Kioti CK30 loader repair and reinforcement

Dargo · Mar 30, 2006

( Highbeam,

Seriously, the repair looks pretty darn good however.... )

Highbeam paid his hard earned money for his entire rig; tractor, implements, and trailer. I've been in and around the metal and welding business for about 35 years. To be blunt, I have to completely disagree with the above statement. No, under no circumstances does that repair look "pretty darn good". It looks like crap! Sorry. A novice metalworker and welder who has been at their occupation for a week would have been fired over such a job. Obviously Highbeam can do what he wants, it's his money and his tractor, but I don't care if the repair job was done on a $2500 dollar tractor that was made in India or if it was on a big three tractor, that jackleg excuse of a 'professional' repair would be totally unacceptable to me.

The brand of his tractor has exactly zero to do with the repair job. The repair is pathetic. My 9 year old daughter could do a better job! That kind of jackleg repair would make anyone in the future who may consider buying Highbeam's tractor turn and run, worried what other shoddy work was done to the machine that they may not see.

As said before, it's between Highbeam, his dealer, and Kioti as to whether the loader would be replaced. However, now that the dealer has done such a shoddy job doing a 'quickie - get it outta here, repair on his loader, I feel he doesn't have much choice now than demand a new loader. I'd say that it now would be between the dealer who totally screwed up his loader and Kioti who manufacturered it with a defect to begin with. Kioti ought to be upset that it looks like their loader was taken to a high school shop class to let them practice metal work on their loader. I doubt that Kioti will be very happy that their loader now has been really screwed up.

Highbeam, the best of luck to you. I'm sure that you'll do what you feel best. However, at this point I feel that it's time to let them know that you would have been unhappy with the slap together jackleg repair they did even if it were on a used $1000 dollar tractor; let alone your nice new tractor. I'm just saying that from the professional metal fabricating and welding stand point of view, they totally ruined your loader whereas before it could have been repaired nicely where it would have looked 'factory' and would have been strong. Good luck!

HODAK · Mar 30, 2006

Can we at least agree on one thing here?

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

Becky, straight to the point. Good job. I don't think HIGHBEAM needs paragraph after paragraph of advice and negativity. He'll handle it as he sees fit. This "if it was me" stuff is getting out of hand - in my opinion.

turbo36 · Mar 30, 2006

Well said Dargo. I think there are some thin skinned Kioti believers in this Forum /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Mavrik02 · Mar 30, 2006

turbo36,

I think that last comment was uncalled for. In this case the brand doesn't matter. The discussion could involve any brand and any particular decision a manufacturer makes about whether to repair or replace. Calling "some" of us "thin skinned Kioti believers" is just plain rude and immature.

Dargo · Mar 30, 2006

Thanks. There are apparently some who feel if you are not in their particular "clique", you are not worthy of offering any thoughts or advice to questions asked. For example:

( Can we at least agree on one thing here?)

I took the time to re-read the entire thread. This comment / question makes no sense.

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

If it's entirely this private of a matter, why post it in a public forum????? Again, this makes no sense.

( I don't think HIGHBEAM needs paragraph after paragraph of advice and negativity. He'll handle it as he sees fit. This "if it was me" stuff is getting out of hand - in my opinion. )

Somebody apparently is not reading the same thread as everyone else. As I said, I've completely re-read the entire thread to see if I was missing something that was 'paragraph after paragraph of negativity'. Plain and simple; it is NOT here. All I see is people hoping for the best for Highbeam and offering possible solutions to his questions and concerns at hand. The above mentioned quotes are about the only thing here that can be considered "negative", and it is entirely aimed at people that that particular poster feels are not worthy to make comments. Gees!

HODAK · Mar 30, 2006

Somebody apparently is not reading the same thread as everyone else....................

Agree..........

Highbeam · Mar 30, 2006

I appreciate all of this input. I am looking for assistance in making a decision on whether to gripe or not and of course the final decision is mine. I agree that the repair and reinforcement could and should have been done in a much much more professional, clean, and permanent manner and still offered additional strength over the OEM design. I brought them a nearly new loader with cracks. I left with a nearly new loader without cracks but with chopped up angle iron scabbed onto it.

By redneck I mean something that a guy with a garage full of angle iron, a torch, and an arc welder would do in his backyard to a piece of old used up equipment he was trying to get a few more hours out of. I consider myself a bit of a redneck but even my welds look better than this.

This lousy repair is not a Kioti issue yet. The original loader cracks are a rarer Kioti defect but the fix has not been scrutinized by Kioti.

If I seek a new loader and hit resistance, I may need some help from you folks again.

Dargo · Mar 30, 2006

Since we are not talking about chain /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif, hopefully you understood my comments only to be in your best interest and as agreeing with you that the dealer did not do you any favor with their repair. I agreed 100% that the repair issue had nothing to do with Kioti at all, and thought I'd expressed that. I know that you work for your money just like everyone else and was just expressing from 35 years of metal and welding experience that the dealer actually made matters worse with their "repair". I'm guessing that Kioti will most likely agree with that assessment.

Before the hatchet job, I think it could have been fixed to not only be strong, but look professional. Now I don't see that as a realistic possibility. Afterall, you did not buy something from the scrap yard and rig together to make a Frankenstein tractor.

Highbeam · Mar 30, 2006

No Dargo, I appreciate direct comments, no need to beat around the bush. Perhaps on Saturday I can stop by the dealer and have a discussion with the boss. My basic question being, "Would you be happy if your new tractor looked like this?". I am compelled to give him a chance to make it right.

turbo36 · Mar 30, 2006

If you notice my comment was made "tongue in cheek" and was expressed to see what kind of reaction I would get. Go back and survey the people that responded to Highbeams request for help and you will see that the majority of Kioti owners/dealers that responded told him to accept the fix as is while the "other brand" people told him to seek a new loader. In my opinion (often flawed I'll admit) it looked to me like like the Kioti loyalty was influencing their logic and I just wanted to have some fun.

