Kioti maintenance intervals

[idscarecrow]

I just bought a 2006 DK35 w/ 250 hours. I have been reading through the manual, and there are a LOT of things the manual recommends be replaced "every two years." This includes various hoses etc. Does anyone actually do this every two years? Is it necessary? Even if the tractor doesn't see heavy use?

Thanks.

 

[IslandTractor]

I change fluids and filters, grease and tighten bolts as recommended but I haven't seen any reason to change hoses etc. I do the same with my cars. My tractor is almost four years old but has only moderate use with just under 300 hours. 300 hours is roughly like 15,000 miles on a car. I sure don't change hoses on my cars unless inspection shows a problem brewing and am comfortable doing the same with the tractor.

 

[VictorW]

I do the same as Island. Fluids, filters, and grease per maintenance schedule. Tighten bolts at each service. I changed antifreeze at 4 years due to possible ph change and loss of rust inhibitor. Hoses, belts, and other possible wear items are checked each service and replaced if needed. So far, I haven't had to with @375 hours after 5 years.

 

[Highbeam]

Me three. After 1000 hours, I have the same hoses and belts from the factory. I did flush the coolant. I did not do the valve adjustment either.

 

[grsthegreat]

re-check the manual, mine says to CHECK and re-tighten the hoses every 200 hours. maybe they botched the manual and put the check marks in the wrong box.

Ive found quite a few blatant errors in my manual also

 

[idscarecrow]

Hmm - I just reviewed the manual, and I think maybe I did misinterpret it. The service intervals are in columns. The first column is the item, the second notes change/check/replace, the following columns are the hour intervals, up to 800 hours. On the far right it indicates, for some items, "every year" or "every two years" - but that column is labeled "Since then." I guess that means to only replace after two years if you put 800 hours on in those two years. Oops.

BTW, it says to check the oil every day (of use), which I agree is a good idea - so why did Kioti design the dang tractor to require me to remove the side cowling just to check the oil?! Would it have been that hard to route the dipstick to someplace NOT under the cowl?! What a PITA, especially w/ the FEL on. ARgh.

 

[grsthegreat]

Hmm - I just reviewed the manual, and I think maybe I did misinterpret it. The service intervals are in columns. The first column is the item, the second notes change/check/replace, the following columns are the hour intervals, up to 800 hours. On the far right it indicates, for some items, "every year" or "every two years" - but that column is labeled "Since then." I guess that means to only replace after two years if you put 800 hours on in those two years. Oops.

BTW, it says to check the oil every day (of use), which I agree is a good idea - so why did Kioti design the dang tractor to require me to remove the side cowling just to check the oil?! Would it have been that hard to route the dipstick to someplace NOT under the cowl?! What a PITA, especially w/ the FEL on. ARgh.

my old jd was that way also...pissed me off to no end.

My new Kioti has the stick BELOW the side panel, so i dont have to remove the panel to check it.

 

[IslandTractor]

First, it is ridiculous to require daily oil checks on modern engines. Do any of you check your car's oil and other fluids each morning? Modern gaskets and engines don't suddenly fail often and if they do it is just as likely to have a catastrophic failure ten minutes after checking the oil as before. I've never had to add even a drop of oil between 50 hr changes.

Second, unless one suffers from OCD or enjoys checking the manual every day, it probably makes more sense to spend time greasing zerks and doing a visual walk around than to worry about what some corporate lawyer insisted on for a maintenance schedule. I do the 50 hr multiple fluid and filter changes as prescribed but even those seem scheduled more as a corporate CYA than based on science. It hurts to dispose of ten or more gallons of clean HST fluid in an era where automobile transmission fluid is considered good for lifetime and usually not changed unless discolored or burnt.

My car computer tells me I average about 25mph in average driving over a few months. The manufacturer's recommended oil change interval is 5000 miles. That is about 200 hours of engine time. Why do we change tractor motor oil four times more often? Seems a waste. Where is the science behind 50 hour changes? Modern oils are presumably better so why do we hold on to maintenance schedules worked out in the 1930's?

 

[grsthegreat]

First, it is ridiculous to require daily oil checks on modern engines. Do any of you check your car's oil and other fluids each morning? Modern gaskets and engines don't suddenly fail often and if they do it is just as likely to have a catastrophic failure ten minutes after checking the oil as before. I've never had to add even a drop of oil between 50 hr changes.

Second, unless one suffers from OCD or enjoys checking the manual every day, it probably makes more sense to spend time greasing zerks and doing a visual walk around than to worry about what some corporate lawyer insisted on for a maintenance schedule. I do the 50 hr multiple fluid and filter changes as prescribed but even those seem scheduled more as a corporate CYA than based on science. It hurts to dispose of ten or more gallons of clean HST fluid in an era where automobile transmission fluid is considered good for lifetime and usually not changed unless discolored or burnt.

My car computer tells me I average about 25mph in average driving over a few months. The manufacturer's recommended oil change interval is 5000 miles. That is about 200 hours of engine time. Why do we change tractor motor oil four times more often? Seems a waste. Where is the science behind 50 hour changes? Modern oils are presumably better so why do we hold on to maintenance schedules worked out in the 1930's?

good points...and Ive often thought the same thing.

I do grease the Zerk's about once a week or so....i mean i don't use the loader enough to do it daily. and i usually check the oil during that time.

A force of habit more than anything else. In all the years i owned my other tractor, i never noticed a loss in oil.

Now my riding lawn mower and golf cart engines are always needing oil. tractor...never. I will dutifully change the tractor oil as required though....i kept the old JD running strong for 14 years don't that. seams like cheap insurance.

 

[kco]

Hmm - I just reviewed the manual, and I think maybe I did misinterpret it. The service intervals are in columns. The first column is the item, the second notes change/check/replace, the following columns are the hour intervals, up to 800 hours. On the far right it indicates, for some items, "every year" or "every two years" - but that column is labeled "Since then." I guess that means to only replace after two years if you put 800 hours on in those two years. Oops.

BTW, it says to check the oil every day (of use), which I agree is a good idea - so why did Kioti design the dang tractor to require me to remove the side cowling just to check the oil?! Would it have been that hard to route the dipstick to someplace NOT under the cowl?! What a PITA, especially w/ the FEL on. ARgh.

Oil can be checked on the new DK35 without moving anything. So I guess they must have redesigned the dipstick location.