FEL repair kit

[Mastertech]

Thanks Hodak. I am new to this site and hadn,t seen the pics before. I am also very thick skinned so Kentrodngun you didn't hurt my feelings. I appreciate that things can be beatened to death by rehash!

 

[IslandTractor]

Pardon my ignorance, but just where do the cracks appear? On the weld joints? In the plate itself?

With apologies to Kentrodngun, I will just add that the cracks appear in different places on the KL130 and KL120. You saw the photos from Hodak's KL130...here are a few photos of the KL120. KL120 cracks tend to appear in the corners and typically go through the bolt holes as there is no welded plate insert as with the KL130.

For what it's worth, I agree with Kentrodngun's frustration but this topic will clearly not go away until Kioti resolves the issue. The continued bantering has much more to do with Kioti's lack of communication on the subject than anything else. It is an issue that affects a substantial number of TBN members so boring as it may be it is more relevant than "which hydraulic oil" should I use etc.

 

[laurencen]

If they would step up to the plate and offer a exchange I think everyone would be happy but they have wasted tons on this issue that could have been solved day one by Kioti, I think everyone who ownes a CK20 or CK30 is happy with the tractor just not the loader, it is a small cost to replace at the factory level, Kioti's cost would be less than 30% of what us as owners would pay so less than $200.00 and we would all be happy owners, Kioti should be bending over to help resolve this one instead of sitting around, have to feel sorry for the dealers, so have no idea or answers for customers

 

[rmahlert]

MY former dealer gave me a kit, the kit for the 120's when I have a 130. I returned it and now they are no longer a Kioti dealer(Harvard Power).
My cracks are now at the edges and I'm watching closely to see if they start up the sides.

I'm at 250 hours. The loader is used for spreading loam and mulch mostly.

Has anyone seen them up the sides?


Just wondering what the dealers are being told on the 130 repairs. Rick or the REAL Boss at Wallace(the Mrs.)??

 

[IXLR8]

Just wondering what the dealers are being told on the 130 repairs. Rick or the REAL Boss at Wallace(the Mrs.)??

I have talked with Dave at Upper Valley Tractor in New Hampshire and he has said he has put some of the kits on the 130 loaders. You might want to give him a call.

 

[IslandTractor]

If they would step up to the plate and offer a exchange I think everyone would be happy but they have wasted tons on this issue that could have been solved day one by Kioti, I think everyone who ownes a CK20 or CK30 is happy with the tractor just not the loader, it is a small cost to replace at the factory level, Kioti's cost would be less than 30% of what us as owners would pay so less than $200.00 and we would all be happy owners, Kioti should be bending over to help resolve this one instead of sitting around, have to feel sorry for the dealers, so have no idea or answers for customers

I doubt it is quite that cheap ($200) for Kioti. They get the parts in Korea and have to ship and distribute them here. It is a fair amount of metal too which is not cheap at close to 1$/lb retail. Still, they would be smart to offer some sort of interim compromise to KL130 owners given the protacted delays in coming up with a repair kit. Offering the new style arms at a substantial discount (like 50% of list or $300) and sharing the cost of replacement would at least be an option some people would take and would be evidence that they were actually interested in helping their customers.

This two year "head in the sand" approach by Kioti is truly an example of astonishingly bad business leadership. For a company that has its sights set on Kubota's market share, they are shooting themselves in the foot. They need to do more, not less than what Kubota would do. Witness Hyundai and it's success in the USA gaining market share from the big Japanese companies...they offer more not less. This loader issue is just setting Kioti up for years of whispering campaigns by Kubota and JD dealers who will legitimately be able to say "yeah they look like nice tractors but did you hear about the cracked loader issue and how Kioti handled it?". Doing the right thing for their customers in this setting would be far more valuable and positive for their image and market potential than all the new glossy ads and other marketing they are doing.

 

[laurencen]

My dealer offered to exchange my arms on a 120 for $500.00, take $100.00 for labor I figured the cost to be 2 to 300.00, dealers are still selling the old 120s without the kit on new tractors, at least Kioti should have weeded the old stock out of sale or put the kit on

 

[RexB]

... they would be smart to offer some sort of interim compromise to KL130 owners given the protacted delays in coming up with a repair kit.

Offering the new style arms at a substantial discount (like 50% of list or $300) and sharing the cost of replacement would at least be an option some people would take and would be evidence that they were actually interested in helping their customers.