Highbeam · Mar 30, 2006

I don't really care what brand of tractor each of the contributors owns or sells. This isn't about brands. All comments about this loader situation are welcome and encouraged.

Donnyj · Mar 30, 2006

I dont believe trying to stir a reaction from anyone is in the original posters best interest. Agreed? The purpose here is to offer assistance and advice when seen fit. Agree?

KiotiJohn · Mar 30, 2006

I agree totally with Dargo. The brand doesn't matter, the repair looks terrible and should be addressed. Kioti as a company should not be unfairly accused of not doing what they should until they have clearly had the opportunity to do so, which has apparently not been done in this case.

I definitely think you should get with the owner of the dealership and tell him/her that you are not satisfied with this fix, with good reason. It is poor. Have him contact Kioti service, and go from there.

I would suggest that anyone who wishes to just have fun and stir up things in this forum check out the rules of engagement as set out by Muhammad. Just trying to get a reaction is what he has been trying hard to eliminate. We're all here to help one another. That people are proud of their brand is normal. Trying to upset them with unfair statements is just adolescent.
John

HODAK · Mar 30, 2006

the majority of Kioti owners/dealers that responded told him to accept the fix

I did not see this.....the majority? How many dealers?

Having some fun? Yea, that's what I thought. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Good luck, HIGHBEAM. Keep us posted, (even the "other brand" guys).

Steverino · Mar 30, 2006

Dargo, "I'm In Your Corner" /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif We used to have a consumer advocate on TV that used that in his spiel to get you to call him with consumer complaints. He was a no nonsense straight shooting advocate for a fair and reasonable deal for the consumer. And it is more than apparent that that is your position. I could not agree more with your statements throughout this discussion. And a discussion is what this is. It is a discussion to bring forth all the facts relevant to the problem. A discussion to banter around ideas and solutions, and to give Highbeam some brotherly advice and moral support in the resolution of his problem.

Also there are those of us participating in this discussion who by chance have the same rig as Highbeam with a potential for the same problem and therefore have a vested interest in the resolution and the process to that end.

If after all that I have learned here, I was to have the same problem, I would take a copy of the picture of Highbeam’s repair along with me to whoever repaired it, and I would state in no uncertain terms that this would not be acceptable repair for me. I would not ask for a new loader but a new frame for the loader. The bucket cylinders and hoses and other parts could all be reused and I would consider that to be more than fair and equitable. That is my position on the fix.

For those who don’t see the value in this discussion, please don’t ridicule those of us that do. Highbeam has a problem and the majority of want to see him resolve it in a way that is acceptable to him. Highbeam contributes a lot on TBN and deserves to have his problem addressed until he is satisfied that he has received all the input he needs and has reached a resolution that is satisfactory to him.

Not to be rude but for those who find this post banal, you have the option of simply not continuing to read it.

Dargo · Mar 30, 2006

( My basic question being, "Would you be happy if your new tractor looked like this?". I am compelled to give him a chance to make it right.)

Hot dang it! You're doing it to me again. I have to agree completely with your thoughts. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I mean, heck, what are people here going to think if we keep agreeing?! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seriously though, I do think you are taking the most logical and reasonable steps you can take in your situation. It's never easy to go to someone and have to tell them, "this is not acceptable" and to try to get them to honestly reply as to whether they would be happy with the "repair" if it were their tractor. Good luck to you. I know it will be an awkward conversation. Hopefully the dealer will appreciate you being courteous enough to address the matter with him first to see if he will do the right thing without him being forced to do so.

MessickFarmEqu · Mar 30, 2006

(
I would suggest that anyone who wishes to just have fun and stir up things in this forum check out the rules of engagement as set out by Muhammad. Just trying to get a reaction is what he has been trying hard to eliminate. We're all here to help one another. That people are proud of their brand is normal. Trying to upset them with unfair statements is just adolescent.
John )

Chill out a bit, this whole thread has been really pretty civil, I don't see anyone stiring the pot or taking offence to somthing. This is not like you John.

If Highbeam gets stuck with this thing, than blame can be laid... and it should be frankly. Someone should be darn embarassed about the whole thing to begin with. Highbeam seems remarkably calm and accepting of the whole thing. I'm shocked - I would expect someone to be really irate if I passed along a tractor looking like that.

KiotiJohn · Mar 30, 2006

( Chill out a bit, this whole thread has been really pretty civil, I don't see anyone stiring the pot or taking offence to somthing. )
Neil, you obviously have not read all the posts. Comments about some members being thin-skinned are not welcome, and do not fit the terms of service of this forum. The poster even admitted that he only wanted to get a reaction. I don't need to chill out when I'm not wrong. Thanks. John

turbo36 · Mar 30, 2006

To all those that take offense to my statements should go back and read the responses and show me one person that owns a Kioti that advised him to not accept the bad repair, there is none, it is the truth and if the truth offends you then so be it. Anyone suggesting that Highbeam roll over and accept this repair is wrong, sorry no other way to look at it.
As far as poking fun at someone that is brand loyal it's done all the time in the others forums without this much uproar.

Batche33 · Mar 30, 2006

No one has even come close to saying that he should "accept" this.

The dealer did the welding (shoddy at best) not Kioti.

I do believe his original question was ( Tell me what you think. Function over form? )

Again didn't say he should accept it.

Becky