King Kutter Tiller Warranty

[ChrisFromWisconsin]

Has anyone else dealt with King Kutter's warranty and have you had any success? I bought a 6 foot tiller this year, and within 10 hours the bolts holding the center gearbox loosened up and the gearbox ran dry. The implement should have a 1 year warranty as well as a 5 year gearbox warranty. The one year warranty "warrants to the original retail purchaser that the product that is the subject of this sale is free from defects in material and workmanship at the time of sale."

I think this is a pretty clear cut case of a defect in workmanship, but as of now I've had more time trying to get them to honor their warranty then I've spent using the tiller. Am I thinking about this the wrong way?

Their trying to put it on me that loose bolts are a maintenance problem, but if your oil pan falls off your new car before your first oil change you would assume the manufacturer would warranty that. I shouldn't have to double check their work from the factory.

Thanks for any responses. Just trying to figure out if I'm barking up the wrong tree.

Chris

 

[oosik]

I think your thoughts regarding the tiller warranty are valid. Will you ever get satisfaction? Only time will tell.

And, please, keep us updated.

 

[ChrisFromWisconsin]

It doesn’t look like they’re going to honor the warranty. I even had the retailer reach out (Blain’s Farm and Fleet) to King Kutter, and their offer was to ship me the bolts missing from the gearbox cover. I didn’t take them up on that…

They sell the gearbox for 650 dollars.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Is the gearbox bad?

 

[ChrisFromWisconsin]

I don't know. I haven't pulled it apart to see if there's pitting or if the bearing have play.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I suppose, the warranty would fix what is broken. If the gearbox is ok, then I suppose there isn't much to fix? It seems it would take long time for a full gearbox to fully drain due to loose bolts? The only thing to do would be to tighten the bolts and fill the gearbox and keep using it.

Did that one bolt come out completely? I will admit, I've gone over my IronCraft tiller once or twice to check bolts, just as I did on my new tractor after 30 hours of use. Bolts can loosen, and I'm not sure that in itself is a warranty claim.

Technically they could say you didn't follow the user manual, (page 20) which instructs the user to check gearbox oil level, and to check for loose nuts and bolts. If that were done, the gearbox would not have "suddenly" become empty.

 

[ChrisFromWisconsin]

As an update, I worked with the retailer (Blain's Farm and Fleet). The store manager didn't agree with King Kutter's response either so he escalated it to the corporate level, and that got through at the corporate level at King Kutter. I got a call from KK's national sales manager who seems like a nice guy. They're going to swap out my tiller with a new one. So it seems the warranty is valid in my case assuming you can somehow navigate your way to the top of the food chain...

@clover, one bolt backed out all the way and two more loosened halfway out. I would say that three 1/2 inch bolts aren't going to vibrate out if they're properly torqued from the factory. That is what KK tried to claim though was that it was a lack of maintenance. Yes, I filled the gearboxes when I first got it. No, I didn't check all of the 100+ bolts on the tiller every time I used it as the manual claims...

 

[oosik]

I'll bet you check all the bolts on the new replacement tiller. I'll also bet they double check before sending it to you.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I think you got lucky; I don't think they owed you a new tiller.

SR

 

[oosik]

Sawyer Rob

I also have mixed feeling on the out come of this. If it were my tiller - this is the way I would want it to finish.

However - there are a few, less drastic, corrective actions that could have made the tiller hole again. Several different way that this tiller could have been repaired.

I understand why the company solved the dilemma this way. They accepted full responsibility and made this move to retain their integrity.

Yes - the OP got lucky. But his luck also helps retain the good feelings for this company.

I think folks will realize - not every situation will be resolved in this fashion.