Loader retro-"fit"......doesn't

[MotorSeven]

Anyone else get the kit and not have it fit?(Dr Suess, or was that O.J?) I spent an hr on my back under the cross tube before concluding that the thing was 3/4 inch too narrow. Called the dealer back and let them know, then they checked into it and said that Kioti is still having fitment trouble. They are supposed to send out a new kit....one of these days. In the meantime, due to digging into a hard slate embankment for fill, yep...cracks. I may just forego the kit & warranty extension and weld the dang thing up. Everytime i walk past the mig, it wispers, "go on...just do it!"
Has anyone welded theirs up? If so, pic's?


Disclaimer: The abovementioned post is in no way ,form or means a catalyst to ignite the former "loader cosmetic blemish defect debate". Instructions forwarded to the moderator for deletion in the event that HighBeams eye startes twitching after reading this post.

 

[crabjoe]

I didn't think Kioti ever came out with a kit for the K130 loader. And because of that, I'm thinking your dealer must have sent you a kit for the K120 loader.

As for the crack, I met a TBN member that has a CK25 with the cracks. His loader's no longer level and Kioti doesn't seem to want to do a thing for him.

Good Luck!!

 

[laurencen]

Last month I was considering cutting out the middle piece that is cracking, fitting a heavy tube section thro the arms and then a reinforcing gusset on the outsides, it all came down to cost and time, ended trading my old loader and $500.00 for a new one, not pleased having to spend more money but the cover retro fix just looks feeble, given the long term issue getting worse and many customers with cracks there is a potential for injury, I assume the cracks will continue to migrate till the arms are no longer attached, for me the $500.00 will pay for its self should I need to sell or trade up my machine, mine is on a CK20

 

[Westendorf-RR]

Careful about doing your own modifications, it can be a liability. Especially if the unit is new as it may void your warranty, I'd check first.

 

[HODAK]

Last month I was considering cutting out the middle piece that is cracking, fitting a heavy tube section thro the arms and then a reinforcing gusset on the outsides, it all came down to cost and time, ended trading my old loader and $500.00 for a new one, not pleased having to spend more money but the cover retro fix just looks feeble, given the long term issue getting worse and many customers with cracks there is a potential for injury, I assume the cracks will continue to migrate till the arms are no longer attached, for me the $500.00 will pay for its self should I need to sell or trade up my machine, mine is on a CK20

You did the right thing and that sounds like a good deal. 500 bucks if and when you trade up?? Yup, well worth the money.........you'll most likely get it back.

 

[Highbeam]

Instructions forwarded to the moderator for deletion in the event that HighBeams eye startes twitching after reading this post.

Come'on now,we've all been getting along real well. It's not my eye you need to worry about twitching it is the eyes of all the owners of the old loaders for which this issue is still front and center.

 

[laurencen]

$500.00 was a no brainer, waranty as far as I recall was 1 year on the old loader, I had 2 months to get the retrofit, I think even with the fix the next weak point is the welds where the torque tube section is attached between the arms, the arms will twist, you can measure it simply using a magnetic dial indicator on the outside of a arm and the probe on the torque tube, now lift something heavy, the new ones having the tube thro the arms with the outside gusset does not flex, there is also quite a difference when a load is on one side of the bucket, I would expect once they crack the alignment between the arms will go out of wack.

As for doing your own fix, grind the welds off the torque tube, use a hole saw and drill thro both sides of the arms 2 1/2 diameter, use a 2 1/2 tube heavy wall pipe, weld it both sides of the arms, get a local shop to laser cut a gusset with a hole 2 3/4 where the pipe comes thro again weld all round the gusset and pipe throw a few gussets on the inside, split the torque tube in half, where the cover plate is easy and fit between the arms and weld back in place, this is the way new arms are made now,

Its a lot of work so if you can upgrade what you have from your dealer, one would think reputation and customer satisfaction would mean something, as a manufacturer you would think Kioti would take a hit and replace the arms, there cost is likely $150.00 on a machine that cost upwards of $13,000.00, how many would we be talking about, lets face it when you try to trade it in after say 5 years the loader will have a reputation no one will want, thats if they last that long.

 

[MotorSeven]

Hb,
I was really trying to lighten a subject up that had gotten heated......no harm intended. Btw, i haven't been on here alot lately because we were on dial up, but just got a sat dish, so did your issue ever get resolved? I know that they did a hack weld job, but did that stop the cracking? The retro fit is a 1/4 " cover that completly surrounds the x-member, but i have my doubts as to it's effectivness without welding.

As for the warranty issue, My loader is supposed to go out this month, but since the defect issue is over a year old, Kioti would have a hard time not covering any further damage(yes legal action may be an option). However, my dealer has been great and assures me theat it will get resolved, and i trust that even if it came out of his own pocket it will get done. I understand that not everyone has close dealer support, and their machine may have been bought used, so a welding option most likely will be the way to go.

The kit instruction sheet say's that it is for both the 130 & 120, and they included a 1/4" flat bar spacer to make up for the gap caused by taller crossmembers(6.5") which is what mine is. The trouble was the thickness front to back....the kit wasn't even close.

