DK40 front end

[ualjack]

Well the front end ring and pinoin are broken again #3 times now. this time the dealer says the ring and pinoin stipped. he says that mine is the only DK40 to have this problem and that if carrying a load in the bucket and making sharp turns may cause this. if so what good is the tractor? now I'm out of the labor end of warranty and only covered for parts. I only have 160 hours on the tractor. and I'm not too happy about the situation. anyone else having this problem on a DK40? Jack

 

[DK35vince]

I remember you posting about this same problem about a year ago.
Sorry to hear reshimming the ring and pinion didn't resolve the problem..
I have read about several front end issues on the DK 55 in the past, but not the DK 40 (other than the problem you are having).

 

[northcreek2624]

Jack,I should be a poster child for abusing my DK40 and fel.Mine is a 2002 model with about 400 hrs. and have had no problems.You definitely seem to have a lemon there,perhaps the entire front casting should be replaced,something is not right there....Mike.

 

[wushaw]

I would say to R&R the complete axle housing and use the old one for some decorative feature not to be used in service anymore.
After all you are on the third time

 

[ualjack]

I think its a great tractor when everything is working. and the front end is the only problem I seem to be having.but, now I'm almost afraid to use the 4x4 and stay in 2x4 but, with winter and mud season on, I have little choice but to use the front wheel drive. I contacted Kioti headquarters and they are a week past due of when they said they would be in contact. mabe I should let the front end break again and try to get them to replace the whole front end. unfortunatley, when I bought my tractor it was a 2 year full warranty and 4 year parts only warranty. You would think that since this has been an ongoing problem Kioti would have taken care of it fully. mabe I could get them to trade me straight across for the new 45. ha ha.wishful thinking.

 

[JeffandTamara]

UALJACK:
What were the initial symptoms that you experienced on your front end problem? I am having some unusual vibration that seems to be coming out of the front end.... One point though, I don't see much difference whether the 4WD is engaged or not???

 

[obxtractor]

I have destroyed my first set of gears in a CK 30. The vibration and even a noise was there before the gears finnaly let loose. It doesnt matter if its in 4 wheel or not because the gears and the the front axle parts always turn. The shifting mechanism only stops the front driveshaft. I have been told that if we use the 4 wheel on hard ground it destroys the gears. Makes sense because there is nothing built in for the two sides of the axle to slip, such as on most of the rear axles or your truck. I am trying to look at it as, I wouldnt have my truck in 4 wheel on hard ground so I guess the tractor shouldnt be either.

 

[ualjack]

I did'nt have any noise or indication that the front end was going to blow apart until it did( with a load metal pop) it seems to happen when digging into a load and I had to use the 4x4 to keep from slipping and spining the rear tires. on the last time the dealer said the gears were stipped.

 

[wallace]

Were you doing the same thing the first time when it broke?

 

[VictorW]

it seems to happen when digging into a load and I had to use the 4x4 to keep from slipping and spining the rear tires. Sorry, I haven't figured out the quote function.

ualjack, I'm trying to understand what you were doing. You were digging into a load and the rear tires were slipping, so you put it into 4x4 for extra traction. Were you lifting with the loader at the same time you were trying to go forward? That's what a loader is for and we all do it. This would push the front tires down hard giving them extra traction while the rear tires were already slipping. Maybe this is puting to much of the forward motion force on the front axle being that the rear tires are slipping and the front tires are biting in hard. Just a thought. The front tires and axle are doing all or most of the work. You would like to think that the front gears where made strong enough to take this being that is the way a loader is commonly used. You push into a pile and lift at the same time.

I hope you just had a set of gears that weren't set up right and they gave out from abnormal wear. Years ago, I worked in an auto/truck garage and was very careful setting up differentials to their proper tolerances, otherwise you can ruin a ring and pinion quickly.

Please let us know what they think the cause was. I would hate to destroy the front gears in my CK30hst by pushing into a pile and lifting but then, how else do you do it!!!