Go BottomOld dude loves new Kioti DK40 tractor
 | Luckyfly
Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18 Alvarado, Texas 
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2007-09-17 145817
I’m really surprised that more people are not buying Kioti tractors.
I just purchased a DK 40 with hydrostat transmission, FEL, backhoe,
canopy , 6’ mower, and forks for the loader. I LOVE IT!
I was in the excavation business for 35 years and retired 6 years
ago , but I wanted a new tractor to maintain my 21 acres.
I looked at the big three, but I was more impressed with the Kioti.
There are no lines hanging loose, the fit and finish is like a fine
automobile , and everything works. To me, the engineering is superior to
all of the tractors I drove. Even the hood and fenders are steel.
This is a world class piece of equipment.
The transmission is excellent and very easy to operate. I don’t get tired at all doing the chores around my place. 5 gallons of diesel will run the machine about 7 hours. I didn’t think I would ever use the 4-wheel drive , but it has come
in handy twice in the last week.
I take care of my equipment and it usually lasts for decades. My old
tractors were built in 1965 and 1969, and neither has had the heads
removed , and neither use oil. I did this by using synthetic lubes and I
operate a tractor moderately . I use it ,but I don’t abuse it!
These old tractors are decayed from age but they are
still going! Hopefully, the Kioti will give me many years of service.
I have talked to friends of mine who are concerned with parts and
service from such a new company. I’m really not worried , especially
the way Daedong has been growing. All of the Bobcat dealers in my area
are selling Kioti. They are the “new kid on the block” but you can
bet they will take more of the market as time goes on. You can have
bad luck or a disagreement with any product you buy. I have heard
many dealer “horror stories” from the “Big 3” from people I know.
So far, my dealings with Kioti have been a real pleasure.
Only time will tell how the tractor holds together and what kind of
service I get later on. I will post another letter if anything happens
and as I put more hours on the tractor.
I wish I had bought this tractor 5 years ago. It has put “fun” back into
work!
Note: I do not work for Kioti. I’m retired and this is just my opinion.
I hope you guys have as much enjoyment with your tractor as I am
having with my new Kioti!
"Nothing runs like a Deere...with a Kioti chasing it!"
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 | kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon 
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2007-09-17 145818
Wasn't Bobcat sold recently? Was it to Daedong?
I looked at Kioti. It looked pretty well built but they didn't offer a hydro transmission at the time. ....
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| Luckyfly
Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18 Alvarado, Texas
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2007-09-17 145819
My understanding is that Bobcat was owned by Ingersoll-Rand,
which was sold out to Doosan, a Korean company, for several
billion dollars. Daedong is the manufacture of Kioti and they
have a friendship with Doosan. In the near future, Bobcat will come
out with their own compact tractor. It will carry the Bobcat name,
but it will be built by Daedong. In other words, it will be a
white Kioti. That’s what I meant when I said Daedong is really
growing. The “Big 3” might want to take heed!
Kioti does make a hydrostat transmission and mine is smooth
as silk. A real pleasure to operate. Kioti has a lot of
good features.
....
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 | kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5278 South Carolina
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2007-09-18 145840
luckyfly,
Glad you are so impressed and pleased. From what little I have seen of them they look good. Have a friend who is dealer for them. Made his friendship after I bought the other orange. BTW who do you call the big 3? Do you consider New Holland and Case as one or two companies?
As to your working for Kioti, you might be missing your calling. :) At least as salesman for your local dealership. kt
....
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| Luckyfly
Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18 Alvarado, Texas
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2007-09-18 145844
kthompson,
I consider the “Big 3” in my area to be John Deere, Kubota, and New
Holland (Ford). These are the “Big 3” of the compact tractors.
In Texas, Case is very popular with the guys with over 75 hp.
Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great compact tractors out
there. Most are quality built and with the right care could last over
20 years. A lot of the dealers have some very fine people working
there to help you out if you need parts or breakdown.
The point that I was trying to make is that (in my opinion) Kioti
is not a second rate tractor. Mine is about as well designed and built as
I have ever seen. I have had several of my professional friends look
at the exterior of the Kioti , drive it, and give me their thoughts.
These people are master mechanics, diesel mechanics, my son-in-law,
a master machinist ,and regular guys in the excavation business,
and a couple of farmers who have been running tractors since they were
old enough to climb onto one and do chores. These folks have been around
machinery their entire lives. Some of them had never heard of a “Kioti”
but each was impressed by the way it was built and the way it worked.
My son-in-law crawled under it from front to back. He said the castings
were heavy duty and high quality.
My Kioti came with an Interstate battery and a Donaldson air filter.
Each of these is a quality product.
