Another "What Size" thread by a clueless newbie....

[mikehaugen]

I'm a newbie, but not that big of a newbie.

"Great tractor but it only goes in circles..." :dance1:

17.5L -24 both sides. OEM Kioti wheels.

You can't tell me that you didn't go out and double check after seeing/reading that though. :laughing:

 

[Xfaxman]

Got a few small items I am going to address. However, overall in great shape mechanically. Kioti DK45, 429 hours on the clock. Paid $13,500 plus $600 for a pair of front/rear hay-forks.-----------------------------------------------I have only driven it a couple hundred feet. Have no real clue on how to drive it, but like I told my wifey "I'll figure it out, I'm a man."Gonna grease it up, oil anything that needs it, double check my fluids, and either find a Owners Manual on-line or I'll order one from my nearest Kioti dealer. Make sure I am on-track for routine maintenance.{{{{ I think I need a big-*** bolt/washer/nut combo for that rear hay-fork. Pretty sure that arm-thing swings down, you connect it to the top of the hay-fork, and then..it works somehow....I don't know. I am sooo clueless. }}}} :laughingrobably gonna remove, prep, and throw a nice coat or three of spray paint on that grill and the roof. Grill in black, roof in white. I am very comfortable that I purchased an appropriate tractor for my specific needs and uses. Thanks to you gentlemen here on this fine forum.

Lots of good info from Ted, of EA. Click this link. "How To" Operate and Drive a Tractor: Part 1 - YouTube

 

[foreman Etexas]

Glad to hear the tires are OK. I was starting to wonder if you should name it Frankentractor with that grill and odd looking rear tires.

It looked to me that maybe park in a hole and leaning,then I thought maybe air pressure,then a new tire vrs an old. Probably just way picture was taken...
As for the push guard I would take it off,cut atleast the top off where its flush with the hood then paint. Maybe can find a grille somewhere and take a hammer straighten the top out be good to go then,its just little things can tinker with. Could Rhino line both the guard and roof,just a thought.

 

[Shawn B]

Thanks for the link XFaxman.

You can't tell me that you didn't go out and double check after seeing/reading that though. :laughing:

Guilty.

It looked to me that maybe park in a hole and leaning,then I thought maybe air pressure,then a new tire vrs an old. Probably just way picture was taken...
As for the push guard I would take it off,cut atleast the top off where its flush with the hood then paint. Maybe can find a grille somewhere and take a hammer straighten the top out be good to go then,its just little things can tinker with. Could Rhino line both the guard and roof,just a thought.

I may do so with the grill. I've got a friend who is highly-adept with welding/cutting/fabricating metal. If my angle-grinder won't do it, I know he can do it.

Wire brush the thing, throw on a coat of rust stopper/primer stuff, and Rustoleum the **** out of it. Rhino liner is a good idea as well.

The roof I definitely want in white so it reflects heat away.



Can't do squat today. Gout in my left big-toe. I cannot describe the feeling or pain-level without cussing.

I'll keep you guys posted on my tractor-progress.

Almost certainly with a thousand more questions.

 

[terryknight]

OP i will say your first post was excellent and i think you did well in your tractor selection

 

[GManBart]

I think you did well on that purchase. I would toss the big grille guard, and find the correct grille for it. If you do any sort of mowing/brush cutting, you're going to fill that whole front section up with cuttings in no time flat….not a good thing.

 

[sd455dan]

Thanks for the link XFaxman.

Wire brush the thing, throw on a coat of rust stopper/primer stuff, and Rustoleum the **** out of it. Rhino liner is a good idea as well.

The roof I definitely want in white so it reflects heat away.




I'll keep you guys posted on my tractor-progress.

On painting the roof white , if it has scratches and imperfections , i (went off the reservation on my tractor) and tried using the heavy bodied white roofing reflective coating for mobile homes! and after 5 years it still looks good and is always cool to the touch even on the hottest summer days. it also seems to dampen vibration. my roof is heavy fiber glass , not sure how it would work on a plastic roof

And Congats on your Kioti and looks like at a great price to!

 

[Shawn B]

OP i will say your first post was excellent and i think you did well in your tractor selection

Thanks for the compliment on my initial post. I am on a car forum, and it drives me nuts when folks ask "which is best" and then don't give any details on their exact performance expectations, budget, and pertinent information. I wanted to make sure you TBN guys had all the facts to consider before making your recommendations.

Looking at the number of pages of this thread, and excellent expert advice received, I am happy I took the time to provide the necessary information. You guys have been great.

Made me (an otherwise clueless newbie) very, very confident that this Kioti will meet my needs.

