. I cleaned the original switch again, so now I have a ready spare.

Maybe big green tractors have insulation that tastes really bad to rodents but (IMO) them critters will eat practically anything. They drove me nuts eating through a Cat5 cable in the crawl space under my house and the sound system wires in our church crawl space.

In my opinion (and it's only my opinion) the greatest difference between Kioti and the more expensive brands is dealer support. There are just fewer Kioti dealers and those don't have the level of training and experience as the well-established dealerships. On the other hand, this forces owners to learn more about their machines. much of which gets shared here on TBN. I suspect most Deere owners just call the nearby dealer when they have a problem and the dealer fixes it. This would be important and worth the cost for someone who uses the tractor to make a living. Less so for a hobby farmer like me.

 

[kco]

I was having intermittent no-start problems with my 2011 DK35SE HST over 6 months last spring to fall. I finally gave the switch a good shot of Nexxtech contact and head cleaner (got it at The Source, the Canadian remnant of Radio Shack). It seems to have completely fixed it. I plan to add a shot of electric contact spray to my 100 hour service routine.

 

[JPSwede]

JP: Good for you. kudos.

FYI, the "new" version of the stop solenoid (which you have) uses two coils. The high current "pull" coil activates the solenoid (which allows the injection pump to do its thing) and a low-current "hold" coil that keeps it activated as long as the start switch is on. There is a timer that cuts power to the pull coil after about a second. Sounds like the wire to your hold coil got damaged.

The Kioti ignition switch is a known weak point which can also cause your symptoms and other problems. A replacement is about $100 but they aren't that hard to replace. This switch (electrical side) can also be disassembled, cleaned, and lubed; which generally restores function. I cleaned mine (2006 model) the first time it messed up and replaced it the second time. I cleaned the original switch again, so now I have a ready spare.

Maybe big green tractors have insulation that tastes really bad to rodents but (IMO) them critters will eat practically anything. They drove me nuts eating through a Cat5 cable in the crawl space under my house and the sound system wires in our church crawl space.

In my opinion (and it's only my opinion) the greatest difference between Kioti and the more expensive brands is dealer support. There are just fewer Kioti dealers and those don't have the level of training and experience as the well-established dealerships. On the other hand, this forces owners to learn more about their machines. much of which gets shared here on TBN. I suspect most Deere owners just call the nearby dealer when they have a problem and the dealer fixes it. This would be important and worth the cost for someone who uses the tractor to make a living. Less so for a hobby farmer like me.

I agree with your ignition switch comment. I will finally replace my ignition switch the next time it acts up (which has been every year after coming out of storage but so far not this year yet) because I'm tired of cleaning it! And your dealer support comment is right on as well. My dealer used to pick up our tractors and deliver them back to us for FREE but stopped that service about 3 years ago. Now it costs $150 round-trip if you want them to do that. And their knowledge is only so-so I feel because I can find out better information from this website than my mechanic's brain! However, since this is my first tractor, I can't comment on other dealers' service but I would think it has to be better than my current dealers' service. But I like to learn about the things I own so I can fix them myself anyway.

 

[chuck172]

I'm willing to bet they've alraedy reached that goal. IIRC, kioti is #2 in the world for 25-100 HP tractors. kubota is #1 and not by much.

Do you have a link for that, I'd like to read it.

 

[JPSwede]

That's the rub with a product that is less expensive but claims to be as good as a more traditional name brand. You never know the results until a few thousand hours have been realized. That is when the true cost of ownership can be calculated. AND, then there is always the issue of trade in value.

I am not convinced that off brand products are a good long term value. Especially, given the disproprortionately high cost, of parts and service compared to original purchase price. Having said that, it gives me immense satisfaction, that these brands must most surely put a burr under the saddle of the likes of JD.

I agree. I will probably end up paying more in the long run unless I can continue to solve my problems on my own.

 

[JPSwede]

It's your tractor, BUT an ignition switch replacement and a possibly rodent damaged wire do NOT, IMHO qualify as unusual for a tractor. AND, whatever you might trade it for will have it's own set of problems. If it were me I'd stick with what you have and give it a real chance and time to prove it's worthiness to you. It's clearly no where near lemon status.
Keep us posted as to any other issues; the Kioti Team has seen most everything that these tractors can serve up, and seldom finds anything that can't be solved. Good luck and happy tractoring.:thumbsup:

Well having to replace the clutch after just 120 hours of use I felt was a major defect. And then I made the lemon comment after trying for several hours to start it without success. But you're right, I wouldn't consider it a lemon unless the clutch goes out again soon or something else major goes out on it. And I guess the ignition switch issue is just a minor annoyance. However, I park my tractor right next to my car and my car starts up every time and hasn't had any ignition switch issues either. And the mouse left my car's wiring alone too but then again, I don't drive my car in a field either. And we had a Dodge Spirit once. Now that was a LEMON! The engine on it blew up TWICE! So, does that make all Dodges bad cars? Not at all. However, I can say that my Pontiac Bonneville is still running like a top after 21 years and my Ford Ranger as well after 19 years and both still have the original major equipment on them. But do all Pontiacs and Fords do as well as mine have? Of course not. And trading it in was a waste of time since no one would give me anything near what I thought it should be worth. So I'll definitely give updates if I have any major trouble this year.

 

[JPSwede]

That's the rub with a product that is less expensive but claims to be as good as a more traditional name brand. You never know the results until a few thousand hours have been realized. That is when the true cost of ownership can be calculated. AND, then there is always the issue of trade in value.

I am not convinced that off brand products are a good long term value. Especially, given the disproprortionately high cost, of parts and service compared to original purchase price. Having said that, it gives me immense satisfaction, that these brands must most surely put a burr under the saddle of the likes of JD.

I agree. Like I used to think Hyundai were crap cars until I finally bought one and it has turned out to be the best new car I've ever owned so far but I've only had it 2 years so far. So we'll see if it can hold up as well as my 21 year old Bonneville and my 19 year old Ranger. I doubt it!

 

[JPSwede]

I was having intermittent no-start problems with my 2011 DK35SE HST over 6 months last spring to fall. I finally gave the switch a good shot of Nexxtech contact and head cleaner (got it at The Source, the Canadian remnant of Radio Shack). It seems to have completely fixed it. I plan to add a shot of electric contact spray to my 100 hour service routine.

Thanks a lot for the info. I'll be trying that product WHEN my ignition switch acts up again!

 

[DK35vince]

I agree. Like I used to think Hyundai were crap cars until I finally bought one and it has turned out to be the best new car I've ever owned so far but I've only had it 2 years so far. So we'll see if it can hold up as well as my 21 year old Bonneville and my 19 year old Ranger. I doubt it!

You never know.
My brother put over 300,000 miles on his Hyundai (don't remember the model). Said he had such good luck with it he bought another just like it.

 

[ritcheyvs]

I was having intermittent no-start problems with my 2011 DK35SE HST over 6 months last spring to fall. I finally gave the switch a good shot of Nexxtech contact and head cleaner (got it at The Source, the Canadian remnant of Radio Shack). It seems to have completely fixed it. I plan to add a shot of electric contact spray to my 100 hour service routine.

I had the same experience with my 2006 DK this year (although I replaced the switch anyway). When I opened up the old switch, it wasn't obvious how the contact cleaner got from the keyhole to the electrical contacts; but it worked fine. I think you have a great idea here for an additional scheduled maintenance task.