Mowing Choosing Attachments for Kioti CX2510

[Santa Craig Cringle]

I’m in the process of purchasing 50 acres of land to build on. It’s a mix of overgrown fields, trees, and medium slope. A lot of what’s under canopy and in the field is quickly being overrun with small evergreens. I know my current CX2510 TLB is likely undersized for the property but it’s what I have to start. I also have a land plane. It also has 3rd function installed but I currently don’t have anything that uses it.

I’m going to need some more attachments. Right off the bat I’m going to need a brush cutter so that I can mow and get a better feel for possible homesites, as there are several on the property. I’m thinking I may want a post hole digger too but that can probably wait a few months.

I’ve not yet acquired any attachments that the dealer didn’t sell me with my tractor and I’m really not super experienced with them, but I will most likely be buying them used. I grew up around tractors but minimal first hand experience owning/operating. How do I know what will fit my tractor and whether the hydraulic system is capable of handling it?

For example on the brush hog I could see getting a larger size to mow the field but a 4’-5’ one to mow around treed areas, but how big can my little tractor handle? Also wondering about getting a cutter that attaches to the loader instead, if that’s possible with the third function?

(Pic of me and my tractor for interest. Approaching my first 50 hour service. Prior to this I had a Ford 881 but never used it much for anything except pulling stuff.)

 

[jeff9366]

I’m in the process of purchasing 50 acres of land to build on. It’s a mix of overgrown fields, trees, and medium slope. The field is quickly being overrun with small evergreens.

Rotary Cutter / Bush Hog Considerations for Compact Tractors

If you buy a Rotary Cutter too light it will visit the dealer yearly for $600 repair. NEW Rotary Cutters cut everything at first. As the light blades dull a light cutter undergoes increasing stress. 60" - 72" Rotary Cutters: 400/500 pounds = light duty = grass only. 600/700 pounds = medium...

www.tractorbynet.com

You need a tractor of 3,700 to 5,000 pounds bare weight, a width of 66" or more, with 50 to 60 horsepower for your applications on sloping ground. Weight and tractor width will keep you relatively safe as you learn the do's and DONT'S of operating a compact tractor on uneven ground and sloping ground.

 

[jeff9366]

Kioti CX2510 Dimensions​

Width	49.4 inches 125 cm
ROPS Weight	2308 lbs 1046 kg

Also wondering about getting a cutter that attaches to the loader if that’s possible with the third function?

No. The Front End Loader is not designed to push. You will bend the lift arms.

Tractor Rotary Cutters are powered by the mechanical PTO integral with the rear Three Point Hitch.

 

[RjCorazza]

With spending more time on tasks your CX2510 can get the work done... BUT you will be more limited in implement size than I suspect you are aware.
A 5' brush cutter would be borderline with anything other than light brush. The hydraulics are almost certainly insufficient to drive a loader mounted cutter.
All that said, smaller machines are very capable of a wide multitude of tasks if you select the right size implements, and have the time.

 

[kozal01]

Kioti CX2510 Dimensions​

Width	49.4 inches 125 cm
ROPS Weight	2308 lbs 1046 kg

Also wondering about getting a cutter that attaches to the loader if that’s possible with the third function?

No. The Front End Loader is not designed to push. You will bend the lift arms.

Tractor Rotary Cutters are powered by the mechanical PTO integral with the rear Three Point Hitch.

That tractor with the loader and loaded tires is closer to 3,500 pounds. Mine is over 4,000 on the scale with a ballast box on it.

 

[iptman]

For sure get a grapple. Mine stays on my CX2510. How much field do you have? Less than 10 acres and I'd go with a commercial zero turn with a 60-72 inch deck.

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

I’m in the process of purchasing 50 acres of land to build on. It’s a mix of overgrown fields, trees, and medium slope. The field is quickly being overrun with small evergreens.

Rotary Cutter / Bush Hog Considerations for Compact Tractors

If you buy a Rotary Cutter too light it will visit the dealer yearly for $600 repair. NEW Rotary Cutters cut everything at first. As the light blades dull a light cutter undergoes increasing stress. 60" - 72" Rotary Cutters: 400/500 pounds = light duty = grass only. 600/700 pounds = medium...

www.tractorbynet.com

You need a tractor of 3,700 to 5,000 pounds bare weight, a width of 66" or more, with 50 to 60 horsepower for your applications on sloping ground. Weight and tractor width will keep you relatively safe as you learn the do's and DONT'S of operating a compact tractor on uneven ground and sloping ground.

In the short term, I was thinking about putting some wheel spacers on my rear tires. The property is mostly in a valley between a couple small mountains in Alabama. Some gentle rolling hills with a few hollows, etc. to navigate around.

I'm not sure (or rather, I've forgotten) how much my CX weighs. Tires are filled. I'm thinking with a land plane and loader it's probably around 4000 pounds. But the width is only 49".

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

Also wondering about getting a cutter that attaches to the loader if that’s possible with the third function?

