NX4510HST more issues

[Bigfish50]

For the sake of clarity I want to say that the "steering" protection I was talking about is not related to tie rod ends per se. Here is the video link from Eric that shows the boot(s) I'm talking about: Kioti NX6010 Up-Armor: steering guards - YouTube From the factory they are not protected and if you get into any brush they will get torn off. The solution should be to place a shield in front of them to prevent them getting ripped out.

 

[Bigfish50]

For the sake of clarity I want to say that the "steering" protection I was talking about is not related to tie rod ends per se. Here is the video link from Eric that shows the boot(s) I'm talking about on the steering rods: Kioti NX6010 Up-Armor: steering guards - YouTube From the factory they are not protected and if you get into any brush they will get torn off. The solution should be to place a shield in front of them to prevent them getting ripped out. From the video it seems he's already solved his issue but if you look at a stock NX and maybe others that boot is really exposed on the front.

 

[Bigfish50]

For the sake of clarity I want to say that the "steering" protection I was talking about is not related to tie rod ends per se. Here is the video link from Eric that shows the boot(s) I'm talking about on the steering rods: Kioti NX6010 Up-Armor: steering guards - YouTube From the factory they are not protected and if you get into any brush they will get torn off. The solution should be to place a shield in front of them to prevent them getting ripped out. From the video it seems he's already solved his issue but if you look at a stock NX and maybe others that boot is really exposed on the front.

 

[Bigfish50]

For the sake of clarity I want to say that the "steering" protection I was talking about is not related to tie rod ends per se. Here is the video link from Eric that shows the boot(s) I'm talking about on the steering rods: Kioti NX6010 Up-Armor: steering guards - YouTube From the factory they are not protected and if you get into any brush they will get torn off. The solution should be to place a shield in front of them to prevent them getting ripped out. From the video it seems he's already solved his issue but if you look at a stock NX and maybe others that boot is really exposed on the front.

 

[Bigfish50]

FYI, sorry for all the duplicate posts. Upon submission it was indicating a database error and I couldn't see where the posts were actually getting recorded. I've gone back to request the duplicates be deleted by way of the edit post function so hopefully an admin can assist. Thx.

 

[DieselBound]

I need to take a look at both my tractors. I can tell you, though, that my B7800 has been through brush that not many would tread through and (after putting on at least 1,100 hours) I have yet to rip a boot; I HAVE, however, broken a tie rod (TIP: if this ever happens to you you can still navigate by driving the tractor in reverse! the front end, despite the wheels wobbling around, will follow! limped the B7800 back home a distance of about 1/4 of a mile). Parts are a lot more for a bigger tractor, in case one may wish to reduce the potential cost risk.

 

[bas2754]

Wow -

I just placed our order for an NX4510HST and am awaiting delivery. Primary initial use is going to be working to clear out an acre or so of our 5 acres for differing purposes. 20 years of living here and the woods are winning. It is time to take it back. Anyway I may talk with the dealer prior to delivery to check the roll pins and inquire about what to do concerning protecting the rubber boots referenced in the video. Other than the things that have been noted in this thread, how do you like the tractor overall.

We went from looking at a CK3510HST to the NX4510HST (considered the DK, but wife was not thrilled with the shuttle shift). Loader and tractor overall just feels and seems beefier and better made. Dealer has his mechanics check over the tractor top to bottom prior to delivery so I am going to talk to them about looking at these noted items. Anything else I should take into consideration or have them look at?

Thank you for your willingness to share what you are experiencing.

 

[Bigfish50]

Welcome to the forum bas2754! I picked up my nx5010 a little over a month ago as of this writing and have logged a grand total of 12 hours on the tractor. Work commitments, rain, etc seem to keep getting in the way. Anyhow, mine is an HST and one of the reasons I chose that was because the wife would never get on a geared tractor. However, fast forward to 12 hours of mostly brush cutting with my 5 foot brush cutter and I'm impressed with the tractor thus far. PTO rpms stay where you put them and there is plenty of power to get up and down the hills on my farm. I'm sure others will chime in here with many other experiences but that's mine thus far. One of the things I did before I took delivery was to have the dealer turn all my wheels around for a wider stance since I have some steep grades on my place. This took my outside to outside R4 back tire measurements from 72" up to 77" which ultimately makes for a more stable tractor on an incline.

 

[Coyote machine]

<snip> I just hope the day never comes when something major happens and they give me a hard time after I bring in my tractor in for warranty work.

I've returned home recently, and had a chance to examine the steering rod and dust boots situation more closely.
I now remember what the issue was with my DK-40, which uses the same too short metal shield to protect the inner boot, NOT the tie-rod's/ball joint's boot.

As shown in the video linked below in Bigfish50's post; (though I found it hard to discern what had been done to the shield in the video, except possibly extend it toward the tire and make it give better coverage overall and underneath?) This is where the real issue occurs, at the outer end of the steering rod. That particular boot may not be available from any source other than Kioti as part of the entire rod assembly, at great expense. IIRC, it was about $150 a number of years ago when I inquired via my dealer.
To get a replacement boot installed one would still have to undo and remove the tie-rod /ball joint at the steering knuckle to 'break apart' the assembly and install a new steering rod end boot.

