DK45S 4 wheel drive problem

[fastpat]

My electric four wheel drive actuation isn't working. The tractor is at the dealer for the repair now, it's obviously under warranty, but I was wondering about the frequency of this problem. Or is it unusual? Oh yes, the tractor has just over 60 hours on it.

 

[Oleozz]

No problem with mine so far at 130 hours. The electric stuff always scares me but it sure goes in and out of 4wd easy.

 

[depratt_equip]

I think you will find it’s a very rare problem... why do I say this since it is a new tractor and new model?? The setup used to engage and disengage your 4wd is the same proven system they have been using to engage and disengage the PTO on all DK tractors. To date we have had zero problems with the PTO engagement so we should see a very similar outcome on the DK45s 4wd.

 

[RedDog]

I think you will find it’s a very rare problem... why do I say this since it is a new tractor and new model?? The setup used to engage and disengage your 4wd is the same proven system they have been using to engage and disengage the PTO on all DK tractors. To date we have had zero problems with the PTO engagement so we should see a very similar outcome on the DK45s 4wd.

And just to add, I really like the electronic PTO switch!! ZERO problems.

 

[fastpat]

I'm glad to hear it's relatively rare, I've plenty to do with the tractor this spring and 4WD is a necessity on my hillside farm. I'm debating getting a set of wheels with Ag tires to switch out the R4 industrials it has now.

 

[Oleozz]

Pat---I have the R1's on mine and they give me excellent traction. I have yet to see a tractor in this area with R4's, I guess it's because we live in an agricultural region of the state and most people use their tractors for field work.

 

[KiotiDave]

Hi Fastpat,
When you get your tractor back you should check one thing. Under the left side of the tractor on the side of the transmission case will be the 4wd solonoid, It has a single jacketed wire. Make sur that wire is tucked away out of reach of any sticks or branches that might catch it and break it.
I have had two customers with failures and found that they had puuled off the wire. Once we replaced the coil and tucked away the wire there were no more problems.
We always check this when we set up the tractors and haven't had a single problem with 4WD.
As stated previously it is tried and true.
KiotiDave

 

[fastpat]

Well, here we are at two weeks and still no tractor. I guess there's a huge line of tractors in for their spring repairs, so mine's still working it's way to first in the line. You don't know how much you like the fact that the tractor is waiting for you whenever the need arises.

 

[Oleozz]

That's to bad Pat, I would not be a happy camper if mine was sitting at the dealers when they are calling for a foot to sixteen inches of snow in this section of Pa. Since you are in South Carolina you most likely never see any snow.

 

[fastpat]

That's to bad Pat, I would not be a happy camper if mine was sitting at the dealers when they are calling for a foot to sixteen inches of snow in this section of Pa. Since you are in South Carolina you most likely never see any snow.

We had two inches a couple of weeks ago, but it's rare here. I'm about 45 miles south of Asheville, NC, but see lots less snow here than they do.

The 4WD problem was the switch they say, but I had damaged the fuse box cover, a log kicked up and wacked it last fall and cracked it pretty badly. They ordered the parts to fix it, and are going to install a protective plate over it. When those parts come and are installed, I get my tractor back.

 

[fastpat]

Update: I just called my Kioti dealership who says the fuse box is on backorder. Apparently what is happening is Kioti USA doesn't think it needs a large warehouse full of parts in America, they send to Korea for many parts.

I have news for Kioti, that isn't going to cut it in America. If they want to be seen as a serious tractor company, they'll need to have a two week turn-around time for parts at the outside, particularly for a one year old model.

Yes, I'm getting to the end of my patience on this problem.

 

[rback33]

Update: I just called my Kioti dealership who says the fuse box is on backorder. Apparently what is happening is Kioti USA doesn't think it needs a large warehouse full of parts in America, they send to Korea for many parts.

I have news for Kioti, that isn't going to cut it in America. If they want to be seen as a serious tractor company, they'll need to have a two week turn-around time for parts at the outside, particularly for a one year old model.

Yes, I'm getting to the end of my patience on this problem.

I think for the most part this problem is unusual and short lived. The fact that it is a newer model makes it tough. They stock a lot of our parts. I ship stocking orders regularly to them. The thing is, that these loaders have been around there for a long time and they have a detailed consumption history. They know how much to keep on hand and how much to have on order. With new equipment.. it's a crap shoot. You order and hope you have enough, but not too much. Some times you miss. I would not think that a complete fuse box would be very high volume and they just under ordered that item. I know this does nothing to fix your tractor, but it is a situation that can occur with any tractor company. This is simply conjecture from my point of view. I know for a fact that Kioti has a large parts warehouse and tries very hard to stock everything possible. I have been in it many times. To say that they expect Korea to supply parts on short notice without stocking any themselves is not true. I realize that you are frustrated and most likely repeating the dealers words in some way, shape, or form, but saying things like that will not help the situation. I would put more pressure on the dealer. Does he have any other tractors he can "borrow" the parts from?

 

[Steverino]

It would seem that a creative dealer could rig a temporary fix until the OEM parts arrive. Also there are these little known companies which advertise that when it positively, absolutely has to be there overnight any place in the world, or something to that effect,. A couple of names that come to mind are Federal Express Expedited Services, and UPS UPS International Shipping A small package like a fuse block should not be a prohibitively expensive item to ship, note the operative word is prohibitively not expensive. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[DrRick]

I was crushed when my dk55c had the glass door and the curved glass rear window completely demolished by an accident recently. I could just see the glass from korea on the boat coming to america. I think I was more afraid of Mr. racoon taking up housekeeping on my cab seat than anything else. I was pleased when all the parts were ordered, and delivered in about 3 days. WOW!. I have to say I am OK with the stocking situation in the states of KIOTI parts. All of these items originated overseas. In my case it was a good experience. Hope yours ends well also.
ric

 

[RandyT]

I know about your fustration with parts being on backorder. I am a servicing dealer for MTD. If the parts are in stock at the warehouse I get them next day. If they are one back order I can expect a delay of 6-12 weeks. MTD has an emergency order program that will ship UPS next day air. Oh I forgot to mention that it stills days 7-14 days to receive delivery with a freight charge of $24.95. And that is if it is in stock in Cinninati, Ohio. If not than it will be 6-12 weeks with a $24.95 freight charge. Worse backorder that I have had was a $10.00 belt guide that took 5 months to get on a three month old riding lawnmower.

 

[fastpat]

Okay, here's what finally happened. Last Wednesday, March 7th, I called my dealer for an update, and he stated that the parts were on backorder and he had no idea when they would be delivered.

I decided to call Kioti, in North Carolina, to see what the deal was, parts problems, and so forth. They called the dealer for the details, part numbers and so forth, called me back and said that they would take a part off a new tractor and have it installed on my tractor. Also, my dealer welded up a diamond plate steel shield for the fuse box since it's in a very vulnerable place on the tractor, in fact this is at least a partial cause of the backorder situation. Kioti is getting the details from my dealer on the fabricated shield so that they can incorporate something similar on production tractors in the future.

All the above happened as planned, I had my tractor back on Friday, March 9th and all is well as of today. Six weeks after I took it in.