You are right on the money with this statement, it was a deal breaker for me.
I had a DK35 Cab Kioti and a dealer that I really liked and had every intention of sticking with them when I upgraded this Spring. I ended up going with the LS 7030 CPS because of the Power Shuttle and 40F/20R speeds. Same HP, saved some cash and it already came with three remotes. I REALLY wanted to buy the Kioti but for me it just wasn't right for just those reasons you said.
Great write up and very valuable for those looking at this tractor.
Dave
No LS Dealers anywhere even close, so I did not look at one. I did do some "research" on them and liked the Kioti better, overall. I will manage with the gearing issue pretty nicely, but it would be nice to have more choices, for sure. If I had your 750 speed pto it would be a piece of cake............or maybe it is the 7040 that has the 750 speed?
I could throttle down and run the 750 pto at about 540 and probably save some fuel. Running my 1000 pto at 540 would put me roughly at 1200rpm, which may run the haybine but not the baler. I will not try this until the machine is well broken-in. It probably will be unsatisfactory...
On the fuel thing, the DK90 sips fuel when idling around (loader work, etc), sips fuel when running my little haybine, and then burns lots more when running the baler. It is still pretty economical overall. I am comparing it to a Duetz air cooled 6 which literally seems to run on air. The old 4cyl Minnies I have had/have are very economical on fuel also, so I am spoiled bad on this aspect.
PS, funny sign!
PS again, I just had a look at a 10min video review of the LS7040 on the ytube by Curtis of LS Canada. The machine looks pretty nice. I wish I had all the machinery dealer options around here..... I kind-of chuckle when people are deciding between 4 different dealers from 5 miles to 20 miles away (as if there is some kind of a significant difference there). I can't even find pavement within 10 miles or more, LOL.
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