Buying Advice Kioti CK 3510 - reliable?

[IslandTractor]

I've had two Kioti tractors over the past 13 years. Neither has ever needed to go back to the dealership. A couple of minor warranty issues like broken seat belt retractor and cracked fuel bowl that where handled by a phone call and the UPS guy.

 

[Garrett Wiggins]

Just because the dealer is close. does not make them worthy of your business. Both of my local dealers have been is business for years, but always put the big guys in the front of the line. I know of several times people have waited over a month for a repair.

Tractors do get put ahead of other tractors. I see this more often when you buy a tractor from another location and take it to your local guy to have something fix under warranty. The dealer will always take care of "their" customers first. That's just how it is.

 

[IslandTractor]

Tractors do get put ahead of other tractors. I see this more often when you buy a tractor from another location and take it to your local guy to have something fix under warranty. The dealer will always take care of "their" customers first. That's just how it is.

Fair enough but the risk that A) you'll need service and B) that there is a substantial line in front of you, are both pretty small. Might make a difference for a general contractor who depends on his Bobcat or a commercial farmer but for most of us a delay, if it does happen, will just be an inconvenience. The $$$ you can save by taking the best offered deal however is real and immediate.

 

[Garrett Wiggins]

Fair enough but the risk that A) you'll need service and B) that there is a substantial line in front of you, are both pretty small. Might make a difference for a general contractor who depends on his Bobcat or a commercial farmer but for most of us a delay, if it does happen, will just be an inconvenience. The $$$ you can save by taking the best offered deal however is real and immediate.

I agree 100 percent depends on how much "risk" you are willing to take. Ever heard of a Hay Baler breaking down when you didn't need it? They always break down when a storm is headed your way after the hay is raked up. Everyone has different ways that they "consider" saving. Some people place that on a dollar amount; some like the assurance of the local helping them along. Nothing like seeing your salesman in the grocery store and exchanging a few words like friends. If you ever had a stupid question to ask, sometimes it hard to describe something over the phone, you have to show them; its nice to able to walk in and get someone to help you and you don't get the " your a burden" look on their face. Back in the day this was called "trading" cause you always traded business.

 

[slwelch]

Hi all!
I'm close to buying my first real tractor and I think I'm settling for a Kioti CK 3510 with loader and 72" rear mower. I have this big concern giving me pause, and it applies to all tractors: the high cost of having it hauled to the dealer for repairs/maintenance, under warranty or not. For me, that would be $300+ round trip. It is amazing how the manufacturers put this on the customer and don't stand fully behind their tractors. Does anyone know what kind of issues I should expect from a new Kioti tractor?
Many thanks.

The only problem I have had with my CK3510 that I just got new in January, is the cold weather, fuel gelling and the new emissions they put on them in 2016 mine went into a burn and wouldn't come out of it, it had to go back and have a valve adjusted on the computer, the dealer didn't charge me anything to come and get it, fix it and bring it back, that's 50 mile one way, talk to your dealer make sure they go over it before they deliver. You shouldn't have any trouble this time of year. I love mine I had a Deere 3230 before this one, this is twice the tractor. If I didn't buy this one I was going with the LS tractor. And make sure you get your tires loaded it's worth the money

 

[Luke009]

Thank you all for the responses. This is a great forum. To answer to some of your comments:
1. My two Kioti dealer options are one 20 miles away and another (out of state) 50 miles away. The latter sounds more responsive, has a better price, and both charge the same for tractor service transportation.
2. I debated hard about getting a trailer, for this and other purposes, and it doesn't make sense for me. I'm just a homeowner with 3 acres of land, lawn to mow and driveway to plow. Occasional landscaping and small construction projects. Rough grade to level currently, after deforestation.
3. I pressed this question on CT dealers (Kubota, Mahindra, Kioti) and they would not send a mechanic over for any issue, big or small. They want the tractor brought to them. I wish I could find an independent, professional mechanic willing to come to my house as needed but that's a hard find.
4. I'd love to have the time to do maintenance on my cars and tractor but I just don't have it. Given the prospect of having to pay $$$ to haul it to the dealer, I might have to get into tractor maintenance.
If I knew that the risk is minimal to have anything happen with the tractor if used "prudently" and maintained well (and if such maintenance is not demanding) I would have an easier time to take the plunge here. But dealers admit that they get a number of tractors back under warranty for various glitches, which would add thousands in transportation costs. Perhaps I just need to think of the price that way.

