How about a collection of tips on routine self service?

[IslandTractor]

The recent reactiviation of an old thread on 50 and 100 hour service had some useful lists of what dealers typically do besides just change fluids. I have a DK40se that needs it's 50hr service pretty soon and for geopolitical reasons (there is not yet a bridge from Prudence Island to Pennsylvannia) I will be doing the service myself. I'm wondering if we can start a thread that would provide tips beyond simply "change the fluids and filters". I learned by myself to do the same service on a CK20 and I know I wasted a lot of time in the beginning doing things the hard way (eg. getting the d*mn oil filter off until I knew enough to buy a different style filter wrench).

I think it would be useful for us to share problems and solutions on specific threads for similar models (eg CK20 as one thread, CK25/30/35 as another, new DK35/40/45 etc). I'm sure there are going to be some little tricks that could make the job go faster and even more important some issues that need to be looked for which are not part of just changing fluids. For example, I found a set of electrical connectors on my DK40se that are in a pretty vulnerable position with regards to brush and we could use these threads to include preventive maintenance/modification ideas too.

Of course photos would be a great way to enhance communication on this sort of thing too so perhaps we could use some coding on photos uploaded to TBN (not just posted one time in a thread) so we could easily link and search for a photos of "the little nut just to the left of the wire thingy attached to the transmission".

If this works out maybe a "wiki" type article could result. I don't know if TBN ever intends to support that sort of thing but it would certainly be more useful than reading through a long thread and would be easy to keep updated. Maybe a moderator or one of the TBN staff could give us some ideas.

It would be great if some of the TBN active dealers would contribute. I'm sure they would have critical insights and could prevent the rest of us from wasting time or doing dumb things. I suppose there is a bread and butter issue for them to consider but I'd also imagine that the TBN people who would do their own service are pretty unlikely to be in the dealers own catchment area anyway. You could instead sell us supplies via internet (as some already do) so that would make up for any lost routine service business.

What do you think?

 

[wallace]

First thing you need...12k lift!


We change fluids and filters
Adjust clutch and brakes
Check fan belt tension
Clean battery terminals
Grease the whole machine
Check toe
Pressure test hydraulics
Go over all the mounting bolts
Clean raidator
Check and top off all fluids
Clean pre screen
Check all lights
Check engine low and high rpm's
Wheel lugs
Air pressure
Test drive
Clean machine
We are also while doing all of the above doing a visiual inspection.

 

[BTI]

Don't forget to find the hidden grease fittings.......
Three point lever fitting--reached from the rear on CK series.
Under tractor for pedals, to name a couple.
3054's and 1914's have more than the other models.
Backhoe fittings, some are hard to locate.
BTW Rick, I like your KL130 Gantry Hoist

BTI

 

[mark.r]

I second the idea. I would like to see it broken up into similar models though as Island said i.e.

CK . . .
DK35/40/45 (SE/Hydro)
DK45/55/65/90 (Gear)

Or something to that effect. Everyone could detemrine how that would work since I am no super familiar with how each model relates to each.

Most import is that I want to do my services at home as well, unless it's warranty work. Tips and tricks form other would be super helpful. Diagrams of where all the grease fittings are would be help since it can be very easy to miss one. This goes for Kioti brand loaders and mowers as well.

EDIT: These model specific sections should probably be "sticky's" as well.

 

[JoelD]

Best thing I did was purchase service and parts manuals, they spell it all out. Owner's manual also has detailed listings with schedules.

 

[JoelD]

Oh yeh, also have manuals for loader and hoe, they are comprehensive in this department. Best money you can spend, why leave up to chance??

 

[mark.r]

Manual is a good idea although I don't think I have one for the loader. I do have one for all my mowers and such though. I need to double check and order on for my loader.

 

[IslandTractor]

Diagrams of where all the grease fittings are would be help since it can be very easy to miss one. .

Tell me about it! One of my recurring nightmares is that I have completely missed some obscure grease nipple and that someday my whatchmacallit is going to fall off due to poor maintenance. There is no real listing of ALL the grease fittings that I can find. I know that I miss some of the hidden ones on routine greasing because I am occasionally surprised to find one in a spot I don't recall. There are also some fittings (front axle on CK20 for example) that are very hard to grease. I thought the grease nipple was bad so invested in one of those grease nipple oil injection devices which did not help....I only learned recently to unload the axle before trying to grease those buggers. That is the type of tip that would be great to collect in one spot.

Does anyone have a comprehensive listing of all the grease nipples and locations on the various Kioti tractors? And, which ones are likely to require unloading pressure in order to properly fill?

 

[IslandTractor]

First thing you need...12k lift!

Great idea. Can I borrow yours for a few days?

I was even thinking of using the backhoe to dig a trench then drive the tractor over it so you'd have stand up room to work underneath. Don't laugh, in less developed countries that is exactly how they work on big trucks etc. It's a little inconvenient when the water table is about four feet down in springtime though.

 

[IXLR8]

IT,
I think this is a good idea. Is this the place for it, or maybe over on the Kioti only webpage. There is not much traffic there yet, not sure what kind of bandwidth or memory that site can handle. I am still trying to figure out how to post a picture from the TBN photos section here in the discussions section.