FEL repair kit

[Dmace]

I'll say it again: My loader failed. It doesn't have to break off and smack you in the head to be a failure.

So by failed, you mean it was no longer usable and could not move at all even with no load on it...

 

[rcrcomputing]

So by failed, you mean it was no longer usable and could not move at all even with no load on it...

I'd suggest, when someone else sees your loader and asks why it broke, that constitutes "failure".

 

[IslandTractor]

I'll say it again: My loader failed.

Am I remembering correctly that your loader became unlevel on the ground? I wouldn't consider that a "failure" but rather damaged. What I meant by catastrophic failure was having the loader torque tube suddenly split/break under load so that the operator loses control of either the load or tractor or both. Safety related failure is what I had in mind.

I can appreciate it is tough to work with an unlevel loader but that issue affects many brands other than the cracked Kioti loaders. There are many ways to twist a loader so that it is no longer true and I'm not aware if other KL120/130 owners have had that twisting problem so I don't know if it is really directly related to the cracks.

Sorry if I am remembering incorrectly.

 

[Dodgeram]

According to Websters online dictionary:

Failure:
Building & Civil Engineering: "The condition at which a structure ceases to fulfil its purpose. It may be due to leakage, deflection, cracking, etc. but it usually does not involve rupture. . Source: European Union. (references)"

I added the bold and italics.
Of course, everyone has their own opinion of what constitutes a failure.
I'll stick with Webster.
Tom

 

[P.L.]

Failure to me is paying money for something and using it as intended and then having it break because it was not built right. Nobody needs to die or get hurt.
What we have here is a FAILURE to communicate!

 

[IslandTractor]

You are correct that there were no catastrophic loader failures though some of us documented clear progression of cracking over time.

Looking back at the statement that started this little semantic kerfuffle, I'd modified the imprecise term "failure" with "catastrophic". I think that justifies my position that the loader condition I claim has not been reported would be more than a loader that was just poorly performing or out of alignment etc. I understand the point that if the loader isn't functioning up to factory specs then in some way it has "failed" but that is a pretty loose use of the term. The vast majority of us with cracked loaders just kept working as usual until the kits were installed or parts replaced etc. If that is the case then the loader was still fulfilling it's purpose per European Union. I can agree that if ?Gittyup's loader was crooked and he was trying snowplow with it then the loader has failed for him but not catastrophically (unless his ole lady gives him **** for a poor snow removal job)

 

[TBDonnelly]

Looking back at the statement that started this little semantic kerfuffle, I'd modified the imprecise term "failure" with "catastrophic". I think that justifies my position that the loader condition I claim has not been reported would be more than a loader that was just poorly performing or out of alignment etc. I understand the point that if the loader isn't functioning up to factory specs then in some way it has "failed" but that is a pretty loose use of the term. The vast majority of us with cracked loaders just kept working as usual until the kits were installed or parts replaced etc. If that is the case then the loader was still fulfilling it's purpose per European Union. I can agree that if ?Gittyup's loader was crooked and he was trying snowplow with it then the loader has failed for him but not catastrophically (unless his ole lady gives him **** for a poor snow removal job)

I remember now.......the cracks are (catastrophically) cosmetic per Kioti.

More later.....

Don

 

[mauistardog]

Hi all, it been a while since I last posted, but I got my loader repair kit installed on Monday Feb. 2, 2009. My dealer here on maui took care of everything. I did not fill out any paper work or anything. He registered my machine when I bought it years ago and did so for everyone else he sold a tractor too. He said so far I am the only one that had cracks. I thought mine were pretty small, but he figured give the ground I am working he was not surprised. I has been a little wet out so did not get any pics of the kit and don't know if anyone else posted any yet. But I can post some in a few days.

aloha
joe

 

[rcrcomputing]

Good for you! Any pictures?

You must live closer to the plant.. Mine is stuck in never never land..

 

[IslandTractor]

been a little wet out so did not get any pics of the kit and don't know if anyone else posted any yet. But I can post some in a few days.

aloha
joe

Hey Joe, we want photos of your tractor at dawn on the rim of Haleakala or as a second choice somewhere along the Hana Road or maybe sunset in Lahaina. Don't disappoint us.

Aloha from Snowland.

 

[sodamo]

Com'on Joe, just share some pics of the rain

Mine is cracked - I finally did look, but taking it to Maui is not high on my list.

David

 

[IslandTractor]

Mine is cracked - I finally did look, but taking it to Maui is not high on my list.

Talk to the dealer, maybe he is wise enough to just send you the kit. It may take more than one as there are, I believe, at least three different kits for different production runs of the KL130.

 

[mauistardog]

My hard drive on the computer finally died. my buddy is putting the new one I just bought in. I did get some pics the other day so I should get the computer back and get the photo's up loaded in a few days..i promise I think Sodamo knows what rain looks like in Hilo. I'll try to find a spot that looks good, but sorry, no view of Haleakala from my place at the bottom of the valley.

aloha
joe

 

[mauistardog]

Ok, hope this works with regard to the pictures. Got my kit installed last week. very beefy and my dealer took care of everything. Would have had it sooner, but kioti sent only ck20 kits at first, then the ck30 one's. Sorry about the photo requests, I don't live near a beach and I am down in valley with no direct sight of Haleakala. Was going to drive it up the road and take the pics, but just ran out of time.

aloha
joe

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks for the photos (As a former Hawaii resident I have my own dawn photos of Haleakala anyway).

The kit looks pretty good. It does make the torque tube look "chunky" but otherwise it is clean.

I still don't understand why they don't just let folks install these themselves. I cannot imagine it takes more than half and hour to install and tighten up the bolts. If there is an issue with figuring out which KL130 kit is needed then it still would seem better to get a set of relevant measures that would allow a dealer to figure out which kit is needed then send it out. Poor Sodamo is never going to get a kit if he has to return the tractor to Maui.

 

[IXLR8]

That looks like the same kit that was put on my CK30 in Oct of 2007... I wonder what has taken so long to get this out!!!????

 

[mauistardog]

"Poor Sodamo is never going to get a kit if he has to return the tractor to Maui."

I think Sodamo shipped his from the mainland when he moved to big island. I remember asking him how much it cost to ship, because I was thinking a being a cheap *** and buy one on the mainland. I am thankful over the last few years I stayed with a local shop who has really stood by the machine and me when ever I needed help. I agree that this kit does not look that hard to install, maybe an 45 minutes to an hour.

aloha
joe

 

[HODAK]

Just my opinion here. I don't think it fits correctly according to the first picture. Looks like there is a gap. I do have limited experience with a "kit" and I thought it should fit a bit more snug than that.

 

[TBDonnelly]

Just my opinion here. I don't think it fits correctly according to the first picture. Looks like there is a gap. I do have limited experience with a "kit" and I thought it should fit a bit more snug than that.

It appears this is the "one size fits most" mentality that Kioti used for the modification kits. At first glance the cover looks substantial. Looking closer it appears, the only thing expected to hold the cover in place are 2 lock down bolts on the left end and two lock down bolts on the right end.

Don

 

[IslandTractor]

It appears this is the "one size fits most" mentality that Kioti used for the modification kits. At first glance the cover looks substantial. Looking closer it appears, the only thing expected to hold the cover in place are 2 lock down bolts on the left end and two lock down bolts on the right end.

Don

I count about 14 other substantial bolts holding the "clamshell" together and thereby providing structural rigidity for the shell. The kit is, I presume, designed to relieve the cracked torque tube by providing exogenous torque support so there is no reason it needs to be completely attached to the existing torque tube if it is taking some (?most) of the force off the original.