Should I Regret Buying A Kioti?

[skyhook]

Good luck with it Guy. I would just about bet money that over charging is the problem. But you can never be sure without measuring the charging voltage. Let us know how it checks out, and we will continue to offer advice as best we know how.

:thumbsup:

 

[Navasot]

You can spray terminal protectant on your batteries to keep this from happening. cleaning your terminals, electrical connections, grounds should be a part of your normal maintenance with any brand tractor. Not that you need to do it every time you service your tractor, but giving your tractor a look over before you take off to do your daily work isn't very had to do.

 

[AchingBack]

I understand your thinking, but there is no way that loader work, or anything else you do with your tractor should cause a leaky battery. I'm assuming that tractor manufacturers understand the uses and abuses that their customers put their equipment through. The battery in my truck, which is driven on poorly maintained country roads take much more of a beating than the low speed work most tractors are used for.

If the batteries in off road vehicles (ATV's, UTV's, trucks, etc.) can hold up to the much higher speed beating they are put through, there is no reason batteries installed in tractors should not be able to take the minor bouncing around that they receive.

Ok. To get back on track. If you did get a faulty battery, Kioti corporate is at fault. As far as the repair to your new and expensive tractor, your dealer needs to make it right. Dealers can only get away with what we allow them to. Without funding through customer dollars, they will eventually go out of business. As all things in life should be, reward the good and punish the bad.

Maybe it isn't due to any loader work, but maybe it could be. Anyway, according to OPTIMA, vibration can be a problem.


Benefits of OPTIMA Batteries

Up to 2X Longer Life
Durable construction and high resistance to extreme temperature and vibration are why OPTIMA batteries last up to 2 times longer than ordinary batteries.
Strongest 5-Second Starting Power
OPTIMA batteries deliver a higher level of power to the starter in the critical first 5 seconds of the vehicle starting cycle.
Leak-Proof & Maintenance-Free
Tightly sealed cells allow for mounting in multiple positions without leaking or damaging your vehicle.
Resistant to All Damaging Factors
OPTIMA batteries are corrosion resistant and ideal for all types of weather and temperatures.
Over 15X More Vibration Resistance
Damage from vibration can cause battery failure, but the cells in an OPTIMA battery are tightly compressed to withstand even the most severe vibration conditions. I don't think the places you drive your truck has any relationship to tractor work. Granted, if you are using your tractor for mowing on flat smooth ground, it may not cause much vibration. However, operating a tractor with a variety of implements: rakes, blades, backhoe, bush hog, etc., is different than your bouncing around in a truck with a totally different suspension system.

 

[boggen]

manufacture to manufacture, model to model, batteries are just like everything else.

same manufacture, has different ratings, and manufactures, put out some cheap stuff, to well made stuff (what ever a given person / penny pincher asks for), and then mix/matching batteries to wrong application, can make a good battery, a bad battery.

like everything there are bad batches of stuff that can get pass inspection, a specific tool or sensor going bad, during creation of product, but not going complete bad, and giving false readings. to other.

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get your battery replaced under warranty at bare min. i have had to return couple batteries from various things over the years, for being bad, right out of the box (just bought new), picked up a new one, and never again an issue with battery, exact same make/model.

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i didn't read everything, but would agree with others, have your charging system double checked. to make sure battery is not being "over charged".

if your dealer is close, and you have a truck/trailer to get it there, then take it in, and let dealer check things out under warranty / deal with issue, non of this back and forth crud, put tractor on there lot and let them deal with it. you showing pictures isn't doing much for them, if they can not dig into the problem and check things out. pictures = a shrug. of ya what do you want me to do about it? it is not there for them to deal with.

if you have to pay for tractor to be hauled to dealer, then ya pictures and taken current battery in for replacement = first thing, and push issue of paint redone / touched up. and see about cost of hauling also covered. along with charging system checked.

 

[Texasmark]

Happens with Bobcats too; so this is a Daedong-wide problem.

In fact, I need to remove my battery this weekend and wire brush all the rust off, sand it, and repaint it with corrosion resistant paint. Put a plastic battery pan in before replacing the battery. That should cut down or even stop future spill corrosion problems.

If you have room and want more, black plastic cases that attach to your equipment and have a retaining strap are readily available, probably in the SG dept of WW. I have only seen them in use with marine batteries, but a battery is a battery. You get 100% coverage rather than just a tray which, if fluid present can slosh out. They primarily come in sizes 24 and 27.

Mark

 

[paulfun9]

Well thanks to your post, You got me to think about the mess the battery tray and area under it became over the years on the JD. SO today I went and purchased a black marine battery box from tractor supply and installed it in the DK. This should help everything out as the battery gets older.

