Out with the CK30... In with the DK40

[grm61]

I bought a used 2006 CK30 TLB several years ago with 298 hrs, it now has about 470 hrs on it. It had an oversized loader bucket on it for snow removal. It worked well for snow removal, but it could barely lift a full load of dirt. The backhoe also had trouble breaking thru a 1" diameter root. The backhoe had the power to toss the tractor all over the place.. but the root just laughed at it. In my research I found that the bucket on the CK was a "material" bucket off of a LK3054 and it had a capacity of 9.3 cu ft, the stock CK30 bucket capacity is 7 cu ft. Add to that a heavy duty QA on the material bucket and no wonder it couldn't lift a full load of dirt. Now knowing this, I'm surprised it actually did as well as it did. So, I wanted more loader lift and a stronger backhoe and I started looking at 40 hp tractors. Green paint is just too expensive, the folks at the local Kubota dealer recommended the L4060. Nice tractor, powerful backhoe, but loader was only marginally more powerful than what I had, 1600 lbs of lift vs the 1100 lbs of lift with the CK30... and it was $8K more expensive than a DK40. The DK has more loader lift, 2700 lbs, but a weaker backhoe than the Kubota. Hmm, the Woods BH90x backhoe is stronger than the Kubota BH.. this sounds like a good combination, DK40 loader with BH90x backhoe. I contacted several Kioti dealers, the most convenient dealer gave me a bottom line quote. I asked him for a more detailed, line item, quote and he never responded. Others gave me a quote, but low-balled the trade in on my CK30.. one offered me $12K for it. I started working with a Kioti dealer 70 miles away, his price for a DK40 w/loader/2nd remote/loaded tires was $24,500. It also included delivery of DK and pickup of CK, free deliver/pickup of tractor for 50 hr service and labor for 50 hr service.. I have to pay for parts. He also gave me the highest amount of trade-in for my CK, $16K. None of the Maine Kioti dealers carry the Woods backhoe, so I worked out a deal with a Kioti dealer in Mass that carried Woods products. I signed the papers for the DK40 on yesterday, the tractor is to be delivered next Friday.
I am still deciding on the backhoe. Either the Kioti or the Woods is going to run me around $10K, I found a local place that will rent a smaller excavator for $370/day, free delivery. Makes it hard to justify spending the money for a BH, but it sure is nice to have the convenience of having the BH ready to go anytime I need/want it and not have to juggle my schedule, getting on the rental list and hoping the weather cooperates.

Who knows how they mix and match numbers...according to the dealer I was paying 7500.00 for the Kioti backhoe when I bought.

At some point I won't use the Backhoe as much, but every time my Wife dreams up a project it it involves digging a hole, and we have alot of rock.

Pain in the butt to go rent for every spur of the moment project.

 

[rmorey]

Who knows how they mix and match numbers...according to the dealer I was paying 7500.00 for the Kioti backhoe when I bought.

I got mine in April, DK40 cab dual remotes, loaded R1's bucket hooks and filters for 50 hour change for $25,735. He wanted $800 more for DK frame to mount my 2475 hoe. I asked what the difference is for the 2485 and he said there is $1,000 between the 75 and the 85 hoe. So I offered him $1,000 more to swap out the hoe as well. He said he needed $1,500 cause my hoe was 3 years old.

Funny thing was I then got an $1,100 additional rebate from Kioti for buying a hoe with my tractor. So it was a no brainer for me to trade up. He sold my old tractor with the 2475 hoe, a week later.

 

[IXLR8]

Yea!! The DK40 arrived last night. I forgot just how much more substantial the DK is over the CK. I have only moved it around the yard and just feels more solid and refined. I loved the little CK, perfect size I just needed more power for the loader. Still not sure what I am going to do about a Backhoe... wife is still pushing to get BH so we don't need to worry about the hassles of rental. I'm afraid she has plans for the backhoe and isn't telling me.
Since it didn't happen without pictures... here are a few of the DK... and one with the CK on the trailer on it's way out.



Now if you will excuse me.. I am going out to exercise my new toy...err tool and get it dirty.

 

[IslandTractor]

Congratulations and welcome to the DK side.

 

[coobie]

Yea!! The DK40 arrived last night. I forgot just how much more substantial the DK is over the CK. I have only moved it around the yard and just feels more solid and refined. I loved the little CK, perfect size I just needed more power for the loader. Still not sure what I am going to do about a Backhoe... wife is still pushing to get BH so we don't need to worry about the hassles of rental. I'm afraid she has plans for the backhoe and isn't telling me.
Since it didn't happen without pictures... here are a few of the DK... and one with the CK on the trailer on it's way out.
View attachment 328191 View attachment 328192 View attachment 328194
View attachment 328193

Now if you will excuse me.. I am going out to exercise my new toy...err tool and get it dirty.

Very nice,enjoy.coobie

 

[IXLR8]

Well after an hour of use I have managed to have the bucket level indicator come apart. I found that the DK tears up the yard more than the CK did, use of 4wd greatly aggravates the situation. I have a 10x14 shed I need to lift up and put more blocks underneath to level it. The shed is not that full of stuff, when I tried to lift one side with CK... nothing happened except the hydraulic relief valve opened. When I tried to lift it with the DK, even though the rear tires are loaded, but I had no additional ballast.. I just lifted the rear tires off the ground... the shed never moved! Looks like I am either going to have to make a serious ballast for the 3pt or get the backhoe after all. At least when filling the bucket with a load of dirt, the DK lifts it without even thinking about it. That KL401 loader is a beast and I am going to have to treat it with respect, especially until I get something for additional ballast.

 

[k0ua]

Here is what I did on that bucket level indicator coming apart.. Used red locktite. The tightened the heck out of it. and then took an automatic center punch and put 3 or 4 "stipples" in the edge of where it screws together to raise a burr. It has never come apart again, and it won't.

James K0UA

 

[IXLR8]

Here is what I did on that bucket level indicator coming apart.. Used red locktite. The tightened the heck out of it. and then took an automatic center punch and put 3 or 4 "stipples" in the edge of where it screws together to raise a burr. James K0UA

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Coyote machine]

You MUST buy a hoe! It's mandatory, and your wife approved it already! What more incentive do you need. I have the KB-2485 and it has done everything I have thrown at it. just hide the keys to the tractor when you go away and then drop them on the lawn for your wife to find when you return....:dance1::confused3:
Who's 'gonna know?!

 

[Coyote machine]

You MUST buy a hoe! It's mandatory, and your wife approved it already! What more incentive do you need. I have the KB-2485 and it has done everything I have thrown at it. just hide the keys to the tractor when you go away and then drop them on the lawn for your wife to find when you return....:dance1::confused3:
Who's 'gonna know?!