 

[IslandTractor]

I had never maintained a Diesel engine much less a HST or tractor before I bought my first Kioti CK20 twelve years ago. I didn't do my own car maintenance either. Neither the CK20 or DK40se has ever been back to the dealer and I have done all fluid changes and replaced a couple of minor parts. I'd guess I've spent maybe 60-90 minutes a year on average doing maintenance other than greasing.

With a cell phone, a maintenance manual, a UPS truck and a cooperative dealer, I have solved every issue so far and feel I know the tractor better than if someone else did the work.

Biggest hassle: getting HST filter off the first time. Factory puts it on too tight and paints over it. Solution was bigger filter wrench. Most difficult: diagnosing why 4wd suddenly quit. Answered while talking via cell to dealer mechanic while on my back under tractor when "we" found a simple electric connection uncoupled by brush. Fixed in five seconds.

I don't consider myself a shade tree mechanic by any means but necessity (tractor is on an island and would take a day and $$$ to get to and from a dealer) has made me learn and be comfortable with the basics. And, I shouldn't fail to mention how friends on TBN have answered numerous questions and given excellent advice. If you can hold a wrench, these guys will gently talk you through the steps necessary to use it effectively.

 

[ericm979]

Counting travel and waiting time (or time for someone to pick me up/drop me off) it takes more time to take a vehicle in for service than for me to do it myself, and I'm not hurrying when I do it.

In our area, where few land owners have tractors, there are independent mobile mechanics who work on tractors. Found out about them from other local tractor owners. There's probably some in your area.

 

[Luke009]

I had never maintained a Diesel engine much less a HST or tractor before I bought my first Kioti CK20 twelve years ago. I didn't do my own car maintenance either. Neither the CK20 or DK40se has ever been back to the dealer and I have done all fluid changes and replaced a couple of minor parts. I'd guess I've spent maybe 60-90 minutes a year on average doing maintenance other than greasing.

With a cell phone, a maintenance manual, a UPS truck and a cooperative dealer, I have solved every issue so far and feel I know the tractor better than if someone else did the work.

Biggest hassle: getting HST filter off the first time. Factory puts it on too tight and paints over it. Solution was bigger filter wrench. Most difficult: diagnosing why 4wd suddenly quit. Answered while talking via cell to dealer mechanic while on my back under tractor when "we" found a simple electric connection uncoupled by brush. Fixed in five seconds.

I don't consider myself a shade tree mechanic by any means but necessity (tractor is on an island and would take a day and $$$ to get to and from a dealer) has made me learn and be comfortable with the basics. And, I shouldn't fail to mention how friends on TBN have answered numerous questions and given excellent advice. If you can hold a wrench, these guys will gently talk you through the steps necessary to use it effectively.

Thank you. That was reassuring and it's my best case scenario. Which dealer did you use in RI?

 

[jeff9366]

3. I pressed this question on CT dealers (Kubota, Mahindra, Kioti) and they would not send a mechanic over for any issue, big or small. They want the tractor brought to them. I wish I could find an independent, professional mechanic willing to come to my house as needed but that's a hard find.

I am age 70. Tractors vibrate a lot when operating over rough ground. Tractor fittings are air-gunned on really tight. At age 70, I cannot loosen tractor fittings manually, even with a long wrench.
A mechanic would have to have both metric and sterling tool sets.
Then, if a part is needed, do you want your tractor partially disassembled for three weeks before the part arrives and the mechanic can schedule a return?
A circuit tractor mechanic would require many parts manuals, although some are accessible on the web.