Need a dealer... AGAIN... so frustrating

malk315 · Apr 29, 2013

So after a great experience last year with Upper Valley tractor I go to call them about getting the right belt for my mower deck and their gone...
Holy cow... it seems like the only constant with Kioti is chasing down a new dealer I can count on in New England...

I'm passing zero blame to Dave or Rob who were just fantastic... I think Kioti the parent company needs to do something better as I've been through 4 dealers now since 2006 and it'd be nice to be able to stick with one through a service period! That amounts to searching for a reputable dealer that's anywhere close to me every other year... It's getting old.

So here we go w/ the detective work, and it seems there may be some hope: I read somewhere that there is now a Twin State tractor at the Upper Valley Enfield location... Is this true? I called the yellow pages number and there is some kind of Kioti dealer there. Is it run by Betchelder sales? Or is this now a dealer run by Rob Bassett who ran service at Upper Valley?

If Rob is not running Twin States or working there, does anyone know which dealer (if any) has Rob Bassett doing service? I'd like to stick with Rob or at least under Rob's leadership for the next time my machine needs work ... assuming he's in range as I'm from Lancaster, MA.

Anyone have any idea if the Swansea, NH location will continue to be part of Twin States? That was the most convenient location for me, but I'm assuming it's now closed down. If it is is closed down, does anyone expect to re-open that (brand new building!) that location again? That was a great spot for me.

Sorry to have so many questions. I'd like to get an OEM belt for my DMM60 deck because the original one that came with it has lasted 7 years straight and it's just now getting a little frayed (spelling?) and I'd like to have an OEM spare that I know will work. I think it's a Korean double v-belt that is on there... I can get the Kioti number from the manual or the number right off the belt, but I know Rick Wallace was able to find it easily knowing it's a DMM60 deck (the italian made one). I found elsewhere on here that a BB130 standard double v-belt will work, but I'd like to go for the OEM one and see if I can get another 6 or 7 years out of it

If I can find Rob somewhere and the new dealership is willing to ship, I'll just have them get me one and ship it to my house. Keep the old belt as a spare.

It's been a while since I've posted or read the forums, so apologies for the zillion questions.

Thanks!

aczlan · Apr 29, 2013

malk315 said:
Sorry to have so many questions. I'd like to get an OEM belt for my DMM60 deck because the original one that came with it has lasted 7 years straight and it's just now getting a little frayed (spelling?) and I'd like to have an OEM spare that I know will work. I think it's a Korean double v-belt that is on there... I can get the Kioti number from the manual or the number right off the belt, but I know Rick Wallace was able to find it easily knowing it's a DMM60 deck (the italian made one). I found elsewhere on here that a BB130 standard double v-belt will work, but I'd like to go for the OEM one and see if I can get another 6 or 7 years out of it

I would just get a Gates or Oregon Kevlar wrapped belt... In my experience, they are just as good as the OEM Kubota, Exmark and Huskvarna belts.

Aaron Z

Mousefield · Apr 29, 2013

Just found out that the John Deere dealer, on our island of 800,000 people, is closing June first.
There have been 3 owners over the past 15-18 years and three closures, longest was about one year. My neighbor that bought a new John Deere 55hp tractor about 3 years ago is not happy. So it can happen to any brand of tractor.
Hope you find a new Kioti dealer close by that will look after you.

diaedy · Apr 29, 2013

Twin State Tractors is Robs place. Same building and all the good stuff. He is in charge for another kioti dealer in Maine and they are beautiful people. Call 1st as he has repairs to do also an is out once in a while till they pickup again. new number 6324500

rigrider08 · Apr 30, 2013

malk315 · Apr 30, 2013

Got some more info this morning:

Just got off the horn with Rob -- he's there!
No plans to open Swansea, NH again... bummer there however he is still willing to do road service if I need it -- that makes me one happy guy! I had some gasket and glow plug issues that was more than I wanted to get into and Rob went so far beyond the extra mile (literally too) to make everything right. Machine performed flawlessly during the long snowy winter we had.

Hopefully Kioti doesn't do anything to tick Rob off... he is an asset to their reputation etc.
Rob is like the Rick Wallace of New England... Hopefully he will be around for a while and build up the best dealership yet -- I think the capability is there.

Good luck to everyone.

diaedy · Apr 30, 2013

Glad ya got him

kiotivt · May 2, 2013

I've been by a couple of times and as of this moment Rob is there. They are now Twin State Tractor in some kind of partnership with Batchelder's tractor from Maine. Rob is hopefully doing well though I think he is a doing everything and I hope he doesn't burn out from it. I haven't seen much advertising if any from the new dealership, I think that would help. Rob is a great guy to deal with, I had him here this spring for a service and it sounded like he had a plan.

Patches · May 2, 2013

I don't know this Rob of which you speak, but I do know Dick Batchelder and from my perspective you couldn't ask for a more accommodating guy. I purchased my unit from him and had some initial issues; they repaired/replaced all defects to my satisfaction(and I'm a fussy sob). Hopefully I'll never need another tractor, but if I do, Dick will be the first guy I talk with, and, probably the last