KMW loaders/Backhoes

oldpilgrim · Oct 17, 2016

While doing some machine work at my nearby Sportsmens club, I ran into a member who recently bought a new 1526. He now has about 50 hours on it and likes it but.............

He has had problems with the hydro cylinders. An fel lift cylinder leaked past the seals, and both bh stabilizer cylinders are leaking at the seals. His dealer is giving problems as they think he's doing something wrong with his machine. He's not happy.

I told him that when I got my new machine, within 20 hours a leak developed in one of my loader lift cylinders at a weld point on the closed end of the cylinder. My dealer replaced it with no questions asked. He didn't get his at the same dealer I did but said he would check in with my dealer to see if he could get some satisfaction with them.

Has anyone else has issues with the cylinders supplied by KMW? If I hadn't had an issue, I'd just write off my friend's problems as bad luck, but now I'm not so sure.

BobG_in_VA · Oct 17, 2016

Mind you, I have an '02 Mahindra 6000 with the KMW mdl 264 loader (not a new smaller unit)...not one single problem of any sort in 14 years/700 or so hours...My backhoe is a bradco 511 so I can't speak to that, but its a great hoe and no complaints. BobG in VA

JerryK · Oct 17, 2016

My 2011 Mahindra 5035's KMW loader has Canadian cyl's on it... no problems, and I have abused it many times...

mike69440 · Oct 17, 2016

oldpilgrim said:
While doing some machine work at my nearby Sportsmens club, I ran into a member who recently bought a new 1526. He now has about 50 hours on it and likes it but.............

He has had problems with the hydro cylinders. An fel lift cylinder leaked past the seals, and both bh stabilizer cylinders are leaking at the seals. His dealer is giving problems as they think he's doing something wrong with his machine. He's not happy.

I told him that when I got my new machine, within 20 hours a leak developed in one of my loader lift cylinders at a weld point on the closed end of the cylinder. My dealer replaced it with no questions asked. He didn't get his at the same dealer I did but said he would check in with my dealer to see if he could get some satisfaction with them.

Has anyone else has issues with the cylinders supplied by KMW? If I hadn't had an issue, I'd just write off my friend's problems as bad luck, but now I'm not so sure.

I actually pulled apart a pair of 1526 loader bucket curl cylinders to make some modifications and found them then be designed ok. They had gland and piston wear guides and a decent seal setup. Actual seal quality, who knows? Seal life has a lot to do with initial installation. I have 75 hours on cylinders, no problems so far.

AchingBack · Oct 17, 2016

I just paid $150.00 to rebuild the boom cylinder on my 3710 loader. When I bought the hoe it had approx. 30 hours of fairly hard use, I've put on another 30-40 hours. The hoe is probably ten years old. I had it rebuilt because of a constant leak, even with the pressure to the cylinder relieved.

Now, for the swing cylinder: both chrome plated rods are heavily pitted, but have not yet caused a leak. I plan on polishing them with emery cloth before the next use.

As to the 106 loader on the tractor, the lift cylinder on the left side has been slowly dripping fluid for about ten years, but not enough to make me spend the money to rebuild.

dickfoster · Oct 19, 2016

oldpilgrim said:
While doing some machine work at my nearby Sportsmens club, I ran into a member who recently bought a new 1526. He now has about 50 hours on it and likes it but.............

He has had problems with the hydro cylinders. An fel lift cylinder leaked past the seals, and both bh stabilizer cylinders are leaking at the seals. His dealer is giving problems as they think he's doing something wrong with his machine. He's not happy.

I told him that when I got my new machine, within 20 hours a leak developed in one of my loader lift cylinders at a weld point on the closed end of the cylinder. My dealer replaced it with no questions asked. He didn't get his at the same dealer I did but said he would check in with my dealer to see if he could get some satisfaction with them.

Has anyone else has issues with the cylinders supplied by KMW? If I hadn't had an issue, I'd just write off my friend's problems as bad luck, but now I'm not so sure.

So far mine are fine on both the loader and the backhoe which are KMW pieces.

oldpilgrim · Oct 19, 2016

I wonder whether there are different countries of origin for them.

dickfoster · Oct 19, 2016

oldpilgrim said:
I wonder whether there are different countries of origin for them.

There is a guy from KMW on here once in awhile, maybe he'll speak up.

JerryK · Oct 19, 2016

I find it hard to believe that Kansas Machine Works sells loaders that they do not produce in, say Kansas... I will go along with that they may source their hyd cyl's at various places... if that is what you are saying...