Kioti CK30/35 or CK3510 decision/price check

[IslandTractor]

I have cruise control on my DK40se and rarely use it. I suppose if I were mowing many acres in a perfect rectangle without obstructions etc it might be useful but the kind of mowing I do requires changes in speed and direction so often that cruise control just doesn't make any difference.

I like the package that your dealer orders. Telescopic links are helpful. dual remotes totally a plus. anti freeze in rear tires is cheapest safe way to add ballast. Rear light I have but don't use much because I don't use my tractor in the winter. rear lights critical if snowblowing etc.

 

[bh10]

Good afternoon!

New member, but have been reading here of and on for years. I've had my Long 460 for 18 years and it's probable going to be retired and replaced by a new compact diesel with FEL. Currently the Long is out of service and I don't want to put money into a 40-something year old worn out tractor, and I really could use a FEL!

Thanks to all who are kind enough to share their knowledge and experience!

I'm shopping around and have a Kioti dealer about 2 miles from the house. They are also an LS dealer so considering and comparing them, too.

I'm looking at 30-35 hp and trying to stay below 20k. My primary usage until now has been bush hogging, maintaining my driveway, and stacking and feeding 4x4 round bales. With the new tractor I may get a tiller and a grapple later. Will be glad to retire/replace the 3 point mounted scissor spear and hay forks with a set of forks on the FEL.

My dealer has a CK30 in both gear and HST and a CK35 gear available in addition to the newer CK3510.

So other than price, is there a clear reason to choose one over the other? Here are differences I've noted. Let me know if I've missed something important.

power - 30 vs 35 hp - more is always better
transmission - gear vs hydro - no experience myself, proponents on both sides
hst - one pedal vs two pedals
tier 3 vs tier 4 - not sure if this is a big deal or not
different loaders (KL130 vs KL4010) - looks like the 4010 has significantly more capacity

In the LS line I was looking at an XG3037.

I would appreciate any thought on the tractors mentioned above as well as any alternatives to consider.

Being I just bought a Kioti, I shop three dealers in our area, one being the one 2 miles from you (Piedmont) and were considerably higher than others. I looked at Piedmont in Gainesville in LS and they were priced decently. There's a dealer in Westminster, right on the other side of Tocca that was much cheaper and has been around a long time.

As for Tractors, if you're using the FEL loader a lot, I definitely go with the newer tractor. Even if you dont need the added capacity, the added lift height is nice.

 

[gathumper]

Thanks for the reply!

I was thinking about how I run the old tractor when bush hogging. I engage the PTO and put it in second gear high range and let out the clutch then I'll run for as much as an hour or two without touching the clutch. I can do this several times in a day and then I'll do some odd edges and under trees and the tree line at the edge of the field. Works great with the gear version. With the HST and no cruise I'm assuming I'll have my foot on the fwd pedal the entire time and might like the freedom to move my leg/foot around with the cruise control. However the edges, under trees and tree line would be advantage HST since I'm often backing and pulling up and over and backing again. This is where it would probably be nice to have a mower mounted up front since I get tired of twisting and looking backward.

Also found the "Link Pedal" info and it looks interesting too...

On hydrostat tractors, it allows the operator to set the manual throttle at a lower level, then when pressing a hydrostatic flow pedal, the linked pedal function will run the engine throttle up as the hydrostat load on the engine increases the rpm of the engine also increases. As the operator releases the pedal and it returns to neutral, the rpm of the engine drops again to the preset level set by the manual throttle control lever.

 

[gathumper]

Being I just bought a Kioti, I shop three dealers in our area, one being the one 2 miles from you (Piedmont) and were considerably higher than others. I looked at Piedmont in Gainesville in LS and they were priced decently. There's a dealer in Westminster, right on the other side of Tocca that was much cheaper and has been around a long time.

As for Tractors, if you're using the FEL loader a lot, I definitely go with the newer tractor. Even if you dont need the added capacity, the added lift height is nice.

I talked to the dealer in Westminster as well as a couple in NC and all were within a few hundred dollars. The dealer in Westminster was $100 higher but I didn't think about asking them about any optional equipment that was or was not included. I'll check back with them tomorrow. Best price was at the dealer in NC closest to Daedong USA, but only by $200. Maybe tighter margins on the smaller machines? Or I'm just getting a good deal!

 

[gathumper]

Quick Update... No new tractor in the barn yet, I want to be sure I make a good decision.

Went to the Kioti dealer in Westminster and he was VERY nice and knowledgeable. Recommended that I move up to a larger frame size to better handle the round bales and I understand, but this is a relatively small part of my tractor use. I'm not handling hay daily and only stacking hay in the barn about twice a year and then taking a bale or two out weekly in the winter. I know the larger tractor would probably handle driveway maintenance and bush hogging better as well, but the smaller tractor might be better in the woods and cost me a few (3-6) thousand less. It's not all about the money, I'll buy what I need to do the job and will increase my budget to $20-$25 if necessary (although under $20k would be great)

He recommended a McCormick X1.35 or 45 and the price was pretty reasonable. It's a larger frame size and weighs in at a little over 4000 lbs. Fit and finish was nice and the larger operator's platform was nice.

