I agree, That 20HP feels more like 50hp though.. crazy difference!
The Kioti DK55 had a carbon copy of a kubota 2.2L V2203, They dont have much bottom end power but its a really smooth motor. Great motor IMO..
/ Kioti DK55 TRANS WAS BOILING HOT after bush hogging WHAT HAVE I DONE???
This is not an issue of butt hurt or Kioti fan-boys. It's just that many of us have machines with a similar (or identical) PTO configuration and we want to be aware of potential issues.
No doubt, quad was able to stress the PTO for longer times and with a higher load than the system could handle. He mentioned a 3000 lb mower, which blows my mind; my mowers are only about 600 lb and I never run at max load for more than a few hours. I guess he proved that a compact utility tractor has limits. I do have to wonder if quad's DK55 was 100% when he started or if the PTO was already compromised from prior abuse or improper hydro fluid. So I thank him for the data point and I hope his new machine suits his needs.
But I think the alleged cause (heat from hydraulic bypass) is completely bogus. The heat caused by applying hydraulic pressure to the PTO clutch stack is the same at no load and max PTO load. This pressure comes from the smaller power steering pump (not the main hydraulic pump) and a modulator valve apportions this flow between the two clutch packs (PTO and 4WD) and the power steering. This is nothing like deadheading a rear remote. This modulator valve could fail and cause the observed problem, which is why I asked if the dealer performed any pressure tests. In my opinion the root cause was a slipping PTO clutch pack. That is the only thing that would melt the PTO piston seals without cooking every other seal in the transmission. Once the PTO piston seal starts to leak, that piston will lose pressure which allows more clutch slip, which creates more heat. which further damages the seal: chain reaction.
So if this is a design problem, the issue is that the PTO clutch can slip before it stalls the engine. Maybe that engine is too strong for the clutch? Or maybe there is another, yet unrevealed, root cause.
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/ Kioti DK55 TRANS WAS BOILING HOT after bush hogging WHAT HAVE I DONE???
I agree with ritcheyvs. One of the things that I found puzzling was the statement that the OP was carrying around extra fluid all the time and that he had to put in 1 qt of hydraulic fluid. There seems to be some pre-existing condition happening and that it is That condition (which I also agree was manifest in the PTO clutch) and that finally gave way here.
/ Kioti DK55 TRANS WAS BOILING HOT after bush hogging WHAT HAVE I DONE???
I am curious about the kind of mower that overloaded the DK55 PTO clutches. In post #1 the OP mentions an 8 ft rotary mower. In post 19, he mentions a 3000 lb mower and bat-wing mower (maybe same?).
I don't anticipate running anything that large but it would be helpful to know how much attachment is too much. I suspect my DK45 PTO clutch is identical to his, so this isn't just idle curiosity.
As an aside, I don't see why trying to understand Kioti problems constitutes an attack pack. I think we agree that a healthy PTO clutch should be able to stall the engine before the clutch slips. I know my DK45 could shear the bush hog's shear pin before the PTO clutch slipped. We don't know if the OP's PTO was already compromised, if the basic DK55 design is flawed (as claimed in post 19) , or if the OP simply overloaded the system, perhaps by repeated, frequent, heavy load PTO engagement at high RPM. As owners, we have a dog in this hunt.
/ Kioti DK55 TRANS WAS BOILING HOT after bush hogging WHAT HAVE I DONE???
