Kubota-Kioti (the burning question...)

[Agrarian1]

Am new to this forum and in similar situation as many before me (sorry). JD compacts seem to sell on the name (which is the only thing American about them). My experience with JD garden equipment/tractors is they really price up the parts/service. A friend with a fleet of JD compacts has had nothing but problems with his last. I know of nobody unhappy with a Kubota. Just yesterday I visited a Kioti dealer. Seems like a great dealer/shop. I am impressed with the Kioti looking specifically at the CK30 and 35 in manual and HST. Right now I have a Ford 2N and tired of babying it and nickel-diming. Like the frame, though.

Will keep and use present implements... single share plow, 5' bush hog, 5+' 3 pt disk, rear bucket scoop, 6' York rake, 6' rear blade, post hole auger. Want to add FEL, backhoe, tiller and new mower deck.

Have never used HST..... would like to hear about strong preferences one way or another. Any major disadvantages either way? HST does look like an easy rig.

The overall features of Kioti seem as good and better than Kubota. Like quick disconnect loader bucket. Backhoe seems like a good mount system. I think I prefer the LandPride affiliation that Kubota has, though. Kioti does not offer a reverse rotation tiller...only forward. Anyone out there can vouch for the Kioti implements?

I especially like the ruggedness of the Kioti CKs...axle housings seem much better made cast. Overall tractor is about 50% heavier.

Both kubota and Kioti offer front weights. Only Kubota has a ballast box...would like to consider that rather than filling tires.

Anyone strongly prefer Ag or industrial tires? I garden 2 -3 acres of produce curently. Will use new tractor for grass mowing as JD garden tractor is done for. Don't want to be too harsh on turf but concerned that industrial treads will fill up too easily in loose/wet soil. On the other hand, I treat a lawn as a utility rather than a place to use $K on chemicals...I'd rather eat my dandelions than poison everything.

What about belly vs. rear hitch mower deck? 30 vs. 35 HP?

Yeah...this is loaded with questons and I can probably spend all day researching other posts.

Would appreciate any input!! Ag....

 

[munchie]

A ballast box is more flexible, but loaded rear tires have advantages too, such as always available and lower centre of gravity. A rear mower is slightly easier to change off but a mid mount on a narrow-ish tractor is v-easy to direct with no wiggling back to cut close to anything.
Just more stuff to add to your considerations.

 

[MarkV]

You mention a belly mower and also a backhoe. I am not sure with Kioti but the two may not be compatible if you want a backhoe with a sub frame. The sub frame makes for a much stronger platform than a 3pt hitch backhoe.

The HST vs Gear question is an on going debate here on the forum. Do a search, set a side a couple of weeks for reading and you will know more than you want to.

MarkV

 

[ChuckinNH]

If you want a mid mounted mower the Kubota is perhaps the better option. The extra weight of the Kioti will be better for lifting, pushing, and general dirt work though. One interesting thing here is that the two tractors are being compared more, and more often these days........ wasn't so long ago that wouldn't have been the case.

 

[carpenter383]

Get a FEL for front wieght, you won't regret it! LOL

 

[greenmule]

I can't speak for the kubota but have a kioti ck 30,like it. Its gear,wouldn't have the hst,[but thats just me].Heard some kioti models had a nasty 3 point lower/raise thing going on/jerky?

As far as industrials,mine has industrials,like them too. First tractor I ever had with industrials too,I got a 1/2 acre garden and brushog maybe 10 acres,no problems with them as far as traction,filling up with mud,ags do to,just not as much of them to fill up,r4's give you better sideways stability,smoother ride,won't tear up yard like areas like ag's will and are supposed to be more punture resistant,get them loaded.
I wouldn't want a belly mower,get hung up,probably hard to take off and put on,etc. hog will do good job cutting grass in fields and you don't have to cut it before it gets real tall like with a mower,you can wait till you're ready,just cut 5-6 acres which some of it was 4 ft tall.,and if you got wide open smooth areas,than a finish mower might be the thing.

Bet that kubota is a good bit more money than the kioti?

 

[TBDonnelly]

Heard some kioti models had a nasty 3 point lower/raise thing going on/jerky?

Hmmmmm......never heard that before.

Don

 

[Dmace]

Heard some kioti models had a nasty 3 point lower/raise thing going on/jerky?

