My letter to Kioti, loader rerepair, long

[Steve_Miller]

<font color="orange"> Raise my hand, I'll readily admit that I am not a structural engineer. I was just making a WAG as to why it appears as if Kioti is taking their time on this issue. My only point was that there possibly could be more to fixing the cracks than topically meets the eye. I am one hundred percent certain that they have structural engineers on the payroll who can calculate the additional stresses created in other areas if you make that cross member where it has zero flex. Maybe there is no issue, and maybe they are just verifying that. I am only guessing that there is some method to their process.</font>

I agree with you Dargo, I think there's more to this than just the cracks. I think that they are going to streghthen the whole loader somehow or other as this cracking is a result of metal fatique due to the flexing of the loader frame. It's too much flex for my liking but hey, I bought it and I'll live with it. Give them time, they'll come through (I hope) or die trying.

Steve /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Steve_Miller]

<font color="orange"> Raise my hand, I'll readily admit that I am not a structural engineer. I was just making a WAG as to why it appears as if Kioti is taking their time on this issue. My only point was that there possibly could be more to fixing the cracks than topically meets the eye. I am one hundred percent certain that they have structural engineers on the payroll who can calculate the additional stresses created in other areas if you make that cross member where it has zero flex. Maybe there is no issue, and maybe they are just verifying that. I am only guessing that there is some method to their process.</font>

I agree with you Dargo, I think there's more to this than just the cracks. I think that they are going to streghthen the whole loader somehow or other as this cracking is a result of metal fatique due to the flexing of the loader frame. It's too much flex for my liking but hey, I bought it and I'll live with it. Give them time, they'll come through (I hope) or die trying.

Steve /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Highbeam]

Don, Tractorlegend's dealer is more of the popsicle stand type dealer. I think he was talking about himself. My dealer is indeed much more than a popsicle stand but their professional welder subcontractor was a poor choice.

 

[Highbeam]

Don, Tractorlegend's dealer is more of the popsicle stand type dealer. I think he was talking about himself. My dealer is indeed much more than a popsicle stand but their professional welder subcontractor was a poor choice.

 

[Steverino]

Well I just joined the crack club.!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif See Attachment. This is the same scenario on both ends of my KL-130 Loader purchased August 2005 and now with 90 hrs of operation. With my membership I now too firmly insist that Kioti devises a Kioti certified repair. I agree with Island tractor and I too will hold off bringing mine in for repair until Kioti sends the dealers a service bulletin. I will however get on record before my warranty expires. A universal fix should be standard for all loaders of this design. I intend to contact my favorite deal and see if they would be willing to adopt me for my warranty repairs. (I am not going to contact the one from whom I purchased my rig, inasmuch as I have been ill treated by them in the past and now for all practical purposes am orphaned, Also, in all fairness with past history set aside, this as with most other mechanical issues it would be way out of their league.)

As for the repair itself, it would seem to me that in addition to beefing up the existing cross member. Additional strengthening could be accomplished by adding tubing north and south at intermittent intervals where practicable, to the front portion of the of the loader arms, e.g. a ladder effect. This in conjunction to beefing up the existing cross member would add rigidity and reduce the twisting force, which I believe is the most probable force causing the cracking.

I do not discount inferior metals or welding but as a starting point from where we are, we have to consider the most probable fix we will get from Kioti which will be to retain what we already have and improve it to functionality. Also I expressed to Highbeam at the onset of his troubles that the removal of the hydraulic lines from within the cross-member and mounting them externally in steel pipe would allow for the plating over the entire cross-member and creating a solid structure. This may be what is required as well or a combination of the suggestions expressed throughout this thread.

As for transportation of the loader for repair, I do not believe that it is necessary for the tractor to be present for the repair, so please don’t forget that the loader detaches from the tractor rather easily and could be transported in the bed of a pickup truck or small utility trailer.

Come-on Kioti! Lets get shaking, people have work to do and everyone is suffering including Kioti’s reputation! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Steverino]

Well I just joined the crack club.!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif See Attachment. This is the same scenario on both ends of my KL-130 Loader purchased August 2005 and now with 90 hrs of operation. With my membership I now too firmly insist that Kioti devises a Kioti certified repair. I agree with Island tractor and I too will hold off bringing mine in for repair until Kioti sends the dealers a service bulletin. I will however get on record before my warranty expires. A universal fix should be standard for all loaders of this design. I intend to contact my favorite deal and see if they would be willing to adopt me for my warranty repairs. (I am not going to contact the one from whom I purchased my rig, inasmuch as I have been ill treated by them in the past and now for all practical purposes am orphaned, Also, in all fairness with past history set aside, this as with most other mechanical issues it would be way out of their league.)

