Initial Maintanence

[Thorn Hill]

Hi All, I purchased a DK40 HST in April of 2010. Since my property is 2 1/2 hours away I made an arrangement with a neighbor to house the tractor at his place. In exchange he got the hay from a couple acres on my property.

I don't use the tractor much, maybe once or twice a month, and kept watching the hours on it for the 50 hour point at which it would need the initial service. The problem was that I didn't understand that there is no decimal in the hours and 250 means two hundred fifty and not 25.0. I have put maybe 25 hours on myself, with the remainder being put on by my neighbor. I didn't realize how fond he had become of it.....

So, I asked him if he wouldn't mind to perform the service and I would pay the bill. I went over with him what the manual stated needed to be done. When I get the bill it is only for the HST and HYD filter and Rotella 15W40. He said that is all the dealer recommended doing.

My question is, does that make sense that the dealer would say the engine oil and filter doesn't need to be changed after 250 hours and front axle case oil doesn't need to be changed?

Thanks for the advice

 

[JDL538]

Hi All, I purchased a DK40 HST in April of 2010. Since my property is 2 1/2 hours away I made an arrangement with a neighbor to house the tractor at his place. In exchange he got the hay from a couple acres on my property.

I don't use the tractor much, maybe once or twice a month, and kept watching the hours on it for the 50 hour point at which it would need the initial service. The problem was that I didn't understand that there is no decimal in the hours and 250 means two hundred fifty and not 25.0. I have put maybe 25 hours on myself, with the remainder being put on by my neighbor. I didn't realize how fond he had become of it.....

So, I asked him if he wouldn't mind to perform the service and I would pay the bill. I went over with him what the manual stated needed to be done. When I get the bill it is only for the HST and HYD filter and Rotella 15W40. He said that is all the dealer recommended doing.

My question is, does that make sense that the dealer would say the engine oil and filter doesn't need to be changed after 250 hours and front axle case oil doesn't need to be changed?

Thanks for the advice

Man, You're Neighbor sure is taking care of You.

 

[TractorTidy]

No it doesn't. At 50 hrs, per the manual, the engine oil and filter, transmission fluid and 2 filters (hyd. and HST) and frt. axle fluid all need to be changed.

The engine oil again @ 100 and then every 200 hrs. Probably time for the fuel and air filters as well now.

 

[lockhaven]

some dealers mine included will tell you no need the change the hydraulic oil or the front end oil. I did so your neighbor could be telling the truth.

 

[IndyIan]

some dealers mine included will tell you no need the change the hydraulic oil or the front end oil. I did so your neighbor could be telling the truth.

One dealer near me doesn't recommend changing the hydraulic oil at 50 hours, just the filters. In any case though at 250 hrs the engine oil and filter should be changed, and I'd change the front axle oil too, as it has no filter to get out the break in grit.
I think though with the HST I'm going to change out the hydraulic fluid on my tractor at 50hrs for a few reasons. Oil is cheap compared to parts, factory oils may not be the greatest, and I'd like to never know how much servicing an HST will cost in the next 20-30 years...

 

[Singlemalt]

If you are going to let a neighbour put 80% of the hours on your tractor why not move closer to me?

Hope he paid some of the service cost.

My dealer indicated that Kioti are "****" about the hydraulic service and that changing my filter at 200-250 hours would be good. The oil by the book.

Some of my local farm friends rarely change the hydraulic oil.

I changed my engine oil and filter at the 50 hour mark.

The big problem is warranty claims if a problem arises, and will our dealers be there for us.

 

[johnrex62]

I am a maintenance newbie, but isn't the Rotella 15W40 engine oil?

The hydraulic fluid may be a questionable replacement even at 250 hours depending on who you talk to, but the engine oil shouldn't be a question and it seems like it was replaced. I don't know why the oil filter was omitted from the bill, but I would be shocked if it wasnt changed it with the oil.

 

[new jersey mike]

Go to the manual and do what is recommended.

Personally I would do the work myself, you know it's done right and if something goes wrong your there.

 

[Thorn Hill]

Thanks for the comments

Yes, I found out this morning that the 15w 40 is the engine oil, so I too am really surprised that he didn't put a new oil filter on. Doesn't make any sense to put fresh oil through a dirty filter

I plan to put a fresh oil filter on this weekend along with fresh oil, changing the front axel oil, new air filter element, and possibly the fuel filter (don't have my manual in front of me), and greasing the fittings.

I will be doing all of the future maintenance. My major mistake for not understanding the actual number of hours.

At least my neighbor has stopped piling up the hours on it since I talked to him. I told him I don't mind him using it occasionally. If this continues to be a problem, I'll have to buy a trailer and just haul the tractor back and forth. I'm assuming I can pull this thing with an F150 right??

Thanks again

 

[farmeral64]

That F150 should do the pull depending on your engine. I used my F150 5.4l with towing package to tow my DK55 all the way from Virginia to Ontario. Use the right trailer and hitch package and load & chain it down properly.