This two year "head in the sand" approach by Kioti is truly an example of astonishingly bad business leadership... This loader issue is just setting Kioti up for years of whispering campaigns by Kubota and JD dealers who will legitimately be able to say "yeah they look like nice tractors but did you hear about the cracked loader issue and how Kioti handled it?".

Doing the right thing for their customers in this setting would be far more valuable and positive for their image and market potential than all the new glossy ads and other marketing they are doing.

I admire your well thought out and constructive reasoning about this serious problem, IslandTractor. It makes good sense for Kioti to replace a manufacturing error or at the least dramatically reduce the replacement cost. And it's the "right" thing to do, while building a reputation for backing up their products.

Thankfully mine are the new strengthened FEL loader arms, praise Neptune! (I'm a retired sailor). You're much calmer than I would be.

 

[IslandTractor]

I admire your well thought out and constructive reasoning about this serious problem, IslandTractor. It makes good sense for Kioti to replace a manufacturing error or at the least dramatically reduce the replacement cost. And it's the "right" thing to do, while building a reputation for backing up their products.

Thankfully mine are the new strengthened FEL loader arms, praise Neptune! (I'm a retired sailor). You're much calmer than I would be.

As an old sailor I'm sure you understand the futility of "P-ssing into the wind". We've been making constructive suggestions for two years and to my knowledge Kioti head office hasn't responded to one of them. There is an underground feedback loop via some of the active dealers but even they haven't seemed to be able to change the basic attitude or speed of management in dealing with this business.

 

[BTI]

Dealer discounts are taken from list price.
The list price on the new style loader arms.
Not including shipping is $1233

BTI

 

[RexB]

ROTFLMAO you're right "P'sng into the wind" just gets ya' wet I've read your past reasoned explanations of why Kioti should replace the defective loader arms as a good business practice. I'm not a metallurgist, but guesstimate that it's only a matter of time before those cracks enlarge and cause loader failure and injury; then Kioti can deal with expensive personal-injury lawyers' lawsuits rather than first taking the relatively inexpensive route of loader-arm replacement or repair-kit installation.


I'm *surprised* they haven't caught on yet because otherwise the CK series have performed so well in the woods that I'm loving this little tractor.

 

[rmahlert]

After I sent a message off the link on the Kioti website about my KL-130 loader this past weekend.. they gave me a call today.

Basically.. if your local dealer doesn't get the kit and fix your your loader.. let Kioti know. If the kit doesn't fit the dealer is suppose to call the Kioti Tech support.
My issue is the local dealer is a 40 minute ride now. The Bobcat in Shrewesbury is not officially(yet?) in the dealer list and no warranty repairs can be done with them.

What I was not happy with is my old dealer (Harvard) might not have sent in my registration. I have to send my serial numbers to check seeing She couldn't find my name in the database.

And.. it is not official policy for them to check any online forums, Which I suggested they do!

 

[Highbeam]

And.. it is not official policy for them to check any online forums, Which I suggested they do!

Oh, they do. Certainly not in an official capacity. Fortunately there are several fine dealers that officially check in and contribute.

New rule.... noone can try and hush the numerous FEL threads unless they in fact own an effected loader. I know I can't set rules but try and consider that it is hard to understand the frustration unless you are one of the owners of these defective loaders. Kioti has head in sand, most dealers have head in sand, and the cracks grow. At least we can freely share information here on TBN.

 

[kentrodngun]

New rule.... noone can try and hush the numerous FEL threads unless they in fact own an effected loader. I know I can't set rules but try and consider that it is hard to understand the frustration unless you are one of the owners of these defective loaders. Kioti has head in sand, most dealers have head in sand, and the cracks grow. At least we can freely share information here on TBN.

Joe, no offense but it seems this issue has taken over a significant part of the Kioti forum (my opinion anyway). I always loved visiting the forum, learning great things (where are you KiotiJohn?) and sharing information.

While I wholeheartedly agree that this matter is shameful and hurts Kioti's reputation, internal griping accomplishes what? Sharing the pain? Knocking Kioti some more? They have done little to date, what makes anyone think this will prompt them to do more?

I notice less useful information shared on the Kioti forum since the loader crack issue began and took on it's own life. Dealer input appears to have diminished (again my opinion). I said it earlier in this thread, I would prefer it if the moderators created a "Loader Crack" sub-forum and gave the rest of us (not affected owners) a break.