I think you did well on that purchase. I would toss the big grille guard, and find the correct grille for it. If you do any sort of mowing/brush cutting, you're going to fill that whole front section up with cuttings in no time flat?not a good thing.

Ah..I have the aforementioned Kubota zero-turn. I am familiar with extreme dust and clippings, you are absolutely correct.

I will look into a factory nose-cone/grill at the tractor scrap-yards. If not, perhaps I can home-brew up a proper grill/screen system to keep out the cuttings and debris, and allow for quick-detach to clean or blow-off-out the dust and clippings. As mentioned, I have a buddy who is extremely adept at welding, a frame wouldn't be hard to whip-up. Cover it with an appropriate sized steel mesh/screening. Add quick-attach fasteners of some sort...

Either way, you are correct, I will figure out something. And post some pics.

Sir, your input to my situation has been invaluable.

On painting the roof white , if it has scratches and imperfections , i (went off the reservation on my tractor) and tried using the heavy bodied white roofing reflective coating for mobile homes! and after 5 years it still looks good and is always cool to the touch even on the hottest summer days. it also seems to dampen vibration. my roof is heavy fiber glass , not sure how it would work on a plastic roof

And Congats on your Kioti and looks like at a great price to!

Well, finding some mobile home roofing paint won't be hard to do here in northern LA. Plenty of trailer parks in my (red)neck of the woods.

Great idea. Probably beats the **** out of gloss-white Rustoleum. I am quite sure my roof is metal on top. Not sure on the dampening/insulation used underneath, but it is there.

Thanks for the congrats, I am extremely pleased. It's getting cool here quickly, fall has arrived, gonna have to feed those cows of mine in less than a month. Maybe only a few more weeks.

Still not doing squat around here today, hobbled by gout. Feels like my left big-toe got hit with a 5-pound sledge.

Looking forward to playing with my tractor soon as I can walk without a limp. :cool2:

 

[Shawn B]

To make your rear fork work pull up on the cover for the PTO shaft at the lower rear of the tractor and then bring the yellow arm up toward the rear of the tractor until you can connect the arm and the top link.
The bale spear will then be horizontal to the ground. Raise or lower the bale spear via the 3PH lever. Don't know where it's located on that model.

BTW, you won't find an owner's manual online, but MIE, (Michigan Iron & Equipment) can probably get you one; they're an approved advertiser on TBN and take care of their customers, (855-265-4590) Write down the model and serial number of the tractor, engine and loader. I suggest you also get a service manual while you're at it.

I've been super busy, but finally ordered the manual from "Bob" at MIE.

Thanks for the number, real nice guy to deal with. $39.95 plus shipping. Worth every cent.


Minor Update:

Still dealing with gout, so limited tractor-time. However, I did use it to move two (2) bales of hay. Had to buy a 3/4 X 4 1/2" hitch-pin. Then had to adjust the...uh...screw-mechanism that attaches to the top of the 3-pt hay-fork in the back. Get it angled correctly so the forks were parallel to the ground. I figured out the bale would slip off if the forks are angled down a few degrees. Picked up a rear bale, picked up a front bale and moved both of them very slowly out to my cows.

Kinda proud of myself. Time on "tractor lessons" is less than a minute of instruction.

My cows needed hay, I am a man, I figured it out. (*beating on chest and grunting*).

Soon as the manual arrives, I'm gonna go check everything (fluids, filters, grease points, oil points....) on the tractor. Do some routine maintenance as necessary. Then address a few cosmetic issues as discussed previously.

Can't wait to use it more, but that clutch right now is killing my foot. I hate gettin' old.

 

[k0ua]

Hi, Shawn, I am late to the party, but I can give you a little insight into the canopy, it appears to be a Wells Ag canopy. The same as I have on mine.

Wells Ag Company - Tractor Canopies

It is steel of course with some kind of fiber insulation on the bottom between the steel angle iron frame and the steel sheet on top.. I like mine.

Also I am guessing that the original owner smashed up the nose piece and for some reason did not have the factory grill guard , or it was wadded up too in the accident. I think he fabbed up the big heavy grill guard saying something like "there now, lets see how that holds up" or something like that

I am glad you are getting things figured out, and at a good price so that you can have some money left over for things like pallet forks or 3pt implements you might like to have.

I would probably change out all the filters and fluids since you don't know when and if it was done before. It will take some money, (the hydraulic fluid is the most expensive) but it would be worth it to me for peace of mind. You can do it all yourself, it is not that hard, and after all you ARE a man:thumbsup:

Heal up, get well, and come back for more tractor questions, we all are glad to help you out..

James K0UA