Kioti CK30 loader repair and reinforcement

[Highbeam]

I have received no PMs. I haven't complained to my dealer though and that would be my first place to go. It would be a little back-stabby to not let him know that I am unhappy before going to his "boss". Not real sure that I am unhappy with the overall resolution yet.

 

[JerryG]

John,
Neil and myself were not cutting Kioti down. Matter of a fact, my dealer wanted a less expensive tractor brand to offer along side his main line. He asked me about Kioti and I only told him good things about them. They are the brand that is doing the most growing right now or at least they seem to be. Most of their products seem to be well designed and manufactured. They honestly seem to be a quality product. It is really bad that a person can't even say what most major manufactures do with out being flamed just because you happen to own a different brand. All manufactures make a mistake once in a while and Kioti is no different. Marketing has a tough road because of the amount of competition in the market place today. What they don't need is something as visible as a large piece of angle iron stuck on the front of a loader that is brand new. It appears to be a good fix and I am sure that the problem will never resurface again. But, how does other potential owners look at it?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( John,
Neil and myself were not cutting Kioti down. Matter of a fact, my dealer wanted a less expensive tractor brand to off along side his main line. He asked me about Kioti and I only told him good things about them. They are the brand that is doing the most growing right now or at least they seem to be. Most of their products seem to be well designed and manufactured. They honestly seem to be a quality product. It is really bad that a person can't even say what most major manufactures do with out being flamed just because you happen to own a different brand. All manufactures make a mistake once in a while and Kioti is no different. Marketing has a tough road because of the amount of competition in the market place today. What they don't need is something as visible as a large piece of angle iron stuck on the front of a loader that is brand new. It appears to be a good fix and I am sure that the problem will never resurface again. But, how does other potential owners look at it? )</font>


Jerry I agree that you did not deserve to be flamed, what you and Neil wrote is nothing that many people didn't think. I am known for being pretty blunt but I've tried to stay out of some of the discussions simply for the sake of keeping peace.

Honestly I would be terribly unhappy with the repair if it was on my tractors.
-- 1st, the paint doesn't look like it was properly ground off where the welded repair was made.
-- 2nd, the welds do not seal the repair so rain will easily get in between the new metal and the old, rust is going to be a big issue.
-- 3rd, the repair should have had all the surface rust removed before the weld was made and the part primed. It then should have had the primer ground off at all the points were the welds were going to be made.
-- 4th, the entire area should have then been primed after the welds.
-- 5th, the entire area should have been repainted before returning it to a customer.

I'm sorry but it is just a sloppy job. Rust is going to be a constant problem, the only way to stop internal rust is going to be to cut it off and do it right.

Now if folks want to flame me for stating the obvious then feel free.

IF the job had been done properly, then I would have no problem with the dealer making a repair like that on my tractors. But the dealer did a shabby job (IMHO) and there is no way he should have returned it to a customer in that condition! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

If a part on your car broke and you took it to a dealer and it came back with a sloppy visible weld, not primed, and rusting would you be happy? These tractors we play with cost as much as cars, no way should customers accept that type of repair.

 

[Highbeam]

Thanks Bob, to be fair, the dealer planned to paint it for me once the weather broke but I wanted the tractor sooner to get work done. I have no doubt that the additional prep work before painting would have been minimal at best.

I have observed the rain water issue, it is not sealed though drain holes are in place at the bottom of the angle. I am becoming less happy with this repair as time goes on. The angle iron sloppy job is not just an aesthetic issue but a long term reliability issue.

I expected the cracks to be repaired and reinforced with a formed piece of plate in the shape of a donut that conformed to the loader frame and reinforced the cut out in the loader frame. The amount of additional reinforcement I got, done this sloppily, was not expected or required to prevent the cracks from happening again.

 

[MotorSeven]

HB,

Knowing what you know now, you most likely would have done the job yourself. I know it is a warranty thing, but if mine cracks, i will be fixing it myself, unless Kioti offers to replace the whole loader. However, if the replacement is the same loader without any "factory" reinforcement, then it's back to fixing it myself, because it would be a gimmie to happen again. I agree with your vision of the fix and would see no problem if it had been done by a professional welder. I will be closely checking on my loader in the future.........

RD

 

[5030]

Highbeam:

No doubt it's strong....

No doubt it's ugly.

Quite honestly, if you can live with it, and you will see it right in your face all the time, so be it.

Myself, however, I'd want a new loader and I'd want the new loader reinforced and done asthetically right. In addition, I'd want a non-prorated warranty on the new loader.

I personally don't think either Jerry or Neil was purposely flaming a brand. Jerry especially is a straight up fellow and I can attest to that. We've both been here quite a long time. Neil hasn't been around that long and granted his family sells the "other brand", so I have to give him less latitude....sorry Neil. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I wish you the best whatever you decide. After all, you are the one who has to live with it. We can all discuss the issue but ultimately you will decide the issue.

