CK 30 FEL problems

GregMVT · Oct 19, 2004

I was out cleaning up some brush piles along the edge of my backyard tonight. The FEL started acting funny, real jerky and slow to react. I checked for leaks and the fluid seamed full so I am at a loss where to go from here. I will call the dealer tomorrow since I haven't had it a week but it would be nice if I had some advice before that.

Thank you.

KiotiJohn · Oct 20, 2004

It's possible there is air in the line. How fast were you running the engine?
Try this. Start the tractor, let it warm up for at least 5 minutes (always a good idea anytime, longer in colder weather). Make sure you're letting the hydro fluid get warmed up as it will have a thicker viscosity until it's warm and can do damage in cold weather if you don't let it warm up.
Now raise the FEL, and run it through all it's cycles with the joystick. Finally, push the stick forward moving the bucket to the ground. Don't go all the way to the float position. This should get out any air that may be present.
Do you have a BH on the tractor?
One other thing to check if it's still doing it after bleeding the air out is to look at the top of the valve body where the FEL hoses come out on the right side of the tractor. There should be a diverter lever, probably on top of the valve body. Make sure it is pointing to 6:00 and not 3:00 as this diverts fluid to the power beyond.
I'm sure it's a minor issue. Let us know how it works out. John

MajMac392 · Oct 20, 2004

I've had a very similar problem with my Cub Cadet. I had been out pushing brush piles around, and running over a lot of old Pine branches. The quick disconnects for my loader are mounted low on the frame and a branch came in contact with one of the quick disconnects and moved the sleeve enough for the hose to become disconnected but not all the way off. I looked it over, checked the fluid level, and called the dealer with no answers. I couldn't use it so got looking closer and closer until I stumbled onto the quick disconnect.

rback33 · Oct 20, 2004

On very rare occaions, the pump will actually go out and and it wil act like that. I heard of one on a different brand of tractor doing the exact same thing. What was unusual was the three point was still working but the loader would not. It had good pressure, but there was no flow.

Dargo · Oct 20, 2004

As others have posted, it likely is something simple and minor. If not, no matter what brand you purchase, inevitably something can break no matter how well made it is. My bet is that your dealer will have you up and running in no time.

Where I live there is only one even remotely local Kioti dealer and he has gotten a bad reputation. Therefore, in my area there are not many Kioti tractors which seems to be a shame. My only up close look at a Kioti was a few months ago when I was going to compare one to the L5030HSTC Kubota. When I drove an hour and a half one way to look at one, the salesman basically told me that I really didn't need to drive it around their lot unless I was fairly certain that I wanted it as well as several implements to go with it that I didn't need. I'll admit, that unfairly biased my opinion against Kioti when it should have only biased my opinion of that dealer. From what I've read on TBN, you should be in good hands and have a nice tractor. Good luck! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

DK35vince · Oct 20, 2004

( When I drove an hour and a half one way to look at one, the salesman basically told me that I really didn't need to drive it around their lot unless I was fairly certain that I wanted it as well as several implements to go with it that I didn't need. )

Thats a shame !! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
I get along with my Kioti dealer very well. He will let me try out new machines on his lot (even though he knows I'm not buying) just to get my opinion on it.
I don't get there often though because he is around 80 miles away, I took a trial run on a DK 55c last year just for the fun of it, tryed out a Farm Trac 360 DTC earlier this summer.

Inspector507 · Oct 20, 2004

I "love" my "local" Kioti dealer who is an hour or so away. And I own a blue tractor /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. He ordered a toothbar for me and let me, at least, sit on a Kioti when I went to pick it up.

GregMVT · Oct 21, 2004

Here's what I've found out. There was an old sawmill on my property about 40 years ago. The only thing left of it was about 16 concrete pads that are about 3 feet square and from 8-14 inches thick. We had removed 12 of them that were in the backyard when we bought the house 2 years ago, they are real hard on lawnmower blades. The other 4 we didn't know about because they were in an area that were overgrown with weeds and sumacs. We piled the brush we had cut up 2 years ago on top of them. When I went to push the piles back the other day I ran over them. The soil has a lot of composted material in it so the tractor sank in as it was pushing forward and I ended up bending a couple of the rods underneath, left rear brake and the one that goes between the front tires. The dealer said I also bent up a filter that was under there and there's a leak. I had to take my wife to the hosptial yesterday for some pre-surgery tests so I wasn't here when the dealer came to pick it up. I will have to call him this morning to find out what needs to be done. He had told my son that he would contact Kioti to see if any of this would be covered under the warranty but I'm not holding my breath!! I'll take some pics of the blocks once it gets light here and post them. Nice to know it was "operator error" and not a problem with the tractor.

rback33 · Oct 21, 2004

I am not sure what to think....on one I hand I am glad it was NOT the tractor, but for your sake, it might have been cheaper if it was.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Oh well.. live and learn! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

GregMVT · Oct 22, 2004

I am attaching a pic of two of the concrete pads I moved. I believe the one on the left is the one that gave me problems. I put a shovel between the two of them so there would be some way to gauge the size.