I had 6 years experience as a machinist building jet aircraft before I
started my own excavation business. I don’t claim to know it all but I
can usually check out a piece of equipment and tell you if it is quality or
not. Sloppy welds, cheap parts, parts that don’t fit correctly, engines that
make excessive noise or smoke , bad designs, etc. can mean trouble down the line.
I found none of this in the Kioti.
Let me say this: If you are in the market for a tractor, go to your local Kioti
dealer, drive one then look it over . Crawl under it, take some time, go get a cup of coffee and look at it some more. It’s really a great tractor with a lot of modern features. If you don’t like it, go find a tractor you like.
I can live with an ugly woman, but I can’t live with a ugly tractor!
....
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 | earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2007-09-18 145845
Lucky just to bring ya up to speed, New Holland is a stand-alone with respect to Ford. They no longer have a business relationship like they used to. (However Ford empoyees can still get Employee Discount pricing) And like Kenny eluded to, parts of Case (Ag tractor line???) was folded into New Holland and is now called Case-New Holland or CNH. ....
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| Lwayne
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 95
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2007-09-18 145847
I looked hard at Kioti before I purchased my JD 4720 a few years ago. The info I gathered looked like they have some nice units (I was pondering the DK65) but the dealer network still wasn't close enough to my area to make it practical. The other problem was I had a JD trade and my dealer was really fair, considering the shape it was in. The Kioti dealer only had email pictures to look at & he didn't seem too interested in trading. I'll be looking forward to their expansion, though my 4720 is a super tractor too. I was pretty neutral at the time but now it would be a little harder. All of these CUTs have come a long way in the past decade or so. ....
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| kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5278 South Carolina
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2007-09-19 145871
luckyfly, it is so refreshing to read someone who is so exicted. I have no doubts they make a decent machine.
Someone here needs to post for you a sign they did a while back, went something like this:
"Nothing runs like a Deere, with a Kioti chasing it." You just may want your own. kt ....
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| tarpleyfox
Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 5 Texas
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2007-10-24 147326
Hey Luckyfly, I'm an happy new owner of a CK30 and like you, am very impressed with the quality and performance of my new tractor. The more I use it, the more I discover what I have been missing. I only have 25 hours on the clock, but look forward to many more.
Like you said: "Nothing runs like a Deere...with a Kioti chasing it!" ....
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| kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2007-10-24 147328
It's good that you're pleased with your tractors but it's not necessary to bash other brands by sloganizing here. They all have strengths and weaknesses and often the quality of the dealer is as or more important than the brand. ....
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| tarpleyfox
Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 5 Texas
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2007-10-25 147344
Hey kwschumm, I guess some people are a bit touchy, but if you think about it, the slogan could also be taken as John Deere is out in front, and Kioti is trying to catch up! ....
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 | DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998 Posts: 2710 NorthWest NJ
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2007-10-25 147354
I took it as humorous as clearly Deere is the biggest Tractor company and the pun on Coyote is cute. And of course regardless of paint they are all great machines or toys as the case might be.
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| Luckyfly
Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18 Alvarado, Texas
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2007-10-25 147375
I now have 21 hrs. on my Kioti and I thought I’d fill you guys in on how things
are coming along.
The engine has not used any oil….not a drop. I can find no leaks anywhere
on the tractor. I park it on concrete in my shop and a leak would show up fast.
The hydrostat transmission really makes mowing a breeze. By backing up, I can
cut all of the grass around my pond even out in the water’s edge. This was real
tricky with my old tractors, that had a manual shift, on the sides where the bank
is steep. It’s very simple with the Kioti to keep things looking neat and manicured.
My wife even noticed how much better our place looks since I got my new toy.
She said the mowing looks professional now. I don’t get tired mowing with the
hydrostat. The old manual transmissions would wear me out after I mowed my
property, and it didn’t look all that great. Several times, I ended up with my old
tractor in the pond.
I have rocks on my place that keep surfacing after it rains. Some of these are
as large as a car tire and weigh several hundred pounds. They could really tear up
a mower. I’ve been using the FEL bucket to get under them and roll them out on the
ground, then put them into the bucket and haul them to a washed out area behind
my pond. When I find loose rocks, I just fill the bucket with rocks and take off for
the dump area. It sure beats a wheelbarrow!
I repaired about 100’ of my existing driveway and built about 500’ of new
driveway with the FEL. I have run a FEL for 35 years but the “Floating” setting
on the loader is really great for smoothing. I put about 35 tons of milled asphalt
down and I got it very smooth with just the loader. Normally, I would have to
install the box blade to get it this smooth.
