KL130 on a CK30 Problem

[IslandTractor]

The KL401 comes with a QA type attachment. While it may be technically "universal skid steer" compatable, for some reason Kioti chose to make the lateral dimensions a bit narrower than is typical with a skid steer. You can still attach "univeral skid steer" implements but it does create some issues. Standard skid steer is about 44 inches. I haven't measured the Kioti QA but it is about 36-38 inches wide. Vertical dimensions are exactly the same as universal skid steer. It will attach OK to universal skid steer devices but a skid steer would not attach to the Kioti bucket because the adapter on the bucket is only 36-38 inches or so wide. I don't understand why they made it narrower and it is the one thing about the new loader that I don't like much.

The problem it creates is that when you go to attach a standard 44 inch "universal" skid steer implement such as a grapple, there is about 3-4 inches on either side of the adapter to the side plate of the implement attachment plate. That means that instead of just lining up the edge of the implement with the side of the adapter you need to look at left and right sides (imagine leaning left then right as you move towards the implement) in order to line it up properly by centering it. That is a waste of time. Also, even though the linkage to secure the attachment lines up properly so long as you have it centered, I noticed at least on one occasion that putting a side load on the grapple caused it to shift in position. It was stable and remained attached to the loader but was now off center. To recenter it I had to essentially take it off, recenter the tractor by moving it and then reattach. Waste of time. It has only happened once but that is because I am now careful about any sort of lateral load.

I cannot think of a single reason why Kioti chose this narrow variation on the QA theme. If you have a number of QA attachments it might be worth talking to your dealer to see if Kioti would give a credit for their narrow style QA adapter and then just get a regular size QA adapter from Horst or ATI etc. You'd need to have the Kioti bucket attachment modified if you did that but then you'd have a true "universal skid steer" QA.

 

[PA hayseed]

Thanks for the info. I am sure looking hard at the woods FEL, then looking back at the Kioti. GOtta squeeze every bit of use out of this tractor and its implements, cause i won't buy another again for some time.

 

[roller]

any news on the FEL issue?

 

[IslandTractor]

Standard skid steer is about 44 inches. I haven't measured the Kioti QA but it is about 36-38 inches wide. Vertical dimensions are exactly the same as universal skid steer. It will attach OK to universal skid steer devices but a skid steer would not attach to the Kioti bucket because the adapter on the bucket is only 36-38 inches or so wide. I don't understand why they made it narrower and it is the one thing about the new loader that I don't like much.

Correction: now that I have measured, the Kioti QA is 40 inches wide while standard skid steer would be a shade under or exactly 44". A standard skid steer implement is about 44.5 or 45 inches on the receiver width. Normally there is a tight fit but with the Kioti there is a gap of about 2 inches on each side but if the implement slides to one side the gap is 4 inches on one side.

Again, the Kioti QA does work with standard implements but I find this quirk annoying and without any benefit.

 

[IXLR8]

I got tired of waiting for a fix........and a kit is not for me. Look for the old arms on ebay. Maybe someone will want to do a modification on the old ones and then swap.

As I am looking at a good deal on a CK30, with the KL130 loader, this has become important to me. And I have not seen anything posted as to a real fix for this... and has got me thinking. Based on looking at HODAK's pictures, and my foggy memory from some Mechanical Engineering courses I took 35+ years ago. The reason for the cracking seems clear and the solution should be simple.

Maybe I am stating the obvious here. The load is being carried by the gussett and the tube up until the point where the gussett ends. Then all the loads are suddenly transfered to the tube alone. With the sudden transfer of load, the stress at this point is greater than what the tube can handle and it cracks. Based on reading what others have reported, the tube can handle the load, as the cracks only seem to go so far. It is the sudden transfer of load,at that point, that does it in. I would think that if you got a plate of steel, the same thickness as the gussett and welded it along the side that went from left gussett to right gussett, including part of the gussett, that you would fix the problem. After looking at this, assuming the KL120 is the same issue, the KL120 fix does seem more of a bolt on bandaid rather than a fix. It would make it more difficult to get at the hoses, how often do you need to do that? But if you eliminate the transfer of load from gussett AND tube to only tube you eliminate the stress at that junction and you eliminate the cracking. Hopefully I will get to see the loader first hand today and see if my theory can work.

 

[Gittyup]

I believe there are loaders that do not have the gussets, but do have the cracks. I think the gusset was Kioti's first feeble attempt to fix the cracking problem. Having one, if I were looking to buy a new machine that had that old style loader, I wouldn't do it. That loader is too weak for the tractors it's put onto. Get the dealer to replace it with the KL130B, or get it equipped with another brand.

 

[IXLR8]

Looking at the picture again.. it does look like an add-on, they should have taken it all the way across. They just moved the problem a few inches over. I think a properly tapered gussett that went all the way across could still leave access to the hoses and not have the cracking issue.

 

[DK35vince]

In my opinion gussets will not help it.
The access hole for the hoses shouldn't even be there causing the problem.
If I had one of these loaders I would put the hoses on the outside of the torque tube where they belong, plate the access hole shut, then plate the entire rear side of the torgue tube.

 

[Steve_Miller]

Not to get this subject going again but the torque tube only welds to the inside of the loader arms. This allows this area to flex more than it normally should with the stresses on it. Most if not all loaders have the torque pass through both sides of the loader arm making the framework much less prone to flagrant flexing. Metal and this much flexing over time spells trouble and it did show up. As you can all see, Kioti did learn and pass the torque tube completely through the loader arm. As for their reputation for a repair, that one seems to have failed for now.

Steve

 

[RedRocker]

Looking at the picture again.. it does look like an add-on, they should have taken it all the way across. They just moved the problem a few inches over. I think a properly tapered gussett that went all the way across could still leave access to the hoses and not have the cracking issue.

That was my thought when it first came up, run the gussett all the way across. If mine cracks that's what I'll do.