No. The Front End Loader is not designed to push. You will bend the lift arms.

Tractor Rotary Cutters are powered by the mechanical PTO integral with the rear Three Point Hitch.

Is the loader on a skid steer designed different? I've seen a few on Youtube that use a front mounted brush cutter on a skid steer.

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

For sure get a grapple. Mine stays on my CX2510. How much field do you have? Less than 10 acres and I'd go with a commercial zero turn with a 60-72 inch deck.

Would love to get an EA Wicked Grapple for it, but not sure I can safely order from them anymore. Maybe a used one out there somewhere.

The field portion is probably 20 acres or so. I don't yet know what I'm going to do with it, ie let it grow up for wildlife or actually try to farm part of it.

 

[jeff9366]

The field portion is probably 20 acres or so.

At 2.5 mph, a realistic speed for your narrow tractor over sloped pasture, a 48" wide Rotary Cutter will mow one (1) acre per hour.

I don't know what I'm going to do with the open portion, let it grow for wildlife or try to farm part of it.

Other than for a non-commercial kitchen garden your 2,300 pound bare weight tractor is insufficient for commercial farm tasks. All you will do is damage the tractor and/or damage yourself. TRACTORS ARE DANGEROUS.

11 acres previous cow pasture smoothing bumps

So I have about 11 acres of pretty descent grass but it was previous to 1970's was part of 100's of acres of cow pasture. I tell ya I mow it with a 4' Toro Zero Turn and I take quite a beating! Lol! To make it worse the northeastern PA soil is basically all rocks too. My question is how can I...

www.tractorbynet.com

Picking the right size tractor?

I have a few acres on the side of a hill. I bought a Kioti Cx2510hst two years back thought it was the perfect size and was in stock. But now I am really disappointed in how it only has one gear/speed about 2 mph on my hilly property. Starting to think I might need some sort of stick shift...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[jeff9366]

Is the loader on a skid steer designed different? I've seen a few on Youtube that use a front mounted brush cutter on a skid steer.

As Skid Steers do not have to pass over crops, they are built to operate much closer to the ground. Skid Steers are construction machinery, not ag equipment. Skid Steer implements are hydraulically powered by (expensive) powerful hydraulic pumps, which make Skid Steer implements relatively expensive buy and expensive to operate. Tractors have front engines. Skid Steers have rear engines. A Skid Steer rear engine offsets loads on the Skid Steer FEL.

Skids Steers are twice as expensive per unit of work they can accomplish. None have a tractor Three Point Hitch which always includes a mechanical PTO directly powered by the tractor engine.

 

[jeff9366]

In the short term, I was thinking about putting some wheel spacers on my rear tires wheels.

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As you have loaded rear tires you should have a tractor or tire dealer install rear wheel spacers, rather than attempting installation yourself.

Realistically, this further $500 - $600 expenditure will be lipstick on a pig.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR.
You cannot enjoy a tractor if you are dead.​

 

[Midniteoyl]

Is the loader on a skid steer designed different? I've seen a few on Youtube that use a front mounted brush cutter on a skid steer.

Most skid steers have a much higher hydraulic flow rate to power those, with some having even higher still. Your tractor has a flow rate of ~11gpm. You need something north of 40gpm or more unless you are going with a tractor specific front cutter like Lane Shark, but they wont even sell you one for that small of a tractor.

 

[ArchonOSX]

I believe the third on your tractor as it is configured from the factory will not operate a brush cutter or other skid steer type attachment that needs a constant flow of hydraulic fluid.
Apparently, LaneShark sells an adapter (Full C-Flow Hydraulic Kit) to allow the continuous flow of hydraulic fluid for a brush cutter or other such attachment to the front of the tractor. C-Flow Third Function Hydraulic Kits
Your would then be limited by the flow rate of your tractor's hydraulic system and the required flow rate of the attachment.
I would guess that you are going to need a bigger tractor any way you look at it. You might run a 4 or 5 foot brush hog with that tractor but anything larger will not be an option.
Good luck with your project!

 

[jeff9366]

That tractor with the loader and loaded tires is closer to 3,500 pounds. Mine is over 4,000 on the scale with a ballast box on it.

While a Loader adds weight, it also shifts weight off the rear driving wheels, so FEL weight is considered "neutral" weight in terms of field performance.

A ballast box AND loaded rear tires uses too much of the tractor's modest <25 hp mobility power, especially with HST transmissions.

This can go on-and-on but is why the simplest measure of tractor capability is bare tractor weight.

A change of 15% in bare tractor weight is indiscernible in field work. It takes an increase of 50% in bare tractor weight before the operator will appreciate it over every tractor application.

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR​

 

[jeff9366]

1) Jeff is invested in weight as the solution to traction.

Jeff is not invested in anything. Tractor shoppers frequently become confused trying to understand tractor capability. Bare tractor weight is a "one number" tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models, new and used. This "number" should get tractor shoppers into the ballpark. I only recommend bare tractor weight as an objective starting point.

