Buying Advice what to watch out for on old used CK tractors?

[DroppedAxle]

Hello All,

I'm going to take a look at a 2003 CK20 with low hours (<200) and a seemingly fair price. Here are the potential problems with such a tractor that I've learned about, mostly from these forums:

• old style loaders can have cracks. This one most certainly has the old loader, but I don't yet know about cracks. If not cracked, can Kioti still supply the reinforcement kit?
• glow plugs underpowered for very cold starts. I understand that a heater can help solve this.
• fuel injectors go bad. This is a costly repair. Is there anything that can be done pre-purchase?

Then there's all the regular stuff for which I'm having a mechanic look at the machine with me.

Anything else to add to this list or corrections to the above items? Am I crazy in considering an old tractor as my first tractor?

Thanks for your input,

DA

 

[Gittyup]

If HST look at the tranny cooler. Some have had busted lines from vibration.

Never heard of the glow plug issue. Never had such an issue either.

Other thing to check is the joy stick float, etc. Some of them had balls that would break. New parts are steel I think and an easy install.

 

[DroppedAxle]

Thanks, Gittyup, I'll look out for the loader float issue.

Can anyone point me at a thread or web page that describes how one can inspect a loader to see if it has the cracks? I can find a lot of discussion about them, but no real info on how to look aside from removing an inspection plate on the loader. Apparently the loader needs to be up in order to remove this plate and doing this safely requires supporting the loader, or so I read. Is this the case? Anyone have more info on how I can inspect for the cracks? Is the repair kit still available from Kioti? (I did not see it on Michigan Iron and Equipment; maybe I need to call them, but first things first.)

DA

 

[rmorey]

Thanks, Gittyup, I'll look out for the loader float issue.

Can anyone point me at a thread or web page that describes how one can inspect a loader to see if it has the cracks? I can find a lot of discussion about them, but no real info on how to look aside from removing an inspection plate on the loader. Apparently the loader needs to be up in order to remove this plate and doing this safely requires supporting the loader, or so I read. Is this the case? Anyone have more info on how I can inspect for the cracks? Is the repair kit still available from Kioti? (I did not see it on Michigan Iron and Equipment; maybe I need to call them, but first things first.)

DA

Our '04 CK25 had cracks in the cross member, the dealer welded them when he put the support kit on. You can clearly see the support kit if installed. Its bolted on the cross member.

 

[murphy1244]

Well? did you buy it?

 

[DroppedAxle]

Well? did you buy it?

No, I did not. It had damage to the hood ("bonnet"), headlight assembly, and grill that, though not strictly necessary for operation, would have not made me happy long term. Repair cost was >$1k I estimated just for parts. Also, mechanic thought the low hours on the meter were not the original hours; tractor over 10 years old.

Now I'm looking at a CK20s TLB (500h) and a CK25 TLB (1000h). Not sure how to value those BHs -- I'm approximating at 50% off new...

 

[DroppedAxle]

(damage was due to previous owner dropping materials from bucket onto hood.)

 

[murphy1244]

No, I did not. It had damage to the hood ("bonnet"), headlight assembly, and grill that, though not strictly necessary for operation, would have not made me happy long term. Repair cost was >$1k I estimated just for parts. Also, mechanic thought the low hours on the meter were not the original hours; tractor over 10 years old.

Now I'm looking at a CK20s TLB (500h) and a CK25 TLB (1000h). Not sure how to value those BHs -- I'm approximating at 50% off new...

What are the prices on those?

 

[DroppedAxle]

What are the prices on those?

13k for the ck20s TLB, 14k for the ck25 TLB. The ck20s is much younger in hours and years.

 

[DroppedAxle]

13k for the ck20s TLB, 14k for the ck25 TLB. The ck20s is much younger in hours and years.

and the ck20s is HST, the ck25 is gear. call me crazy, but i slightly prefer a gear, though the hst would make the machine more accessible to my wife and daughters i would think.