3-Point Hitch Do you know Brian Faulkner at Kioti - or his manager(s) ?

[murphy1244]

I wonder if a paying customer would have the same troubles with corporate.

 

[PetersenRockFarm]

This may be something you don't want to hear, but here goes. I think you aren't going to have much luck on the current path.

Selling tractors and repairing tractors are two completely different businesses and run by completely different types of people. Years ago I ran a mechanical repair shop with a dozen employees where we could and would repair almost anything - from heavy equipment to washing machines. But small dealerships don't usually have that ability.

I see you are in New England - I would have thought that if any place still had independent repair shops that would be the place.

Bottom line is that the techs at a dealership are often not mechanics at all, but more likely to be technicians that replace components under warranty. Even if they agree to do the job, this job may be beyond their ability. It sounds to me like you need the more complete type of mechanical shop that can repair the 3pt assembly.

Just so you know, 3pt assemblies are all roughly the same the world over, and have been around for 50 years. They don't need a factory tech to fix a 3pt. Some 3pts are sensitive to their mechanical assemblies going "over center" and getting locked up - particularly if they have been stressed. I don't know what type of backhoe you had on there, but if it is a 3pt type rather than a frame mount then it may need the attention of a real mechanic.

If I were you I would quit trying to get the dealership to do something that they may not be able to do. Find a competent independent shop and have them go pick it up - or do it yourself. It sounds like it isn'tunder warranty anyway. BTW, the independent shop will need to have the shop manual and the parts manual for your tractor, and you should have both anyway. Roughly $100 each. So you can save time by providing those.
good luck,
rScotty

Good morning rScotty.
Thank you for the input and advice, good stuff to know. Yes, I bought the service manual within a couple months as I knew I'm better of figuring things out myself (most times ). I agree, the dealers are techs working on swapping parts under warranty, factory paid stuff. I did not know most 3 pt hydraulic assemblies were similar in design, thank you, that will help going forward.

I never bought the back hoe for this machine, I knew I'd be disappointed because of the chores I'd want to do with it. I'm holding off to buy an excavator . The issue started with the 'jumping' (bad original MEC valve?) the first day I ran the Woods BB720 bush hog with it. I ran an Igland logging winch and had a ballast weight on the 3 PT, that's been it. No issues with Igland, and ballast weight goes up and down just fine, and holds position when shut off (if I forgot to lower it).

We'll see what the dealer says tomorrow morning when they open. Since Friday July 31, 2020, the dealer Profile Powersports, Conway NH, was supposed to be working on getting the regional Kioti Service Rep here on site for Tuesday Aug 4th morning (dealer is closed Sun & Mon). The dealer said they were talking with Brian Faulkner at Kioti HQ to arrange this...

I am in agreement that it's highly likely the Regional Rep will not be solving anything when he shows up...but I will wait to see. If the rep is not at Profile Powersports Conway NH tomorrow when they open and/or there is no ETA of Kioti rep, the conversation will be to get my tractor back to my farm ASAP. At that point I'll start looking for an alternative hydraulic/mechanical shop. I also thought of asking Kioti to recommend another dealer...I'm not sure if that would be of use or not.? One of earlier replies someone mentioned a dealer in Littleton, MA, they are on short list to call.

thanks again everyone.
Erik

 

[justman777]

Erik,

Can you fully describe the issue you're having? For context, my three point would intermittently "jump" on me while using the tractor. My "jumping" turned out to be the three point dropping down, and the tractor abruptly bringing the three point back to the set point. Shook the whole tractor when it happened, and happened more when I had my 1K ballast on the rear. Seemed to happen every 2-3 minutes. Is yours similar?

 

[PetersenRockFarm]

I wonder if a paying customer would have the same troubles with corporate.

This is a paying customer not in warranty from what I am being told (if that's what you are referring to).

thank you
Erik

 

[PetersenRockFarm]

Erik,

Can you fully describe the issue you're having? For context, my three point would intermittently "jump" on me while using the tractor. My "jumping" turned out to be the three point dropping down, and the tractor abruptly bringing the three point back to the set point. Shook the whole tractor when it happened, and happened more when I had my 1K ballast on the rear. Seemed to happen every 2-3 minutes. Is yours similar?

