King Kutter Quality

1M05 · Jan 19, 2018

I thought my back blade was bent until I realized they welded the blade to the frame crooked!

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

buckeyefarmer · Jan 20, 2018

Quality is job none.

mddorange · Jan 20, 2018

1M05 said:
I thought my back blade was bent until I realized they welded the blade to the frame crooked!

I would have thought that you would have noticed that before you used it and taken it back.

buckeyefarmer · Jan 20, 2018

I bought a box blade from tsc once, got it home before i noticed broken welds. Took it right back, never bought one again. Cant remember what i was going to use it for now.

dragoneggs · Jan 20, 2018

I think I would take that back regardless of use. That is unacceptable.

The Deerslayer · Jan 20, 2018

dragoneggs said:
I think I would take that back regardless of use. That is unacceptable.

^^^^^^^
What he said.Minimally, contact the manufacturer and send them pics.

LD1 · Jan 20, 2018

Maybe the OP bought it new??? Maybe he is just now noticing?

But to me....that looks like a used POS blade someone picked up on c-list for $100 or less

fried1765 · Jan 20, 2018

LD1 said:
Maybe the OP bought it new??? Maybe he is just now noticing?

But to me....that looks like a used POS blade someone picked up on c-list for $100 or less

Agreed!
That Blade has been around somewhere for a VERY long time!
Look at the rust!
No one noticed the alignment issue until now?

I had a very minor fabrication issue with my new KK tiller.
I called, and they sent me free replacement parts.

I had a minor issue with their new blade also, but I fixed it myself.
From my experience their quality control is somewhat lacking, but their attachments are rock solid.

Their paint adhesion is TERRIBLE!
NO acid wash, and NO primer!

KenB2920 · Jan 20, 2018

Get what you pay for. I have a few of their implements that’s I’ve purchased both new and used. No complaints from me.

I bought a brush hog that still works well that I’ve literally abused. It’s wore to the point I may be dumping it and getting another new one.

I have a box blade from them that seems to do what it’s suppose to. Granted I’ve not slammed it into anything causing it to bend.

Tiller, I’m on my second tiller. I beat the heck out of the 1st one and broke a few things on it but it took the punishment well. The 6’ I now have has cracked a weld but again it has taken some abuse. If I simply used it as just home owner grade, I don’t think I could wear them out.

Your back blade welds do seem to be a bit crooked. I would not be happy. That said, you can just adjust the three point arm and your good.

Phillip w · Jan 20, 2018

Can't speak for their blades. I got a brush bog and tiller that are king kutter and they do ok. I got a little woods blade and a big ox brand blade. The big ox blade is pretty heavy duty. I'm satisfied with my blades.

Slowpoke Slim · Jan 20, 2018

I have a KK landscape rake. It seems to be welded straight, as far as I've noticed. Can't complain, it seems to "rake" ok.

DK35vince · Jan 20, 2018

I have several King Kutter attachments. 6' tiller, 6' box blade, 6' rake, 6' brush mower.
They all work fine.
I had a 7' King Kutter light duty rear blade like the OP pictured. I didn't like it at all. Where the pin when in/out for angling the blade was cheesy and would bend easily.
I replaced that KK light duty rear blade with a 7' King Kutter pro series rear blade and it is built MUCH better. I like the Pro series blade.

kthompson · Jan 20, 2018

I bought rear blade several years ago based upon their saying what HP tractor it was rated for. Used in on tractor several HP lower that blade was suppose to be made for. Liked the design but I think every weld that held the blade mount broken. My first and last KK implement. Might be wrong but not sure the dealer who has several locations carries KK any longer.

dragoneggs · Jan 20, 2018

1M05 said:
I thought my back blade was bent until I realized they welded the blade to the frame crooked!

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

This looks like a Monday morning weld.

Sawyer Rob · Jan 20, 2018

I had a customer who hired me to till his field, I show up with my tractor/Howard tiller and he tells me how his rocks have killed his tiller...

So anyway, as I drive around his barn, there is two KK tillers, both with blown gears in the side gear drive! It looked like one had been robbed to keep the other one going, but both were now dead.

Well, I tilled his field and yes he did have rocks, but they didn't kill my Howard.

I bet that happened about a thousand acres ago, (which is closing in on TWO thousand acres now) all on my 6' Howard and it's STILL on it's original chain/sprockets!

SR

1M05 · Jan 20, 2018

The Deerslayer said:
^^^^^^^
What he said.Minimally, contact the manufacturer and send them pics.

I contacted King Kutter and sent them pictures. They never even sent me a reply.

1M05 · Jan 20, 2018

dragoneggs said:
This looks like a Monday morning weld.

After a hard weekend. I've have a King Kutter rototiller for about 10 years now. No complaints with that.

I'll cut the blade off and weld it back on straight. Not a huge problem, I just think a "sorry, we'll try harder next time" from King Kutter wouldn't have been too much to ask. Shi.. err stuff happens. Acknowledge it and move on. At least if you want me to give you my hard earned money. If your company doesn't care about me, there are far too many that do for me to waste my time and money on those who don't.

dragoneggs · Jan 21, 2018

1M05 said:
I contacted King Kutter and sent them pictures. They never even sent me a reply.

Yeah that is pretty sad customer service. You might want to try to elevate your complaint at King Kutter. If I was running the company, I sure would want to know. How old is it?

Phillip w · Jan 21, 2018

I might be wrong, but I kind of know a thing or two about ag manufacturing. Can't say how kk does things. Alot of stuff is set up in jigs and then welded. I wonder if a new guy or a guy that didn't build blades normally got all screwed up when he set it up in the jig. No matter what happened, it should not have made it out the door. When I ordered my kk brush hog, the sent me the wrong pto shaft. I called a king kutter place I think it was in Alabama. Spoke to a customer service guy and they sent the right pto shaft. I said what do I do with the one that don't fit??? He said keep it. I think if you got the right person on the phone the work with you to get things right.

DK35vince · Jan 21, 2018

Sawyer Rob said:
I had a customer who hired me to till his field, I show up with my tractor/Howard tiller and he tells me how his rocks have killed his tiller...

So anyway, as I drive around his barn, there is two KK tillers, both with blown gears in the side gear drive! It looked like one had been robbed to keep the other one going, but both were now dead.

Well, I tilled his field and yes he did have rocks, but they didn't kill my Howard.

I bet that happened about a thousand acres ago, (which is closing in on TWO thousand acres now) all on my 6' Howard and it's STILL on it's original chain/sprockets!

SR

A lot of KK tillers owners on this site over the years and I don't recall ever reading about side gear issues on a KK II tiller.
I thought that was what a properly setup and maintained slip clutch was for, to prevent damage to the tractor and tiller gear boxes.
I jammed my KK tiller many times with rocks and once found a buried metal fence post that wrapped around he tines and jammed the tiller (needed to be cut out with a torch).
It would simply slip the clutch not damage to the gearbox.