A utility company put gas pipelines on two sides of my property. I have used
the loader to re-level this area after it rains. The Kioti in 4 wheel drive and low
range will push more dirt than my old industrial backhoes with 2 wheel drive.
It is really amazing how much work you can do with one of these tractors.
The Kioti has really been a work saver around my place.
I have a BMW motorcycle and it has 12 volt plugs below the seat for heated
clothing. I have a heated vest and it makes all the difference in the world riding
in cold weather. The bike also has heated handgrips. I have ridden for hours
with the temp. below 30 degrees. There are all types of heated clothing available
for motorcycle riders. They even have heated coveralls.
I think I’m going to install a BMW plug beside the seat so that I can use my
heated vest if I have to run the tractor in cold weather. I know Texas is not the
coldest place on the planet, but sitting on a tractor in 25 degree weather for
8 hours with the wind blowing 35 mph is no picnic! Any heat at all makes a
big difference.
Well, thanks for listening to me blabber on about my Kioti.
Luckyfly
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| Luckyfly
Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18 Alvarado, Texas
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2007-11-03 147696
After owning my Kioti for 2 months and getting familiar with the FEL and
mower, I decided to install the backhoe on it. I had built a couple of roads on
my property, and the mowing season was pretty much over so it was time to
move on to bigger and better things.
My father started his excavation /backhoe business in 1952. I started my
backhoe /plumbing business in 1972. He had one of the first backhoes in
our area. It was a Ford tractor (probably like an 8N…I don’t remember
exactly) with a blade on the front and a Sherman Backhoe on the back.
Back then, you could not get a FEL on a tractor with a backhoe. The backhoe
was made of tubing and before long you had wielded up all of the weak spots.
It was crude by today’s standard, but it worked. By about 1968, Ford 3400
tractors with a 10’ backhoe and FEL were what my dad and I (later) used.
My point is: I have been around tractors my whole life, but these compacts are
something new to me.
The first thing I did after installing the Kioti KB2485 backhoe was to SHARPEN
THE DIGGING TEETH! Years of digging in hard Texas clay has taught me to keep
the teeth sharp. This is not good for plastic gas mains or buried cables ,but it sure
helps the machine dig easier. The teeth come from the factory very dull. A hand
held 4” grinder will do wonders! If you are digging in sand or soft soil, the sharpness
of the teeth is not all that important. It makes a big difference in hard soil.
Because I had spent 35 years operating a backhoe with 4 controls, the 2 lever
Kioti is taking some adjusting on my part. I spent about an hour getting used (somewhat)
to the controls, then I dug up two trees that had been blown down by a storm.
I dragged them to the dump area and I’ll cut them up later. I filled the holes left by
the stumps with dirt from a different area. These things are so handy!
The backhoe seems to have a lot of power, and the hydraulics are very smooth
and precise. I’ll spend most of this winter using it around my place. Maybe by Spring
I’ll be able to run it like I did my old tractors.
So far, the Kioti is doing everything I wanted and more. It sure saves me a lot
of hard, back-breaking work.
Luckyfly
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| Luckyfly
Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18 Alvarado, Texas
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2008-02-05 151117
After owning my Kioti for 5 months I decided to install
the quick-connect forks.To remove the bucket and install
the forks takes just a few minutes. Talk about easy!
My son stopped by and helped me move a lot of heavy
building material in my shop. This really saves a lot of back breaking work. It will pick up 1500+ pounds with
the engine at idle. I've never operated a fork lift before but I got everything moved with no problems. I'm sure that a "real forklift" would be easier to operate, but the
Kioti worked perfectly for what I needed done. I only use forks a few times a year, so it would not be wise
for me to buy a machine that would only do one thing.
When we finished we removed the forks and put the bucket
back one.
I have about 33 hours on the tractor with no problems.
The more I use it, the more I love it!
....
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 | PaulChristenson
Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 83 Vermont
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2010-11-30 175434
Well, its been a couple of years now...how many hours do you have on your machine NOW and have you had any problems? ....
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 | auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2010-11-30 175436
It's useful to read enthusiastic positive reviews, especially on a site used mostly for concerns and complaints. I came close to getting a DK because it offered more for the money than the competition, including items that are rare elsewhere (extendable hitch arms, oil cooler, PS on even the 20HP model, subframe, cab, and such).
Here's why I didn't. I joined the KiotiClub owners group to see what ownership would be like. For months most postings were tales of woe about problems that the dealer could or would not fix. And design flaws such as loader arms that fell apart. I tried to get a feel as to whether there were certain models or years that were susceptible, but the problems seemed random.
Many sad questions, few replies and rarely useful ones. I emailed the head office suggesting they assign a technical type to help these owners. No answer.
