Loader letter arrived!

[IslandTractor]

Bird, the difference here is that I am not expecting Kioti to pay to transport my tractor for warranty service. I just want them to let me install the part. It seems just dumb to move a tractor that far to get a dozen bolts tightened. If I had a warranty issue that really required dealer support I would certainly expect to take the tractor to the dealer on my nickel.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Ed, I can understand your frustration and point of view, and I'd probably feel the same way. However, if you stop to think about it . . . I'll bet Kioti's warranty says that you have to return the tractor to a dealer.

Yes, but maybe the real question is not should this be covered under warranty, but should this be considered a recall? If this was a recall then Kioti would pay for the transport.

When my NH loader had to have 2 little brass fittings replaced, there was a recall issued, my dealer picked up the tractor, swapped the fittings, and returned the tractor. It was considered a safety issue. I'm still not sure why, but that what it was deemed. Had the brass fitting cracked, it seems to me the loader would have leaked down as fluid spilled out. I suppose if someone was dumb enough to bust the fitting, then raise the loader, then get off the tractor and stand under it while it lowered on them it would have crushed them . . . In any case, the loader was improperly designed if the original fittings were the design specified fittings.

In the case of IslandTractors loader the cracks are slowly growing. As long as the torque tube is not cracked through there is very little danger of anything happening but at some point if it cracks through then it will be unsafe to stand under! It would actually probably be unsafe to use because if the weight in the bucket was not evenly balanced there would be no torque tube to keep things level and the tractor might roll? In any case, it is about as unsafe as my NH was when they recalled my loader model. In this case, the torque tube was apparently improperly designed because it is cracking and if it ever did crack through, it would very likely be a safety hazard.

So I think the real question is should Kioti have issued a recall so customers don't incur transportation expenses because Kioti's loader was improperly designed?

Put differently, should a manufacturer of a consumer product, who improperly designs a product, force the consumer to pay to correct the manufacturer's mistake?

 

[Bird]

Bird, the difference here is that I am not expecting Kioti to pay to transport my tractor for warranty service. I just want them to let me install the part. It seems just dumb to move a tractor that far to get a dozen bolts tightened. If I had a warranty issue that really required dealer support I would certainly expect to take the tractor to the dealer on my nickel.

Sorry, Ed, I guess I misunderstood. And I agree with you. I guess I had something very similar happen a few years ago. When I had a Cub Cadet riding mower, one spindle on the mower deck seized while it was under warranty. I took it off, took it to the dealer from whom I bought the Cub Cadet, and he said, in order for him to warranty it, I'd have the bring the mower in and let him replace the spindle. That would have meant an extra 50 mile round trip, hooking up the trailer to haul it, etc. and maybe two trips if I had to leave it with him until he got to it, so I just paid for the new spindle. Then I wrote a letter to Cub Cadet. They responded that they had contacted the dealer and he would refund my money. The first time I went in, he said it would be two weeks before he could do it (less than $20 ). He did eventually send me a check, but needless to say he lost a customer.

 

[coasterez]

Island,

I'm in a similar boat with my KL130. Though, so far it hasn't cracked. I just accepted a dealer's offer to help out and have left it at that. I think we all know your position and I agree with it. I just don't think it's helpful to keep ranting on this forum. They obviously aren't listening to what is being said here, at least not carefully. Now to keep ranting at Kioti.... that's a different matter.

 

[IslandTractor]

Now to keep ranting at Kioti.... that's a different matter.

Well, they are going to get a break as I am on my way out of the country on business for two weeks. I'll start calling them again when I get home. Maybe by then I'll have my loader letter!

 

[rback33]

Well, they are going to get a break as I am on my way out of the country on business for two weeks. I'll start calling them again when I get home. Maybe by then I'll have my loader letter!

Now I could not give them the break.... My laptop goes with me almost everywhere and I would even post from Europe if I were over there.

 

[thcri]

Now I could not give them the break.... My laptop goes with me almost everywhere and I would even post from Europe if I were over there.

My laptop goes with me all the time. If I have a cell phone tower or a wireless in range I have internet access. That is pretty much all the time.


My question here is what happended to Highbeam? and what are they going to do with his loader after they attempted to fix it and made a mess out of it?


murph

 

[rback33]

My laptop goes with me all the time. If I have a cell phone tower or a wireless in range I have internet access. That is pretty much all the time.

Same here as of last week.

My question here is what happended to Highbeam? and what are they going to do with his loader after they attempted to fix it and made a mess out of it?


murph

That is an excellent question.....

 

[Highbeam]

\

My question here is what happended to Highbeam? and what are they going to do with his loader after they attempted to fix it and made a mess out of it?


murph

Oh I'm here. I'm still ticked. I have no use for this crack cover up contraption though since it will not fit on my hacked to heck loader frame so my input is limited. Kioti corporate has written to me that they would take care of me when the new loader design hits the street. I sent one email in about a month ago and was ignored and another broader email will soon follow.

So I continue to use my loader and my tractor. Hoping Kioti will come through as they promised.

No letter for me yet. The cracks in the photo on my initial post 13 months ago showed a clear extension from the inspection plate to and around the radius of the torque tube in all directions. So basicly half way around.

Every time someone new sees my tractor they ask if it's a Kubota. No it's a Kioti says me, just the same color but darn nice. Then they say what the heck is that on the loader. Oh, that's Kioti's too. Oh, they say and we try and find something else to talk about.

Keep ranting. Without people speaking up, the loader cracks would have been ignored.

 

[fcamillieri]

Bird, the difference here is that I am not expecting Kioti to pay to transport my tractor for warranty service. I just want them to let me install the part. It seems just dumb to move a tractor that far to get a dozen bolts tightened. If I had a warranty issue that really required dealer support I would certainly expect to take the tractor to the dealer on my nickel.

The dealer I bought from included free transport for service and I'm about 45 minutes from him. BTW I have one of the early loaders but don't have many hours on it. If it cracks I'll probably just weld a gusset on it.

Frank