Hi Justman777, yes, similar but not exactly - it only happens with the Woods BB720 Bush Hog attached, not the ballast nor the Igland logging winch. Maybe the Woods BB720 weighs more than my ballast? Only felt that 'jump' with the Woods bush hog. PTO on, or off, attachment high, low, moving fast or slow didn't matter... you feel it right under your butt, like a skip. If you remove the seat there is an access cover to the 3 PT Hydraulic System Group - under that access panel there is a valve about the size of a fist. My dealer is calling it the MEC Valve. He showed me where it failed, there is a knurled screw/bolt on the top of it, it's supposed to screw in and out for an adjustment, the threads on that were stripped and the knurled adjustment screw/bolt would travel straight in and out (not twist on the threads as it should). After replacing that MEC Valve twice, now the arms don't go up or down with old (original valve) or the 2 new ones they received.

 

[justman777]

Erik,

I believe the dealer is referring to the MLS. That's the only valve that's under the seat that I'm aware of. Should be similar to (but not exactly like) what's in this video. Kioti CK2S Tractor MLS Valve Adjustment on 3 PT Hitch - YouTube

Note the MLS controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to the three point. With the valve fully closed, I believe it locks the three point into position. I would hope a dealer tech is familiar with how the MLS operates, but you never know...

 

[PetersenRockFarm]

Erik,

I believe the dealer is referring to the MLS. That's the only valve that's under the seat that I'm aware of. Should be similar to (but not exactly like) what's in this video. Kioti CK2S Tractor MLS Valve Adjustment on 3 PT Hitch - YouTube

Note the MLS controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to the three point. With the valve fully closed, I believe it locks the three point into position. I would hope a dealer tech is familiar with how the MLS operates, but you never know...

Yes, that's it, for some reason he keeps calling it the MEC Valve. And yes, they have tried overriding that valve to make 3 pt go up or down, and they cannot override it either. I can't comment on what they know or don't about this valve, other than they've replaced it twice and now can't get arms to go up or down at all.

 

[justman777]

Yes, that's it, for some reason he keeps calling it the MEC Valve. And yes, they have tried overriding that valve to make 3 pt go up or down, and they cannot override it either. I can't comment on what they know or don't about this valve, other than they've replaced it twice and now can't get arms to go up or down at all.

Possibly installed upside down? I'm not sure this is possible, but the workshop manual warns against installing it upside down....which indicates it may be possible.

 

[rademamj1]

The MEC is a small hydraulic relief valve. Its part of the MLS.
Not all tractor manufacturers use them, and those that do use them, may not use MEC valves in all their tractor models. If one of these failed, it should be quite simple to replace....unless it was stripped by over tightening.

Also, here is a link to a previous thread. Same problem your having Erik. Posts #1 to #16 deal with your specific problem.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=277308

 

[radios1]

it seems the Brian Faulkner at Kioti is in hiding from the web, no info is available on him, you'd think someone important at a company would at least be acknowledged in some manner in a web search, but NO!. other, less important Brian Faulkner's are listed though!.. maybe he was fired in shame, and Kioti don't want to acknowledge him??.. interesting to say the least!!..

 

[RickB]

I wonder if a paying customer would have the same troubles with corporate.

It appears the tractor is out of warranty.
The common perception that the end user is the manufacturers customer many times proves to be inaccurate. At the end of the day the dealer is the manufacturers customer, the end user is a necessary evil.

 

[Ford850]

The MEC is a small hydraulic relief valve. Its part of the MLS.
Not all tractor manufacturers use them, and those that do use them, may not use MEC valves in all their tractor models. If one of these failed, it should be quite simple to replace....unless it was stripped by over tightening.

Also, here is a link to a previous thread. Same problem your having Erik. Posts #1 to #16 deal with your specific problem.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/bobcat-tractors/277308-another-winter-more-mls-valve.html


View attachment 665156

That thread sure sounds like the current problem. I saw in this video Kioti CK2S Tractor MLS Valve Adjustment on 3 PT Hitch - YouTube that there is an adjustment to fix the bouncing, which was the original problem. Makes you wonder if the dealer found the messed up threads or caused them while trying to make the adjustment shown in the video. In either case, while replacing parts, they could have jarred a spec of dirt of Loctite loose and plugged that tiny hole mentioned in your posted thread (causing the current overall failure).

