DK5310SE Irregular Chirping Sound From Power Steering Unit

[Venturabass]

Have a DK5310SE I bought in spring 2022. Since new I’ve always noticed an irregular chirping sound of sorts. Doesn’t always happen. Sometimes will happen a lot. Sometimes not as much. Sometimes it’ll happen right at startup at idle and other times only when I run the rpms up to go do work.

The pattern is really irregular. “Chirp, chirp….chirp… chirp, chirp….”. I’ve talked to the dealer about it and they told me they hear this sound often from new. Kioti knows about it. But there is no fix or any history of there being a problem.

One day when it was happening I tried hard to locate where it was coming from. It’s not the engine. It turned out it’s coming from the power steering unit just below the steering wheel. I took the cover off and each time it happens I can feel a mild vibration. But there are no loose external parts. Also operating the steering wheel does not cause it and never has. It happens just sitting still.

Anyone hear this on their machine and anyone know what it is?

 

[Zork]

Have a DK5310SE I bought in spring 2022. Since new I’ve always noticed an irregular chirping sound of sorts. Doesn’t always happen. Sometimes will happen a lot. Sometimes not as much. Sometimes it’ll happen right at startup at idle and other times only when I run the rpms up to go do work.

The pattern is really irregular. “Chirp, chirp….chirp… chirp, chirp….”. I’ve talked to the dealer about it and they told me they hear this sound often from new. Kioti knows about it. But there is no fix or any history of there being a problem.

One day when it was happening I tried hard to locate where it was coming from. It’s not the engine. It turned out it’s coming from the power steering unit just below the steering wheel. I took the cover off and each time it happens I can feel a mild vibration. But there are no loose external parts. Also operating the steering wheel does not cause it and never has. It happens just sitting still.

Anyone hear this on their machine and anyone know what it is?

Could it be air?

 

[Venturabass]

That’s a great point. And the behavior is sort of like that. Like wire getting by. However don’t know how that would be possible? The pump is a tandem pump like almost all on market with one main feed from the sump. Hydraulic fluid is full for sure and no issues with the main pump or circuit….?

 

[toxicjeeper]

I notice a chirp on my 2022 ns5310 as well every once in a while..I never really paided much attention to it and I can't see it creating any problems

 

[Billrog]

Slipping fan belt ?

 

[gumshu]

My 4720SE is brand new. I started using it today for the first time. When it reached the 3hr mark, I heard the same chirping noise. I looked all over and it is coming from the steering wheel box somewhere. I was hoping someone would have figured this out by now. I’ll call my dealer on Monday. It’s strange. I had a CT 35 Bobcat (Kioti) back in 2009 and never had an issue with it.

This 4720SE seems somewhat problematic. Aside from this noise that developed today, I’m not able to slowly lift my 3pt hitch. When I attempt to do so, it jerks significantly as it rises. When I raise it quickly, no problem.

 

[Venturabass]

I can report it's not the fan belt slipping. Though my dealer said that is a common occurrence from the factory. I just did my 50 hour and ended up adjust the belt tension A LOT! Still makes the sound though.

As far as the jerky 3ph lift, yes mine behaves exactly the same.

 

[KiotiKyle]

I believe I know the sound you're referring to, as my DK4710 started doing that around 37 hrs. It's very common amongst recent model DKs in the Kioti Facebook group, but there is no solution. The common belief is that it's hydraulic cavitation. I just hope it doesn't cause hydraulic pumps to go out.

I've just chosen to ignore it because many have called their dealers and Kioti and none have offered a solution beyond "just keep using it."

 

[Venturabass]

I believe I know the sound you're referring to, as my DK4710 started doing that around 37 hrs. It's very common amongst recent model DKs in the Kioti Facebook group, but there is no solution. The common belief is that it's hydraulic cavitation. I just hope it doesn't cause hydraulic pumps to go out.

I've just chosen to ignore it because many have called their dealers and Kioti and none have offered a solution beyond "just keep using it."

Interesting! Yes, it reminds me of a cavitation issue, but why? If it is its at the power steering unit and not the hydraulic pump. Cavitation is supposed to be extremely damaging....

 

[KiotiKyle]

Interesting! Yes, it reminds me of a cavitation issue, but why? If it is its at the power steering unit and not the hydraulic pump. Cavitation is supposed to be extremely damaging....

I wish I knew. It doesn't sound like anyone does. There's a dude in the Kioti Tractors USA Facebook group that wigs out about it a lot. I guess he worked on pumps for a living (can't remember what type of pump) and he is really worried about it ever since his started doing it.

It really is quite the mystery. I just hope if it is something serious they recall it and fix it without charging us. It seems to be an issue predominantly in 2021 or newer DK models.

 

[Robin Veerman]

I know these are low hour tractor’s, that are being discussed, but it would be interesting to see if the noise is diminished/eliminated when the fluid is changed out. If so, how many hours on the fresh oil before the noise returns….?