As for the repair itself, it would seem to me that in addition to beefing up the existing cross member. Additional strengthening could be accomplished by adding tubing north and south at intermittent intervals where practicable, to the front portion of the of the loader arms, e.g. a ladder effect. This in conjunction to beefing up the existing cross member would add rigidity and reduce the twisting force, which I believe is the most probable force causing the cracking.

I do not discount inferior metals or welding but as a starting point from where we are, we have to consider the most probable fix we will get from Kioti which will be to retain what we already have and improve it to functionality. Also I expressed to Highbeam at the onset of his troubles that the removal of the hydraulic lines from within the cross-member and mounting them externally in steel pipe would allow for the plating over the entire cross-member and creating a solid structure. This may be what is required as well or a combination of the suggestions expressed throughout this thread.

As for transportation of the loader for repair, I do not believe that it is necessary for the tractor to be present for the repair, so please don’t forget that the loader detaches from the tractor rather easily and could be transported in the bed of a pickup truck or small utility trailer.

Come-on Kioti! Lets get shaking, people have work to do and everyone is suffering including Kioti’s reputation! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[MotorSeven]

I was thinking the same thing when you chimed-in. Before that (revelation), i was also thinking of doing the same type of repair that Bob drew, then Steverino's gusseted cracks.....hmmmmm /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif It does look like it will be best to wait on the Kioti recommended repair, but this may take awhile. I won't know untill July if i have cracks, but i feel sorry for those that are looking at them right now on a machine that is still under warranty. For those that do, i suggest pic's and a letter to Kioti, we the customer have the burden of letting Kioti know just how many cracked loaders are out there, because the more they see the more that this particular problem will move up the food chain. We cannot assume that Kioti is aware of the scope of this failure. And then the burden is on Kioti to do something in hopefully a timely manner. Besides, i will benifit most from y'all doing all the work before i check my crack(s).... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Sorry, but if we can't laugh a little we will be much too grumpy /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif!
RD

 

[MotorSeven]

I was thinking the same thing when you chimed-in. Before that (revelation), i was also thinking of doing the same type of repair that Bob drew, then Steverino's gusseted cracks.....hmmmmm /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif It does look like it will be best to wait on the Kioti recommended repair, but this may take awhile. I won't know untill July if i have cracks, but i feel sorry for those that are looking at them right now on a machine that is still under warranty. For those that do, i suggest pic's and a letter to Kioti, we the customer have the burden of letting Kioti know just how many cracked loaders are out there, because the more they see the more that this particular problem will move up the food chain. We cannot assume that Kioti is aware of the scope of this failure. And then the burden is on Kioti to do something in hopefully a timely manner. Besides, i will benifit most from y'all doing all the work before i check my crack(s).... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Sorry, but if we can't laugh a little we will be much too grumpy /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif!
RD

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="blue">given the difficulties of dealing with all those holes and needing to change the bolts for the access plate, wouldn't it be simpler to just engineer the same basic fix (full width extra strengthening plate) on to the opposite side of the cross piece? The flat side with no holes to work around. Just weld the cracks then add the support piece to the other side of the cross piece.</font>

Island, I think you would find a double thick side weaker and more flexible. Think of a piece of box steel, it can have modestly thin walls and still be far more rigid than a piece of thicker bar stock.

But if you don't want to deal with the holes, then simply cover the holes completely with a piece of steel and run rigid hydraulic lines across the outside of the that cross piece. The vast majority of the loaders have their hydraulic lines running on the surface of the loader not inside the cross braces.


BTW, I had not considered the point that Dargo brought up. That does warrent serious consideration.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="blue">given the difficulties of dealing with all those holes and needing to change the bolts for the access plate, wouldn't it be simpler to just engineer the same basic fix (full width extra strengthening plate) on to the opposite side of the cross piece? The flat side with no holes to work around. Just weld the cracks then add the support piece to the other side of the cross piece.</font>

Island, I think you would find a double thick side weaker and more flexible. Think of a piece of box steel, it can have modestly thin walls and still be far more rigid than a piece of thicker bar stock.

But if you don't want to deal with the holes, then simply cover the holes completely with a piece of steel and run rigid hydraulic lines across the outside of the that cross piece. The vast majority of the loaders have their hydraulic lines running on the surface of the loader not inside the cross braces.


BTW, I had not considered the point that Dargo brought up. That does warrent serious consideration.