Please don't take this wrong, but I think about you when I flush the toilet ocassionally. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Highbeam]

"Please don't take this wrong, but I think about you when I flush the toilet ocassionally."

Bah! That's great. Of course in my line of work, poo is my bread and butter so many people think of me when they flush. Well maybe they don't but they should.

I'll end up trying to do a little dolling up of the fix before final paint and of course posting the final pics. I really like to spend my spare time actually running the tractor rather than fixing it.

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Jerry especially is a straight up fellow and I can attest to that. )</font>

Yes he is.
When Jerry speaks, I listen ..

 

[HODAK]

HIGHBEAM, in my opinion this is something that you should discuss with your dealer. Owners of other brands love this stuff and have lots of ideas on what you should do, but it's your tractor and your decision.

Unhappy? I'm sure you are. I would be.

Is this a widespread problem? I check mine after every use since your first post on this problem. Just last night I leveled 5 loads of fill that was mostly large rocks and I gave the loader a good workout. So far, so good.

 

[rickster]

To be honest with you a few months ago I was really sold on kioti.
If I had purchased a $15000 tractor and they did a fix like that theres NO WAY! I would be happy with that.

Rick

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have received no PMs. I haven't complained to my dealer though and that would be my first place to go. )</font>
Highbeam, did anyone at Kioti even get in on this or was it just something the dealer decided to do? People are tending to blame Kioti in this for not replacing the loader, but it appears they weren't much involved. What Kioti usually requires to pay for a warranty issue is pictures of the damage, and pictures of the repair. They don't have to have the loader back to figure out where the problem is.
All you guys who say that I was flaming, don't know the meaning of the word! What I said about Jerry was that he couldn't possibly know that usually manufactuers want the broken loader back, unless he has been a dealer for all those manufacturers. That is not a flame to Jerry, a fine person I'm sure, it is pointing out that not one person can know what all MFG would usually do. You can argue with that all you want, but Jerry is not even a dealer. I make so such concession as to Neil. I've read plenty of his posts for over two years.
I agree, the fix as we see it sucks, and Highbeam should have a new loader, and if he pursues it, I have little doubt that a satifactory solution will be had.
John

 

[TomKioti]

Highbeam,

What's with the whole "Redneck" thing?

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What's with the whole "Redneck" thing? )</font>
I was leaving that one alone! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TomKioti]

I tried but my red neck wouldn't let me. It's a monster I tell ya!

What's that maw? The rackoons cooked and ready for supper?

Gotta go ya'll

 

[TomKioti]

Highbeam,

Seriously, the repair looks pretty darn good however.... I would
have definately went after Kioti for the new loader. I just hope now
they will honor the warranty with that repair being done.

Good Luck my Friend!

 

[JerryG]

John,
I am not a dealer, but I worked for one for several years.

 

[HODAK]

I stayed at a Holiday Inn once. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Glen_Ippolito]

Highbeam,
I would contact Kioti and have them replace the loader and or do a better job repairing it. Good luck.
Thanks
Glen

 

[Batche33]

Does the dealer know that Highbeam & those on TBN have an issue with what was done?
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I haven't complained to my dealer though and that would be my first place to go. It would be a little back-stabby to not let him know that I am unhappy before going to his "boss". Not real sure that I am unhappy with the overall resolution yet. )</font>

And a quote from KiotiJohn (who's words I do respect) </font><font color="blue" class="small">( Highbeam, did anyone at Kioti even get in on this or was it just something the dealer decided to do? People are tending to blame Kioti in this for not replacing the loader, but it appears they weren't much involved. What Kioti usually requires to pay for a warranty issue is pictures of the damage, and pictures of the repair. They don't have to have the loader back to figure out where the problem is. )</font>

And another from Highbeam
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I would say that I am not happy with the looks of it but I am happy with the function. It is a blemish to the loader. We're not talking about a mercedes here. )</font>

And to reiterate
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Not real sure that I am unhappy with the overall resolution yet. )</font>

Does it look like new?
No.

Could it been done better?
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( -- 1st, the paint doesn't look like it was properly ground off where the welded repair was made.
-- 2nd, the welds do not seal the repair so rain will easily get in between the new metal and the old, rust is going to be a big issue.
-- 3rd, the repair should have had all the surface rust removed before the weld was made and the part primed. It then should have had the primer ground off at all the points were the welds were going to be made.
-- 4th, the entire area should have then been primed after the welds.
-- 5th, the entire area should have been repainted before returning it to a customer. )</font>

Does it work like it should?
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The fix is strong. It has really tightened up the loader and I have been putting it through a rigorous testing sequence. )</font>

Should the loader be replaced?
Don't know, maybe, maybe not.
But it should be decided upon by Highbeam, his dealer & Kioti

Becky

 

[rback33]

Excellent Summation Becky. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif