kiotiken
Veteran Member
Well, individually, I'd start with my dealer. I'd keep pushing to have the issue fixed under warranty. I would not back off if the attempts to fix the issue failed and I would tell the dealer what I've hear about the problem. You need to go through these steps, as frustrating as they may be. Eventually, the dealers hands will become tied and there's nothing more they'll be able to do. At that stage, I'd try and work with the dealer to contact Kioti. I would also then start contacting Kioti myself. I've had great success with Kioti using this approach, although it took time, persistence and patience.
The other thing I would do is use this thread, or start another one, to detail what you're doing. I'd bring all the other sticky hydro pedal threads into it by posting links to them in the one spot. I'd try and get all those who have the issue and who care about it to do the exact same thing (as above) and post their results from their dealers. I'd try to keep the thread as active as possible and post all interaction you were having with dealers and Kioti itself. I'd bring the thread to the attention of Kioti. I would not post contact information for Kioti, but would share it with others by PM to ensure the right people were getting the message.
Everybody will have different results, but if you work with your dealer and work together to contact Kioti and keep it civilized, you'll have a better chance. On the other hand, if Kioti has no real fix, they're probably not going to want to start replacing hundreds of HST's, that'd get a little pricey. Kioti may eventually take the approach that Bobcat took and say that's just the way it is and you need to live with it. I'd make sure I pushed the safety angle hard in that case. It is most dangerous with kids around, it's dangerous to operators near hills and when you're working in tight spaces.
Like I said, I don't have any skin in the game anymore. My problem was also fixed. IF it had become an issue again, I would have continued to press hard.