Then I posted a few easy-to-answer questions on the site, to see if somebody would offer help of the type that I get at TractorPoint. No reply, so if I had a problem I'd be on my own.
That owner site looked promising because it was large, well organized, and apparently run by a helpful volunteer. Then it disappeared. (Actually the name seemed to have been taken over by a Vegas strip club or something.) So I emailed the Kioti head office asking if they knew anything about the site. No answer. I wonder.
And I wasn't sure how well designed Kiotis were for use here. The models I examined looked like the subframe would prevent a belly mower from lifting as high as I'd need to get over curbs. The only front snow thrower I could find was not Kioti's but a cobbled-together design that relied on the rear PTO.
So I assumed that these Korean tractors were like the first exported Korean cars: good value ON paper but the car turned TO paper after a couple years. Now Korean car makers have shaped up and are doing to the Japanese what the Japanese did to the Germans (equal quality, better value). When I'm convinced that the Koreans are building a Kioti that isn't another Pony and will serve me as well as my 30-year-old Yanmar (it's had its problems but there were always solutions), I'll regain interest.
....
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 | candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1932 North Dakota 
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2010-11-30 175437
Auerbach,
I believe we'll soon see that the Kioti branded tractors will fade away. Daedong.....the maker of the Kioti line.....signed a manufacturing agreement with Bobcat back in 2007. Bobcat is now owned by Doosan Infracore....an entirely different South Korean company.
From the press realeases I've been reading, I gather that Daedong is going to be using Bobcat's dealership network for the purpose of selling their line of tractors. And it sounds as though Bobcat is working with Daedong to improve the tractors, manufacture high quality implements, and offer great service and repair.
I don't know enough about the contract agreements to tell you that this is yet a stable relationship. I just don't know how this agreement is going to work out in the long run.....but it sounds to me as though the Kioti line will soon disappear altogether. The Kioti tractor will still be offered......but in white.
Joel ....
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| auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2010-11-30 175438
Yesterday I was at my Grasshopper dealer for warranty service. Also sells Kioti, and for the first time did he ever pressure me to buy one. "You can have it at cost ... it's been on my lot for too long and I have to pay for it...."
Wonder if "Kioti" disappearing was behind the salestalk. ....
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 | cutter
Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 1309 The South Shore of Lake Ontario, New York
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2010-11-30 175443
Interesting turn of events, I wonder if Luckyfly will respond with an update. I'd like to hear how his is holding up. ....
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| kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5278 South Carolina
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2010-11-30 175447
There is a small Kioti dealership about 12 miles from me and at one time was there often as I bought lawn mower there. That was I think four years maybe five years back. The dealer was very up on the Kioti tractor and they impressed me also in the options and so forth for the price. At same time there is a Kubota dealership about same distance from me and NH also and two JD about 20 miles in different direction. In other words a lot of competition. I have NOT notice many Kioti on job sites or in the field, some but not what you might expect if they were the value they looked to be. Then being totally fair the economy may be the reason. But don't have the same warm fuzzy feeling at the dealership as I did. ....
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| cutter
Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 1309 The South Shore of Lake Ontario, New York
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2010-11-30 175448
I learned the hard way that a "bargain" generally costs you more in the long run. People pick at me, in good humor of course, when I go for quality items. A bargain on a one time use tool is one thing but not for something that you expect to last for decades. My 2910 will turn 10 next year, so far the only parts I have replaced are filters. ....
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| PaulChristenson
Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 83 Vermont
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2010-11-30 175455
Well, the only reason I asked the question is that when the new car or tractor smell wears off...that is when the reality sets in... ....
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| kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5278 South Carolina
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2010-12-01 175468
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Just wondering has the new smell worn off the team yet or is that team yours? ....
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| candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1932 North Dakota
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2010-12-02 175479
Dear friends,
Since the question came up, I decided to do a some research on Kioti tractors. I found a few interesting bits of information.
Back in the early 1980s, Kubota and Daedong teamed to create the 02 series of Kubota tractors. Kubota supplied all of the parts, with the exception of the transmission and the engine hood. Production of the 02 series tractors was limited, and the relationship between Kubota and Daedong didn't last very long.
Daedong began marketing its own Kioti tractors here in the U.S., using the familiar Kubota orange paint and Kubota's hood. (Kioti is strictly a U.S. branded tractor. In all other countries, the tractors simply go by Daedong)
Kubota filed a lawsuit against Daedong some 10 years ago, claiming that Daedong was violating Kubota's trademarks. The case lingered in the court system for over 5 years. Finally, Daedong and Kubota decided to settle the matter out of court. The outcome of the settlement remains private. Those who know the details of the settlement aren't talking.