So, for now i will wait and see, lkie everyone else.......but, i will work it as much as need be, and if a complete failure occurs, then it forces the issue to the replacement arena.

RD

 

[Highbeam]

My loader was replaced with the new model. The old one was hacked beyond repair. I did update the super-duper-long original crack thread to reflect the final outcome. Unfortunately, the resolution for me is unique and other folks haven't been taken care of. Some dealers are still selling the old loaders with or without the repair kits and one can only hope that the buyers are being informed.

 

[laurencen]

If they fail, after the waranty period they have no obligation to repair them, to this date they have not stepped up to the plate to satisfy customer concerns, if the retrofit is all that was needed why change the arms to this design, they could have just made a thicker torque tube, I still believe the light will come on at Kioti and they will do the right thing, but will it cover the arms when they are 5 years old and fail

A question to other members on this site that has purchased other than Kioti this year, has the loader issue detered you from buying the Kioti, did the dealer use this issue to his/her adavantag

The Tractor is a awsome machine, Id like to think I have the Nova not the Pinto when it comes to value and resale years down the road

 

[crabjoe]

A question to other members on this site that has purchased other than Kioti this year, has the loader issue detered you from buying the Kioti, did the dealer use this issue to his/her adavantag

I was pretty much set on getting a Kioti but after I saw a TBN member with a cracked loader, and Kioti leaving him flapping in the wind, I decided to sit back and wait. This poor guys loader isn't just cracked, it's no longer level.

I can say I'm not just waiting to see how Kioti handles this because the new Kubotas coming out has me wondering how they will perform. If I find I like the new Botas, then I'm going with them.

If I see Kioti take responsibility for these factory defects before the new Botas hit the market, I'll go and pick up a Kioti.

BTW, if not nothing else, Kioti needs to make this right because if a loader, with a crack, really torqued over because of an uneven load and hurt someone, they won't just be replacing loaders. They'll be paying out major $$$'s in punitive damages.

 

[MotorSeven]

The Tractor is a awsome machine, Id like to think I have the Nova not the Pinto when it comes to value and resale years down the roadToday 11:06 AM

Ahhh, another Chev fan! Anyway, it seems that the bigger companys get the less they are concerned about customer satisfaction. But this horse has been beat to death...nuf said. Headed your way this weekend to pick up 2 Clydesdale colts in Minnedose Manitoba....1,600 mi (or a million? kilometers ) each way.

RD

 

[HODAK]

I have a set of old arms, (KL130), if someone would like to modify them and then replace. Free to a good home. There just sitting in the garage taking up space. laurencen describes the correct repair to make them like the new style so if you want to experiment on a set, let me know. They're not all scratched up and the existing cracks are about 3/4" - 1" long at each corner.

 

[laurencen]

Hi Motorseven, off the subject but what do you do with the Clysdales, our nabour breeds them, for a wile we had them grazing but the damage to trees and vehicles was out of hand, they would pull the chrome trims off the cars, good job they were only junkers, sure are friendly and curious, when me and the wife were watering the trees they would come over and demand attention, they have allmost 100 last count, just act like big dogs

 

[twigpig]

$500 to replace KL130 loader arms? Sign me up! Unfortunately, the dealer that sold my CK30 is the same as Highbeam's and put a Frankenstein welding job on mine too. But since I bought it used from the original purchaser the dealer is not making any effort to make it right. My Kubota owning neighbor had a friend at work asking about buying a Kioti. My neighbor advised him to stear clear of Kiotis because of my experience. That's one sale I know of that Kioti lost. Until Kioti steps up on the loader arm issue I tell anybody that asks to look at a different brand. I started seeing more Branson's around here. Turns out the big New Holand dealer in my area is selling Bransons now. I wonder if the Kioti loader issue caused them to pass as a Kioti dealer. And yes, there are good Kioti dealers out there. I just wish I could count the one that sold my tractor as one of them.

 

[MotorSeven]

As for the Clydes, they will be a hobby for now, and possibly income for the farm in the future. I plan on training these to ride first, and pull second. Central Ca is draft horse country, but here they are more of a novelty. These will be registered, and i already have some interest in them from some neighbors. However, due to the recent drought, most are selling off horses and cattle here. We are fortunate to have 20 ac of bottom land pasture that has stayed green all summer. Since we drive up 2-3 times a year, we would rather pull a horse trailer w/sleeping area rather than a standard camper. That way we can bring back these giant lap dogs........

RD

 

[laurencen]

Sounds great, in summer, (its snowing today here so it must be winter now) we took the motorhome north at the lake, there was a group of 10 riders from Billings riding horses on the trails, made a mess of the pathways but got to meet them and what nice people, we passed on a riding lesson, its a long way up and longer falling down.

Good luck with the hobby

 

[TractorLegend]

Sounds great, in summer, (its snowing today here so it must be winter now) we took the motorhome north at the lake, there was a group of 10 riders from Billings riding horses on the trails, made a mess of the pathways but got to meet them and what nice people, we passed on a riding lesson, its a long way up and longer falling down.

Good luck with the hobby

Isnt this what you call hijacking a thread?