 

[Venturabass]

Unfortunately swapping out fluid is an expensive endeavor….not going to be my first choice. Should be the anything wrong with Kioti fluid from the factory.

I’m headed out on vacation but this thread has inspired me to take a closer look at things. When I get back I’m going to try to see if I have vibration or noise at the pump, or if it’s just at the power steering unit.

One thing I can say is I’ve never experienced any jerking in the steering due to cavitation.

 

[KiotiKyle]

I know these are low hour tractor’s, that are being discussed, but it would be interesting to see if the noise is diminished/eliminated when the fluid is changed out. If so, how many hours on the fresh oil before the noise returns….?

I can answer that with unfortunately not. I changed my hydraulic fluid at 50 hrs and then had to change it again due to a major hose pinch where almost all of my fluid leaked out (awful...). The noise continues after both fluid changes, and I've heard others say the same.

 

[gumshu]

I just purchased this DK 4720 last week with .08 hrs. When I called the dealer about my jerky 3pt hitch, he said it could be air in the system… only one hour on the meter. We’ll, how did the air get there. Cavitation crossed my mind when this noise developed in the steering area as air in the system could travel to other areas. Air in the system does create noises and erratic behavior and I have both. Cavitation creates problems. I contacted Kioti via their website and waiting to hear back. I hope they’re not ignoring a faulty pump issue… if that is the problem.

Another thought that crossed my mind is replacing the hydraulic fluid with Shell HD or Mobil 424 with the thought that water may have gotten into the system at some point during storage or perhaps someone used the wrong fluid during assembly.

Does anyone here have a jerky 3pt hitch when trying to raise it SLOWLY? It’s not a problem raising it quickly. I’ve never encountered this issue on my other tractors.

Has anyone here seen an improvement or elimination of the noise in the steering area after replacing the hydraulic fluid?

 

[gumshu]

Apparently, people were answering the hydraulic fluid change as I was asking the question

 

[gumshu]

I can answer that with unfortunately not. I changed my hydraulic fluid at 50 hrs and then had to change it again due to a major hose pinch where almost all of my fluid leaked out (awful...). The noise continues after both fluid changes, and I've heard others say the same.

What specific hydraulic fluid did you use at the 50 hour change?

 

[Robin Veerman]

I just purchased this DK 4720 last week with .08 hrs. When I called the dealer about my jerky 3pt hitch, he said it could be air in the system… only one hour on the meter. We’ll, how did the air get there. Cavitation crossed my mind when this noise developed in the steering area as air in the system could travel to other areas. Air in the system does create noises and erratic behavior and I have both. Cavitation creates problems. I contacted Kioti via their website and waiting to hear back. I hope they’re not ignoring a faulty pump issue… if that is the problem.

Another thought that crossed my mind is replacing the hydraulic fluid with Shell HD or Mobil 424 with the thought that water may have gotten into the system at some point during storage or perhaps someone used the wrong fluid during assembly.

Does anyone here have a jerky 3pt hitch when trying to raise it SLOWLY? It’s not a problem raising it quickly. I’ve never encountered this issue on my other tractors.

Has anyone here seen an improvement or elimination of the noise in the steering area after replacing the hydraulic fluid?

A little bit of moisture wouldn’t hurt the function, unless the moisture is so much that it’s clearly visible in the oil. Good time to do a used oil analysis…

 

[gumshu]

Thanks Robin. Someone mentioned that the oil change didn’t solve the noise issue. So that’s off the table for now. Waiting to hear from Kioti before I make the 3 hr drive to the dealer. Typical dealer responses these days indicate they don’t have a clue or aren’t interested in fixing a problem. I just want to start a warranty claim in the event the issue gets worse and they then deny warranty service.

 

[Venturabass]

Well had a little bit of time before we bugged out for vacation today. Ironically the tractor really wasn’t making the sound for the first 20 minutes and then started to towards the end. I can confirm I did not hear any sound or feel any vibration coming from the hydraulic pump. All of this was focused at the steering unit, I’m now realizing this is called an orbitrol valve.

When it was happening I tried turning the steering wheel both ways. It did not change the sound even though I was technically changing the fluid flow path internally. There was also no chattering of the steering or any other function for that matter. All hydraulic functions were smooth as silk.

I caught up watching some videos of what hydraulic cavitation is. It seems like it’s more of a continuous sound. And becomes louder the worst the condition is. Not really a random “chirp chirp”.

Changing engine rpm sometimes changed the sound or intensity. But otherwise occurrence seemed completely random.

 

[Venturabass]

Gumshu, on your chattering 3ph check out this video on some reasons this can happen.

This has happened before on mine but isn’t frequent. I know we’re both having the steering unit issue but the hydraulics for the 3ph come from the main pump circuit not the secondary pump which feeds the steering.