About a year after the out-of-court settlement had been reached, Daedong began negotiating with Bobcat. At the time, however, Bobcat was in no position to make any long-term agreements, because Bobcat was in the process of being purchased by Doosan.
Immediately following the sale of Bobcat to Doosan, Bobcat made an announcement pertaining to an agreement with Daedong to start marketing Daedong tractors under the Bobcat name, dressed in the familiar white paint......and with a newly designed hood.
I have reason to believe that Kubota forced Daedong to abandon their orange paint scheme, as well as the Kubota hood, altogether. Putting two and two together, it appears to me as though the Kioti tractor will now be offered only as the Bobcat branded tractor.
Kioti tractor owners may actually be in pretty good hands due to the greatly improved service network offered by Bobcat dealers.......though I have no idea what the agreement includes regarding the orange Kioti tractors previously sold. For example, I don't know if Bobcat will be performing the older, orange Kioti, warranty work.
Joel ....
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| candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1932 North Dakota
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2010-12-02 175480
I'd like to provide a few links pertaining to my research.
Click the link below to read about the settlement between Kubota and Daedong.
Joel ....
Link: Kubota Daedong agreement
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| candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1932 North Dakota
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2010-12-02 175481
Bobcat and Daedong team up to offer a new line of Bobcat branded tractors.
See the link below.
Joel ....
Link: Bobcat Daedong agreement
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| candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1932 North Dakota
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2010-12-02 175482
Another article pertaining to the 2002 lawsuit filed by Kubota.
See the link below.
Joel ....
Link: Kubota files lawsuit against Daedong
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| PaulChristenson
Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 83 Vermont
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2010-12-02 175483
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Well, I'm down to one of them and he just turned 20...so I'd have to say the new smell wore off a long time ago...;-) ....
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| kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5278 South Carolina
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2010-12-02 175487
It has been a long time since I was around one working but the smell is not of new leather as I remember it. Now the exhaust might be sort of like some engines are. The one thing I do remember from the experience was a good one was a big help and easy to work with. ....
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| washington2
Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 4 washington state
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2010-12-21 175902
Nothing runs like a Deere with a Kioti chasing it, now that is a good slogen & the truth. ....
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| jkbrwn
Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2 Vermont
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2010-12-31 176077
well, for those of you wondering how kioto holds up, I've had a DK40 2004 model since 2006. I have 380 hrs. on it and pretty much pull all my firewood with it on pretty ruff country. I probably do about 16 cords a year worth of trees and I plow with it during the winter and it has seemed to hold up pretty damn good. I do regular maintenance to it but I also work the crap out of it! The only bitch that I have about it is that I broke a hydraulic cover on the back of the Transmission because I backed over a tall stump (my fault). Kioti couldn't find the part and didn't even seem to know what it was. After three months I finally got it yesterday but now they didn't send me a fitting that connects to it. So now I still can't put it back together. They preach customer service, but I guess that must be only to buy a tractor not to service it! If I ever do it again I will buy the other orange one!!!! ....
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| PaulChristenson
Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 83 Vermont
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2010-12-31 176092
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380 hours over 4 years works out to about a 1/4 hour a day...I sure hope you haven't had any problems with your tractor with that little usage... ....
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| auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2011-01-23 176553
I checked another source, Compact Tractor Review, and read all the Kioti-owner comments, maybe 15 or 20, covering most models. The most prevailing comment was that they offer a lot for the money.
Some (I'd say a small majority) reported that everything operated perfectly, and when the odd problem (such as you'd expect in any new machine) arose, the dealer took care of it properly and under the generous four-year warranty.
The others, however, could make a grown man cry. The detailed accounts related to incompetence (engineering, quality control, parts-supply and service) were so horrendous that some of the happy owners accused the complainers of making it up, for some reason.
So I conclude that Kiotis are like people. There are good ones and bad ones. ....
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| kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5278 South Carolina
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2011-01-23 176565
Auerbach, my thoughts are when a somewhat odd problem hits they just don't have the support or experience there. Sure this will vary somewhat from dealership to dealership and does with all brands but think they are still young enough here they don't have the broader and more experience support older brands do and then the slow economy the last 2 or 3 years has not helped. Some times experience is just hard to beat.
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| auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2011-01-23 176567
Could well be, Ken, that it's just a matter of experience. But parts that have to come from Korea, factory welds that fail, and dealers who always deny warranty coverage under the "owner misuse" clause, ... these could have a less benign explanation.
My interest is that I want a standby brand for when my Yanmar gives up, and the dealer I got my Grasshopper from sells Kiotis. ....
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