He also said the price my dealer was quoting on the Kioti was a great price and if I decided on the Kioti I should buy from my dealer. as he was not making much money on it. Great news if I end up with the Kioti!

In researching McCormick I found that it was built by Kukje in Korea and very similar to their Branson brand. My dad had told me about a small Branson dealer in my old home town an hour away and I went there the next day to check out the Branson. I looked at a 3120R and a 3520R and they were also a nice looking machine with good features. I really like the Branson, but due to the dealer being an hour away and a "one-man" dealer who has no full-time service department I am uncomfortable choosing it. There is a full service Branson dealer a few hours away in Rome GA (where the Branson HQ is located) but they priced the same tractors about $2500 more. It costs money to operate a full service dealership!

Next I went to a local Kubota dealership about 30 minutes away and priced a L3301. They wanted $20,500 for it. Loader capacity was way lower than the others and I didn't like the loader controls out on the loader. I saw that they advertise a package deal for $22.5 for the L3301 with a mower, box blade and trailer, so I might be able to get a better price if I wanted the Kubota. (may not be HST?)

My neighbor recommended that I price a Massey Ferguson and a John Deere. I hadn't even considered them, but I went to the local Massey Ferguson dealer who's been around here forever. He showed me a 1739E (Economy line) for about $17.5k but it didn't have the telescoping lift arms and the loader controls were on the loader. Then he showed me a 1736 in the "premium line" and it had everything the way I want it but cost $22.5. He did offer to take my old tractor in on trade, so that's a big plus and makes the net price about $21k.

Called the John Deere dealer and didn't like their "economy" line at $20.5k and the comparable "premium" tractor would be around $25k. I'll probably go take a look just to be sure, but that's a lot of extra $$$.

The Massey 1736 was a larger frame size and a nice looking tractor, but I don't know if it's worth the extra $3k over the Kioti. However, when I was reading up on it I came across an "equine program" that could get me a better price on it since we raise horses. I should hear from them tomorrow.

BTW, I'm still on the fence about the gear vs Hydro! SMH twice! I've gone back and forth a couple of times and had pretty much decided to get the hst on the Kioti. Was thinking about paying the difference to get the CK4010 over the 3510, but not sure yet. That would make my Kioti price for the HST $18.9 or $19.4 depending on the HP and includes the telescoping arms, floor mat and work light, but he doesn't have the remote hydraulics on the HSTs.

One thing I liked on the Massey was the 12x12 gear with Hydro Shuttle. Choose a gear and go then use the Power Shuttle without clutching. This seems like it might be a good setup. Anyone with experience with this type setup vs gear and hydro options?

Thanks again for all your help!

 

[kbsd]

If you're looking for a slightly larger tractor it might be worthwhile investigating the Kioti DK10 series, although no HST in the DK10's. They weigh about 650lbs more than the ck10's ( base machine without loader) and have a lift capacity of about 800 lbs +- more lift capacity. The hyro shuttle, imo, is kind of the happy medium between the straight gear and HST, but to each their own.

 

[ustmd]

I know I m late to your discussion, but I have the CK27HST (2009).

We have 30 acres (25 of which are managed actively) with horses. Our primary use is bush hogging and road maintenance (0.75 mile of unpaved road). I run a 6 ft bush hog and a 6 ft dual beveled box blade for road work with no issues.
Aside from moving the round bales, I think either the 30 or 35 would meet your needs.

In terms of HST vs petal, I went with HSt because of ease of use. My wife and FiL both drive the tractor and that was one less thing to worry about for them.

 

[tman1020]

I had a shuttle shift transmission once. You still had to clutch on this particular one I had. I did not care much for it. It seems it would never quite synchronize perfectly and most times had a slight grind from forward to reverse. The main thing I don't like about most gear tractors besides the obvious things is that when you're running something on your PTO and you need to change gears or directions is that you lose Power to your PTO when you clutch.
So maybe with this new system you're speaking of this will not be an issue. But I would definitely be finding out first before I bought it.

 

[DK35vince]

The main thing I don't like about most gear tractors besides the obvious things is that when you're running something on your PTO and you need to change gears or directions is that you lose Power to your PTO when you clutch.

Most modern gear tractors have a 2 stage clutch or Independent PTO so the PTO maintains power when you clutch.
Some of the economy models have transmission driven PTO's that you loose power to the PTO when clutching

 

[tman1020]

Most modern gear tractors have a 2 stage clutch or Independent PTO so the PTO maintains power when you clutch. Some of the economy models have transmission driven PTO's that you loose power to the PTO when clutching

That would definitely make a difference. I wasn't so fortunate.