I hope no one is offended by my comments but I felt it was time to voice my opinion. Maybe (maybe not) others will join in and help get this forum back on track. It is not my intent to "attack" anyone, I'm just venting and hope everyone understands.

I sympathize with all affected owners and sincerely hope that Kioti steps up and resolves the problem, but beating it to death every day does little.

 

[IslandTractor]

Joe, no offense but it seems this issue has taken over a significant part of the Kioti forum (my opinion anyway). .....
While I wholeheartedly agree that this matter is shameful and hurts Kioti's reputation, internal griping accomplishes what? Sharing the pain? Knocking Kioti some more? They have done little to date, what makes anyone think this will prompt them to do more?........ Dealer input appears to have diminished (again my opinion). .....I sympathize with all affected owners and sincerely hope that Kioti steps up and resolves the problem, but beating it to death every day does little.

I clearly have to side with Joe. It doesn't make sense to try to stop discussion on something is frankly deserves to be the number one issue on the Kioti forum. It is concern for a lot of KL130 owners who still haven't received a fix. It sadly demonstrates that Kioti is not learning to do better customer service or perhaps more accurately public relations. I agree with you that dealers are less likely to post these days...partly because they don't want to get in the middle of a bunch of CK owners who gripe about still unresolved Kioti warranty issues the dealers themselves are helpless to influence.

This has been a big black eye for Kioti. They make fine tractors and just have really muddled the response to the loader issue very badly. One would hope that this experience helps them understand the need for a different type of response the next time there is such an issue but the continued "head in the sand" approach does not bode well.

This issue doesn't get beaten to death every day. It goes without discussion for at least a month or so at a time then resurfaces. It typically comes up after some reasonable question (most recently from new buyers who are getting the original older loaders still) and people vent again. This issue will die a very natural and long awaited death sometime AFTER Kioti fixes the problems. I doubt it will die before then regardless of what annoyance or damage it causes. I personally would love to see a final "Kioti Loader Issue RIP" thread but it may be a while in coming. In the end, it is really up to Kioti to provide an adequate reason to terminate this seemingly endless discussion and not a matter for self or group censorship.

 

[Mastertech]

With only 3 or 4 total posts a day average on this board, I don't think any thing is getting over commented on ( said in jest not to be critical!)

 

[Dodgeram]

Still going at it?
Let's see if we can get an idea how large this problem really is:
This is for folks who currently own either a KL-120 or KL130.

1) Loader #
2) Hours
3) Does/did it have cracks
4) Has the fix been applied

I know folks have attempted to get information from this forum before, Becky @ Batchelders comes to mind, and a couple of members shot her down (later asking her for help ). I expect the same folks to complain about this request.

This is not scientific, and I'm not looking for opinions on whether Kioti is right in their handling of the matter, I am curious about the numbers.

I'll start:
1) KL130
2) 220Hrs
3) No Cracks
4) No fix required

Tom

 

[Dmace]

1) KL120
2) 280 hours
3) Had four 1" long cracks at bolt holes
4) Dealer installed kit 50 hrs ago - cracks have not grown since and I still have a higher lift capacity than your 20hp tractor.

 

[DK35vince]

If Kioti would have resolved the loader issue in the beginning (like they should have), it wouldn't still be at the top of the discussion list like it is today.
Nobodys fault but their own..

 

[HODAK]

I happen to own the KL130 arms and the KL130B arms. Cracks developed on the KL130's at approximately 130 hours. Bought new (KL130B's) and installed myself. Presently at 296 hours. Rick and Amy assisted me when I made this choice. Again, my choice and I am a satisfied with my decision.

In my opinion, dealers are stuck in the middle and should truly be disappointed with the way KIOTI handled this issue. I'm hanging on to the old arms for a while longer just in case there would be a new development...... It sure is nice to hop on the tractor and not think about the cracks extending.

I sympathize with those that are tired of reading about this issue also, but I expect to be reading about it for quite some time. Even if KIOTI were to take action with the owners that couldn't be fitted with a kit, this issue will be around for a long time and will most likely affect future sales. The difference with this issue and issues that other brands encounter is the way they were handled.

As I get older, (and hopefully wiser), my thoughts about tractors seem to show me in a cab unit and it will be tough to forget about the loader issue and KIOTI. If there were to be future issues, have they learned anything? I hope so.

Let's not forget about how you explain to your better half that the "new" tractor has cracks - that was a good one. Oh well, it's fixed now........