Hmmmmm......never heard that before.
Don

He probably meant the Kubota had a jerky 3pt which I heard also due to their quarter-inching valve compared to Kioti's Position control. Check out the YouTube video posted in that TractorByNet link I posted, that would drive me nuts!

 

[greenmule]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

 

[art]

He probably meant the Kubota had a jerky 3pt which I heard also due to their quarter-inching valve compared to Kioti's Position control. Check out the YouTube video posted in that TractorByNet link I posted, that would drive me nuts!

The jerky hitch that Kubota had a couple of years ago was not with the inching valve only with a position control valve just like on the Kioti's. Many customers are very happy with the inching valve. Only those that might have used the regular hitch system might have problems.

 

[davygp38]

So anyway back to the original Question, does anyone have expierence with Kubota verses Kioti? I am also looking for a new machine. I have a Kubota DT3000 w Loader- Backhoe. Same old story want a bigger machine. I have had no problems with my Kubota, But I have gotten to the point, where I know what I want, and what I need. I am comparing the Deere 110tbl with the L45, and the L48. The Kioti was not on my radar until I started pricing.

 

[tripletap]

Bet that kubota is a good bit more money than the kioti

Better double check that statement,

Also, Kubota has 0% for 60 can't beat that

 

[jimmyj]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-buying-pricing/145016-kioti-kubota-s.html

We've been around the block on this quite a few times. I have a Kioti as at the time I bought it it beat the comparable Kubota on weight, lift, GPM, warranty, options and financing. Plus I liked the dealer better which is a big deal.

If I could have afforded a Grand L I would have got it but the comparable Kubota to what I could afford was an economy series. I think I got more tractor for my bucks with the Kioti.

That said, I'd take a Kubota in a heartbeat - there should not be any you'd be disappointed with either.

 

[tripletap]

Kioti - limited parts availability, limited dealers (in my area) only one and over 50 miles away, heavy, heavy machine when mowing who wants heavy, - who wants heavy no matter what you want to do with it Buy the Kubota, better parts availability bigger dealer network money is about the same so really it's a no brain'er

 

[Jay4200]

The HST vs Gear question is an on going debate here on the forum. Do a search, set a side a couple of weeks for reading and you will know more than you want to.

I vote GST.

JayC

 

[greenmule]

Heavy is a good thing on a smaller high powered tractor,plus he wants a tractor not a lawnmower.

Gear is the way to go,save your money and act like a man,don't get one of them girley hst's

 

[medicshawn]

I have a stick in my pickup but I like my HST

 

[machmeter62]

In my fleet is a '39 Ford 9N, (slowly being restored), the rest were purchased new: '78 Kubota L-295DT, '82 Ford 1500DT, '95 Kubota L-35TLB, '2000 Ford New Holland 1720, '2000 JD 790, 2005 Kubota L-2800. I still own all of them.

I have never put a wrench to the Kubotas, other than routine maintenance, and they have never been to a shop for repairs either. I like all of them for their certain features, but if I could only have one, it would be a Kubota because of the maintenance factor; they don't break!

If you live in a sterile environment, any of them would be my choice, but I live close to a creek, which draws varments that will lunch on your tractors (electrical systems), especially later Fords and JD's, that have cost me about $500 sofar in repairs. (Rats love to eat the electrial wiring and computer boards/instrument wiring that is exposed under the dash.) The JD has a wiring harness exposed in the engine bay that was destroyed. They will also nest in these areas too!

Don't get caught in the factor that weight equals strength either. It's the quality of the metal, and not the weight of the tractor. Kubota gives one the option; you can always add weight, but it's nice to have the option for lawns etc.

If you have studied this board, you will realize that Kubotas are built in-house, with all the components built and manufactured by Kubota that gives them the reliability that promotes the sales.

 

[greenmule]

They was having a little problem with those welds on the loaders. And heard they was having a little trouble with jerky three point on their"econo" line of kubotas,kioti don't have a econo line don't think?

You take two tractors same hp and same tires,the heaviest one is going to out pull the other,yeah you can add weight,have added about 600 more lbs to my kioti ck30,equal deere wonder how much you have have to add??

 

[machmeter62]

I also think Kioti's are an excellent tractor, but the local dealership's mentality scared me away! I put my name on the list for a demo when they received one in stock. Waiting a couple of weeks, then a second call, with no replies made me wonder if this franchise wasn't a mistake to this somewhat belligernet dealer? I wasn't the first to complain either; maybe the problems are at a higher level of management?