A little work taking the air filter out and fabbing a bracket to hold the battery without cutting up the box. The only downside I see is that if I need to jump it or put it on the charger I have to pull the strap loose to get at the terminals. The box fit in nicely once the rubber piece that is glued to the backside of the tray was removed and its a little tight between the lid and the horn but a little twist of the mounting for the horn and all fits well.

 

[Threepoint]

After getting my L3130, I added LED work lights, and then this little LED voltmeter (waterproof, maybe $5 from China) just to be able to see what the charging system is doing. I had real gauges on my last Kubota, and I like having more than an idiot light. And, after having alternator issues in my Subaru, I invested $3.50 in this little LED voltmeter that plugs into a lighter/convenience outlet, and lets me know just what is going on in about any vehicle. FWIW, these came from China, where I often order such things online, and so far I have great luck with all the stuff being what I wanted, and showing up.

View attachment 397669View attachment 397670View attachment 397668

Very nice. I like the way you've installed the digital meter in the dash.

When you say you order from China, are you doing it directly (e.g., through Alibaba)? Or perhaps through eBay.

 

[GuyInHuntsville]

Very nice. I like the way you've installed the digital meter in the dash.

When you say you order from China, are you doing it directly (e.g., through Alibaba)? Or perhaps through eBay.

I found varmint's meter on Amazon. There are others on there that are wired and not just for 12V cigarette lighter. Amazon.com : Mini LED Display Digital Car Voltmeter 12V/24V Vehicle Voltage Gauge : Automotive Electronic Security Products : Car Electronics
I don't know enough about this stuff to know how to install one of these to my tractor but it would be nice...I'll be looking into what's involved.

 

[varmint]

Guys, I will shop both eBay and Amazon... I think I found the in-dash meter thru eBay. I ordered directly from the vendor thru eBay using Pay Pal. If the vendor has an okay record, and the ones I have used always do, since that is one criteria for me, they usually do fine with delivery. It looks like mutlitple vendors will list the same device, so you takes your pick. Delivery usally takes a week or two, (maybe 3 weeks in the case of one item, but the price was so low, it was almost free) but obviously China subsidizes the mail, since shipping is often free for the buyer. I have ordered perhaps 12 items that way, and each purchase arrived in fine shape, working, no problems. If I get something that goes wrong, for the price, I will continue trusting until I have a run of trouble. Keep in mind, much of what I order this way is not readliy available locally: I have to order it from somewhere. Since it is made in China to begin with, why not order it from there?
Wiring it: a red wire goes to any (switched, of course, since you don't want the thing on 24-7) power source, almost zero drain, so the source doesn't matter, and the black wire goes to any ground. Done. If it will sit exposed, be sure to get a "waterproof" device. I used a tiny bead of silicone sealant around the meter so water couldn't get behind the plastic dash.

For the price, it is a worthwhile indicator of potential problems with your alternator or battery, IMHO. I got the lighter plug in meter when my car had battery issues (well, after I had battery issues...) with the idea that in the future, it would be easy to monitor such potential issues.

 

[Threepoint]

Guys, I will shop both eBay and Amazon... I think I found the in-dash meter thru eBay. I ordered directly from the vendor thru eBay using Pay Pal. If the vendor has an okay record, and the ones I have used always do, since that is one criteria for me, they usually do fine with delivery. It looks like mutlitple vendors will list the same device, so you takes your pick. Delivery usally takes a week or two, (maybe 3 weeks in the case of one item, but the price was so low, it was almost free) but obviously China subsidizes the mail, since shipping is often free for the buyer. I have ordered perhaps 12 items that way, and each purchase arrived in fine shape, working, no problems. If I get something that goes wrong, for the price, I will continue trusting until I have a run of trouble. Keep in mind, much of what I order this way is not readliy available locally: I have to order it from somewhere. Since it is made in China to begin with, why not order it from there?
Wiring it: a red wire goes to any (switched, of course, since you don't want the thing on 24-7) power source, almost zero drain, so the source doesn't matter, and the black wire goes to any ground. Done. If it will sit exposed, be sure to get a "waterproof" device. I used a tiny bead of silicone sealant around the meter so water couldn't get behind the plastic dash.

For the price, it is a worthwhile indicator of potential problems with your alternator or battery, IMHO. I got the lighter plug in meter when my car had battery issues (well, after I had battery issues...) with the idea that in the future, it would be easy to monitor such potential issues.

Thanks, Varmint. I was curious whether you used Alibaba, in particular, as their growth so far suggests they're becoming a game changer for cheap direct imports for small business. But minimum quantity requirements seem to be the quid pro quo for the low prices. I agree with you about eBay for this kind of thing, and paying through PayPal minimizes risk. I've no doubt that many of the stateside eBay sellers are buying in bulk through Alibaba and reselling.

OP, this isn't to hijack your thread, BTW! An in-dash digital voltage meter would be handy to have once you sort out your battery issue. Searching eBay for "digital voltage meter" brings up a bunch.