Anyway, since I was last here has anyone found a source for the boot, other than buying the whole steering shaft section with boot attached?

And, on another note; I wouldn't worry too much about how things would work out if you, the OP end up having to get something fixed under warranty at the dealer's shop. IF for some reason you do have a problem I suggest bringing it here first to work it out with those who have been down the road previously. Most often my experience has been things do get resolved to one's satisfaction with the help of other TBN members.:thumbsup:

For the sake of clarity I want to say that the "steering" protection I was talking about is not related to tie rod ends per se. Here is the video link from Eric that shows the boot(s) I'm talking about: Kioti NX6010 Up-Armor: steering guards - YouTube From the factory they are not protected and if you get into any brush they will get torn off. The solution should be to place a shield in front of them to prevent them getting ripped out.

I'm mostly in agreement with your above statement, though I'm not sure I totally agree with the text I marked in red above. Obviously each person's use may vary, but I think it is inaccurate that any brush use will tear the boots.
I do think Kioti should do a much better job in the area of the boot protection shield. It is totally inadequate and a more thought out engineering strategy is definitely warranted. This is, to me at least the actual Achilles heel of these tractors. Cars suffer a similar fate with their CV boots and damage to those is a costly enterprise, AND they don't usually see woods or brush work conditions to become torn. There may be some planned obsolescence going on here, even on Kioti's part. But it strikes me as foolish to put such a prone to damage part in harm's way....

 

[JimR]

I've returned home recently, and had a chance to examine the steering rod and dust boots situation more closely.
I now remember what the issue was with my DK-40, which uses the same too short metal shield to protect the inner boot, NOT the tie-rod's/ball joint's boot.]

I have looked hard at these steering guards on my NX4510 and they are useless. The guards cover the top of the tie rod, not the rubbers or the underside of the tie rods. They basically are two worthless pieces of steel installed to look good. Sometime in the near future I plan to make a set of useful guards to replace these. I'll post pictures and details afterwards. As for your tie rod boots. I would remove one of them and get all the dimensions of its size. I would do a serious search for them on the intenet. I'm sure that somebody out there has a replacement for them or a rubber boot that would come close to what you have.

 

[Bigfish50]

Fair enough on the comments in RED. Guess I'm thinking about moving thru grown up fields and in and around brush piles where damaging the boots could occur since they are unprotected. Definitely will continue to follow this thread for updates as well. If I have the time I may try to pull one off and go see if a replacement could be fabricated locally. While Eric's design protects the boots when straight I don't think they are long enough to protect them when the wheels are turned. May be a reason for that but can't confirm since weather and other commitments have kept me and the tractor apart :-(

 

[DieselBound]

I have run my B7800 through some of the nastiest stuff you're ever going to find and I have never torn one of its boots. However, I did manage to break one of the tie rod ends once. I've also managed to pop off the main hydraulic return line which is tucked WAY up inside the core frame channel. My point here is that sometimes you hit something just right, and most of the time you miss. Seems that no matter what there's always going to be something that's going to bypass any defense system we put in place. Yeah, it sucks when you take the hit.

 

[Bigfish50]

DieselBound, does the B7800 have the same issue with exposed steering boots? I agree with those statements too. I'll be watching for the boots to get ripped then some other part will get damaged Sometimes you just can't avoid Murphy.. LOL

 

[Coyote machine]

QUOTE: Coyote machine~I've returned home recently, and had a chance to examine the steering rod and dust boots situation more closely.
I now remember what the issue was with my DK-40, which uses the same too short metal shield to protect the inner boot, NOT the tie-rod's/ball joint's boot.

JimR stated: I have looked hard at these steering guards on my NX4510 and they are useless. The guards cover the top of the tie rod, not the rubbers or the underside of the tie rods. They basically are two worthless pieces of steel installed to look good. Sometime in the near future I plan to make a set of useful guards to replace these. I'll post pictures and details afterwards. Cool!

As for your tie rod boots. I would remove one of them and get all the dimensions of its size. I would do a serious search for them on the intenet. I'm sure that somebody out there has a replacement for them or a rubber boot that would come close to what you have.
[/QUOTE]

I'm saying:
Jim R, we're still speaking about two different things. I made the mistake earlier in one of my first posts in this thread about tie-rod end boots when in fact the issue is the STEERING ARM's dust boot which is the only thing partially protected by Kioti's factory supplied and totally inadequate metal shield, you referenced above. I'm re stating this clarification so people who read this thread will hopefully be able to make sense of just what the problem is and what possible solutions may be. BTW, I did reference a site that may have tie-rod boots that could fit Kioti's, possibly, in case anyone is looking for a source for that particular boot.
I hope you do come up with a workable mod for the crappy current steering rod shield that comes on the tractors from the factory.
Power to you on that!:thumbsup:

 

[DieselBound]

I'd have to look. I might be confusing things with other linkage boots. As a matter of fact, I HAVE ripped other things (steering related) and just let them go: probably been like that for a LONG time.

I do know that there's no way I'm going to be thrashing the Kioti through brush like I had done (and still will do, though less than I used to) with the B7800. I would literally be climbing on top of brush with the B7800. As much as Mr Murphy pesters me I'd have to say that I probably have been pretty darn lucky!