Mechron's CVT? Who Makes It Now?

[DK35vince]

How could it possibly be built stronger than the RTV 500....those are little tanks. I'm not putting down Mechron either but I'd be surprised if it could take any more abuse than a RTV can......

I seriously doubt the Mechron is built and stronger. The RTV's are work machines too and both machines are slow.

 

[PapaPerk]

How could it possibly be built stronger than the RTV 500....those are little tanks. I'm not putting down Mechron either but I'd be surprised if it could take any more abuse than a RTV can.....

Misfire have you checked with any dealers about dropping a machine off at your property for a demo? Sounds like you've got some really hilly terrain and that being the case it would be nice to see how each handles the terrain where you're at....I'm thinking the hydro tranny will win you over when you're driving down hills...especially with a large load. That hydro tranny is the one thing I'm already missing on the new Gator, it really makes the handling great.

Ditto on the demo! Great idea

 

[B52]

The reason for the two year delay in the Kioti Mechron's arrival here has been attributed to their CVT supplier, Hoffco Comet, going belly up in late 2009. However, Kioti's Mechron literature still lists the CVT as a US made Comet model.

Does anyone know what the story is? As far as I can tell, Hoffco Comet is still out of business, with its assets sold off at auction. There is what appears to be a piece of the the old Hoffco Comet web site still operating, but I have not been able to find any business news source that indicates the company has been reconstituted. Dead web sites can sometimes hang around for years if the hosting company doesn't delete all the old files, so that might explain the part that is still up.

MainPage

Anyone know what gives? Kioti Dealers? How is the CVT currently sourced?

Thanks,
Misfire

.

Wondering what you found out as I am also close to buying a MECHRON. Did you eventually buy the MECHRON ?

.

 

[Misfire]

.

Wondering what you found out as I am also close to buying a MECHRON. Did you eventually buy the MECHRON ?

.

The only thing I found out is Kioti won't talk to you and doesn't even treat retail callers with repect. The following thread has the details.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/atvs-utility-vehicles/254275-one-call-kioti-usa-all.html

I bought a Kubota RTV500 instead.

 

[DrRick]

I bought mine as soon as they were out at the dealers. I have 2 fiends that also bought them after i did and they saw the units. I have some fairly steep areas that i traverse. I also have 2 older kawasaki mules that simply will not go up the hills in some areas. The belt just screeches and i roll down backwards. That is the main reason i chose the little diesel kioti. I also have found out how to go down the steep hills by using low range and keeping my foot barely on the throttle to keep the belt drive engaged. The engine back pressure slows me down just fine. I usually just creep up the hills in low range as well. I have not had any trouble to speak of on these units. I did try blasting up a steep hill in low and did get a bit of noise from the belt, then discovered that it does much better with less throttle - no belt complaints at all at lower speed.

 

[B52]

The reason for the two year delay in the Kioti Mechron's arrival here has been attributed to their CVT supplier, Hoffco Comet, going belly up in late 2009. However, Kioti's Mechron literature still lists the CVT as a US made Comet model.

Does anyone know what the story is? As far as I can tell, Hoffco Comet is still out of business, with its assets sold off at auction.

Anyone know what gives? Kioti Dealers? How is the CVT currently sourced?

Thanks,
Misfire

.

It looks like Certified Parts Corporation acquired the assets of Hoffco/Comet at the end of 2009. From a news article :

"Certified Parts Corporation (CPC), the Janesville, Wis. based company that purchased TecumsehPower Feb. 9, 2009, acquired certain assets of Hoffco/Comet in an auction Dec. 17.

CPC purchased Hoffco/Comet intellectual property, dies, fixtures and tooling, as well as its entire existing parts inventory, shelf by shelf. Although the shelves were somewhat bare, CPC still bought a large quantity of parts. CPC intends to maintain a complete line of replacement parts and is very confident that it will be able to manufacture complete finished product in the near future. Comet was in business for 60 years, making clutches for some of the worlds best known manufacturers. This a huge marriage between the Tecumseh engine and the Comet torque converter, which is a variable-speed transmission, said Jim Grafft, President and CEO of CPC. CPC hopes to start shipping in January 2010."

Link to their site : VINTAGE PARTS & HOFFCO/COMET Lauson power Certified Parts Corporation has Your Parts Cart for WetBikes, SurfJets, ATV's, PWC's, Mini-Bikes, Go-Karts, RV's, UTV's and Snowmobiles! OEM, aftermarket, and hard to find parts

With that said, I'm not sure what to think about future availability of parts. On various ATV type sites there are a lot of discussions about this. Some guys are having good luck with obtaining parts from the company, while others not so much so. I asked my closest Kioti dealer about the CVT in the Mechron and he said that as far as he knew it is made by Hoffco / Comet.

Darn, I do like that Mechron for a lot of reasons. But the CVT kind of scares me because some day you may need something for it and that would really suck if this company goes belly up again.

BTW Misfire, nice find on the Comet business. When I first started looking at the Mechron last spring I noted the Comet sourced CVT. I thought that was great, I remember buying parts from Comet 30 some years ago for one of my kids mini-bikes. I figured a Comet was an old company that would be around for a long time yet. I wonder who makes the CVT's for Yamaha, etc. ?

.

 

[Misfire]

.



Darn, I do like that Mechron for a lot of reasons. But the CVT kind of scares me because some day you may need something for it and that would really suck if this company goes belly up again.

BTW Misfire, nice find on the Comet business. When I first started looking at the Mechron last spring I noted the Comet sourced CVT. I thought that was great, I remember buying parts from Comet 30 some years ago for one of my kids mini-bikes. I figured a Comet was an old company that would be around for a long time yet. I wonder who makes the CVT's for Yamaha, etc. ?

.

Thanks.

I don't know who they are using these days. Maybe they make it themselves. Trying to find out, I ran smack dab into Connie, which has cured me of considering any more Kioti products.

I ended up with a Kubota RTV500 instead.