 

[drysalty]

If you decide to pull that tractor out of Profile I would suggest you contact Concord Tractor. The Ryan family operate this dealership and the George has been selling tractors in this area since Ford was a tractor company. I’ve had nothing but good experiences there. It’s a bit of a haul for you but it’s a lot shorter than another six weeks of getting jerked around by a snowmobile dealer pretending to be a tractor dealer.

 

[fried1765]

If you decide to pull that tractor out of Profile I would suggest you contact Concord Tractor. The Ryan family operate this dealership and the George has been selling tractors in this area since Ford was a tractor company. I’ve had nothing but good experiences there. It’s a bit of a haul for you but it’s a lot shorter than another six weeks of getting jerked around by a snowmobile dealer pretending to be a tractor dealer.

Another option would seem to be Chappell tractor.
They may not be a Kioti dealer, (Kubota/Mahindra), but they are major tractor sellers with 3 locations just South of you in NH.
Chappell has a very good reputation.

 

[coobie]

it seems the Brian Faulkner at Kioti is in hiding from the web, no info is available on him, you'd think someone important at a company would at least be acknowledged in some manner in a web search, but NO!. other, less important Brian Faulkner's are listed though!.. maybe he was fired in shame, and Kioti don't want to acknowledge him??.. interesting to say the least!!..

Glad you chimed in.Just curios what do you mean NO INFO on him is available ? How do you know he is in hiding? As usual a lot of assumptions on your part.

 

[rademamj1]

Regarding "THE Brian Faulkner", I tried in vain to locate any Kioti staff listing, employee listings and even checked the Wendell NC phone book....and all my attempts failed. Even social media finds several Brian Faulkner living in other states, and not associated with Kioti USA. So I just gave up.

 

[rademamj1]

That thread sure sounds like the current problem. I saw in this video Kioti CK2S Tractor MLS Valve Adjustment on 3 PT Hitch - YouTube that there is an adjustment to fix the bouncing, which was the original problem. Makes you wonder if the dealer found the messed up threads or caused them while trying to make the adjustment shown in the video. In either case, while replacing parts, they could have jarred a spec of dirt of Loctite loose and plugged that tiny hole mentioned in your posted thread (causing the current overall failure).

Ford850...you caught that critical piece of information. Apparently a small pinhole blockage in the MLS can cause a complete failure of the 3pt hydraulic arms. Its almost like Chaos Theory at work.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Someone needs to be talking to you. It is not a sound policy for something like this to continue. It cost tractor sales. They may not be obligated to pay for it, but they should be responsive. You need help and they need to give it to you. Going above and beyond is what legends are made of. It is not as much whether you have problems, but how you handle them. I don't know the facts, I just know what you have told us. I will remember this post for a good while and sleep a little less soundly as the owner of a 18 month old Kioti. Good luck.

 

[PetersenRockFarm]

August 4 2020 9:00 am update (posted 12:50 PM)

Hi All - great comments and thank you very much.

Showed up at dealer when they opened, sat at Service desk for 15 minutes, finally service mgr comes out and says the KIOTI "guy" is here, the dealer guys gave him lowdown on what they have done, now the KIOTI guy is working on it... the service guy said all his guys are off it, Kioti is dealing with it now...

Maybe he just gave me a fake name? I wouldn't be surprised.

I will head back up there at 2 PM. Totally agree, lack of communication is so rude, you would think the dealer would have given me a courtesy call to say, "hey, by the way the Kioti guy will be here Tuesday morning..." just wrong. Then again he failed to call me after 3 different times (days) saying he would call me at X time, I even repeated it 3 times one of the days before leaving "OK, you'll call me either way at 3:30" ? haha nope... Integrity. nope.

We'll see what he can find and that will determine next steps. And, without doubt I won't be going back to this dealer for anything. I'll head to one of the places mentioned above.

Let y'all know soon I hope.

thanks
Erik

 

[Thomas]

It's little out of your way but I heard good things about twinstatetractor.com maybe call would put more light at end of tunnel.