Many with their own preferences justify them one the basis of two or three, sometime more tractor preferences. However, to opine in my playground on an apples-to apples basis, others must stick to one (1) criterion too.

I have owned three tractors. The first a 2-WD,1,900 pound, Deere 750 compact category "learner" without a Loader. The second a 4-WD Kubota B3300SU tractor-loader package (2,200 pounds +/-). The third, a 4-WD 3,700 pound Kubota L3560. Had I early read a thread philosophizing on tractor weight it would have stimulated tractor weight research and I would have omitted purchase of tractor #2, which was hardly any heavier that the Deere 750, which proved too light for my applications. I purchased tractor #2 seduced by the allure of increased horsepower.

 

[iptman]

I believe the third on your tractor as it is configured from the factory will not operate a brush cutter or other skid steer type attachment that needs a constant flow of hydraulic fluid.
Apparently, LaneShark sells an adapter (Full C-Flow Hydraulic Kit) to allow the continuous flow of hydraulic fluid for a brush cutter or other such attachment to the front of the tractor. C-Flow Third Function Hydraulic Kits
Your would then be limited by the flow rate of your tractor's hydraulic system and the required flow rate of the attachment.
I would guess that you are going to need a bigger tractor any way you look at it. You might run a 4 or 5 foot brush hog with that tractor but anything larger will not be an option.
Good luck with your project!

The rear remotes on my 2510 are constant flow. They run the BH.

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

The field portion is probably 20 acres or so.

At 2.5 mph, a realistic speed for your narrow tractor over sloped pasture, a 48" wide Rotary Cutter will mow one (1) acre per hour.

I don't know what I'm going to do with the open portion, let it grow for wildlife or try to farm part of it.

Other than for a non-commercial kitchen garden your 2,300 pound bare weight tractor is insufficient for commercial farm tasks. All you will do is damage the tractor and/or damage yourself. TRACTORS ARE DANGEROUS.

11 acres previous cow pasture smoothing bumps

So I have about 11 acres of pretty descent grass but it was previous to 1970's was part of 100's of acres of cow pasture. I tell ya I mow it with a 4' Toro Zero Turn and I take quite a beating! Lol! To make it worse the northeastern PA soil is basically all rocks too. My question is how can I...

www.tractorbynet.com

Picking the right size tractor?

I have a few acres on the side of a hill. I bought a Kioti Cx2510hst two years back thought it was the perfect size and was in stock. But now I am really disappointed in how it only has one gear/speed about 2 mph on my hilly property. Starting to think I might need some sort of stick shift...

www.tractorbynet.com

By farming I meant for home use. A large garden and chickens perhaps.

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

BUY ENOUGH TRACTOR.
You cannot enjoy a tractor if you are dead.​

I get it dude.
You have to understand I bought the CX2510 to use on 1 acre at my current home. Now moving to a 50 acre lot, it’s what I have to start on the homesite and get under dry. A bigger tractor won’t be in the cards for a year or two, but I’ll get there.

I won’t be tackling the big projects without the proper equipment. I’m also planning to purchase an excavator and possible a skid steer down the road, but I’m not going to go severely in debt to do it. The first priority is building the home. (By the time I finish the home I will most likely have the CX paid off with pretty low hours.)

So I’ll be using the CX to do enough brush cutting to explore the property, determine the best home site, and then some do some site prep while I get my home plans in order and find a builder.

 

[kozal01]

I get it dude.
You have to understand I bought the CX2510 to use on 1 acre at my current home. Now moving to a 50 acre lot, it’s what I have to start on the homesite and get under dry. A bigger tractor won’t be in the cards for a year or two, but I’ll get there.

I won’t be tackling the big projects without the proper equipment. I’m also planning to purchase an excavator and possible a skid steer down the road, but I’m not going to go severely in debt to do it. The first priority is building the home. (By the time I finish the home I will most likely have the CX paid off with pretty low hours.)

So I’ll be using the CX to do enough brush cutting to explore the property, determine the best home site, and then some do some site prep while I get my home plans in order and find a builder.

Yeah, he presents everything as if its a perfect world and everyone can just buy whatever they want whenever they want, we can talk black and white specs all day but there is much more nuance to it. The CX is a heavy tractor for its class, Ive had zero issues with ground engaging implements and despite the claims above that say the loader doesn't help with tractive force is just wrong considering these are 4x4 tractors. 1,000+ pounds in the bucket, loaded tires and the weight of the tractor will give you more than enough traction for anything you could do with a compact 25 hp tractor. Sounds like you already know the limitations given your needs, just be smart about it and you will be fine. These are very capable little machines if you just use your brain. If you are getting into off camber hilly areas wheel spacers would be a good suggestion. Talk to your dealer about what size PTO driven implements they recommend on that size tractor, there is great info to be had here but with that comes a lot of opinions based off bias, or lack of experience with the particular scenario you are dealing with. I have a great personal relationship with my Kioti dealer and I would be happy to run anything by him for you if you need. He's always a straight shooter with me about my tractors capabilities.