Bought a Kioti DK45S Today

[williekioti]

We have all Saanen dairy goats. We first got a couple of goats when my oldest son had some problems digesting cows milk. It then turned into a 4-H project. My wife also produces and sells goats milk soap and we selll the the bucks when they get to around 50-60lbs for meat.
I then started to produce hay for our herd and next I am selling hay to other area goat producers.:thumbsup:
Of course I need to keep upgrading my hay equipment and tractors so that is the fun part.
I am definitly liken the DK45. It fits our Kuhn hay rake nicely.

Did you have dairy or meat goats?

Ours were a Boer mix, we only had a few producing milk/cheese for our own use. Started out as an impulse by my better half, they started as pets and "organic brush eliminators". Then we decided that producing our own dairy products would be good and I had the idea of training them for backcountry pack work (there's a guide I know that does this quite efficiently). We didn't have enough open space to go into any real production there, our property was mostly woods. When we moved they stayed with the property as a package deal, they were actually a selling point! This new property is much better suited to raising animals, so we'll see where my ambition takes me........... Have a bunch of clean up work to do first.

 

[grsthegreat]

ok..im dying to hear. i am in the process of purchasing a 2011 DK45Se HST cab tractor, but i have read here that the a/c and heat are nothing to brag about. Is everyone here of the same opinion?? the main reason im going with a cab is for winter snow blowing work (6-8 hrs/day). if there is a heater issue i would be interstted in hearing about the issues. i currently have a 1996 JD870 (no cab) and can do the work required just fine, but if the heater doesn't work very good, maybe i should just stick to what i have? any help would be appreciated. Just for information i have looked at the John Deere 40 series cab tractors and turned them down for many reasons, the main one being the fuel filler is located right above the instrument column, and any spillage runs down the face of the panel....very sucky design...what were they thinking. Kubota makes a fine product, alot of plastic though, but sooooo expensive.... I liked the TYM t503 tractor, but the ergonomics in the cab are not as nicely laid out as the Kioti. I do wish the Kioti had the cruise control button linked to the hst pedels...for safety reasons, instead of having to punch the set button again. At leas Kioti includes all the rear wipers,lights,hydraulic port (1) and radio in the base price.

 

[Hoosier Hay Man]

ok..im dying to hear. i am in the process of purchasing a 2011 DK45Se HST cab tractor, but i have read here that the a/c and heat are nothing to brag about. Is everyone here of the same opinion?? the main reason im going with a cab is for winter snow blowing work (6-8 hrs/day). if there is a heater issue i would be interstted in hearing about the issues. i currently have a 1996 JD870 (no cab) and can do the work required just fine, but if the heater doesn't work very good, maybe i should just stick to what i have? any help would be appreciated. Just for information i have looked at the John Deere 40 series cab tractors and turned them down for many reasons, the main one being the fuel filler is located right above the instrument column, and any spillage runs down the face of the panel....very sucky design...what were they thinking. Kubota makes a fine product, alot of plastic though, but sooooo expensive.... I liked the TYM t503 tractor, but the ergonomics in the cab are not as nicely laid out as the Kioti. I do wish the Kioti had the cruise control button linked to the hst pedels...for safety reasons, instead of having to punch the set button again. At leas Kioti includes all the rear wipers,lights,hydraulic port (1) and radio in the base price.

I have had no problems with my a/c or heat. We used the DK45S all summer raking and baling hay. You won't frost your windows but it did a good job. My Deere will freeze you out but I really don't need to be that cold baling hay. I haven't had an trouble keeping warm either. I only use it when unloading and feeding round bales and it has kept me warm. Again I don't like sweating in the winter either.

 

[Oleozz]

ok..im dying to hear. i am in the process of purchasing a 2011 DK45Se HST cab tractor, but i have read here that the a/c and heat are nothing to brag about. Is everyone here of the same opinion?? the main reason im going with a cab is for winter snow blowing work (6-8 hrs/day). if there is a heater issue i would be interstted in hearing about the issues. i currently have a 1996 JD870 (no cab) and can do the work required just fine, but if the heater doesn't work very good, maybe i should just stick to what i have? any help would be appreciated. .

I have a 2006 DK 45, the ac won't freeze you out in the summer or the heater won't turn you into toast in the winter. I would say it is sufficient but not excessive. I thought it might be the thermostat, replaced it and there was no difference. I talked to Wallace about it, he conducted some tests and found the temps below what they should be for good heating, his recommendation was put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator in the winter.
I would have thought that Kioti might have made some design changes by this time.

 

[MichiganIron]

They have made design changes. The "S" series and "SE" series cabs are completely different animals. The "SE" being the newer, more updated cab with a re-designed Heat and AC System. Shouldn't really compare between the older system and the newer SE System. They are different.

 

[Kiotikarl]

ok..im dying to hear. i am in the process of purchasing a 2011 DK45Se HST cab tractor, but i have read here that the a/c and heat are nothing to brag about. Is everyone here of the same opinion?? the main reason im going with a cab is for winter snow blowing work (6-8 hrs/day). if there is a heater issue i would be interstted in hearing about the issues. i currently have a 1996 JD870 (no cab) and can do the work required just fine, but if the heater doesn't work very good, maybe i should just stick to what i have? any help would be appreciated. Just for information i have looked at the John Deere 40 series cab tractors and turned them down for many reasons, the main one being the fuel filler is located right above the instrument column, and any spillage runs down the face of the panel....very sucky design...what were they thinking. Kubota makes a fine product, alot of plastic though, but sooooo expensive.... I liked the TYM t503 tractor, but the ergonomics in the cab are not as nicely laid out as the Kioti. I do wish the Kioti had the cruise control button linked to the hst pedels...for safety reasons, instead of having to punch the set button again. At leas Kioti includes all the rear wipers,lights,hydraulic port (1) and radio in the base price.

I have a 2009 dk45se hst with cab. I use i mainly in winter for snowplowing. The heating was something which wasn't to my expectations, the windows would fog up if you let the fan low/middle. I upgraded the termostate to a 195 by Stant, ï½*part number 13849, kioti only manufactures a 180. Now i can say its nice and toasty in the cab, even in -35C here in Quebec. It also uses half the fuel of my NH TC45DA i traded in. So far with +180hrs on the DK not a single breakdown, its a great and reliable machine. It may lack the fit and finish of other more $$ tractor brands, but you get more for your $ with a Kioti, such a great tractor.

 

[grsthegreat]

Thanks guys for the encouraging remarks...i went ahead and paid for a new DK45SE HST today...expect delivery next week after they add an additional rear port, R4 tires and ballast and 3rd valve up front.....cant wait to play with it. I went to the dealer today, warmed it up and drove around for a bit. was only 30F outside, but got very hot in the cab. I liked the fact that air flow from all 8 vents was strong (The TYM 503 had air flow from front vents only, no rear vents blew air). I guess my old reliable 1996 John Deere 870 loader is destined for the sales floor...oh well it was a nice tractor, but my older bones will enjoy the cab. Thanks again.

 

[Dmace]

Thanks guys for the encouraging remarks...i went ahead and paid for a new DK45SE HST today...expect delivery next week

Congrats and Welcome to the Pack!
I'm looking forward to pictures of your new machine. Those DK45's are beautiful tractors!

 

[grsthegreat]

well...heres the only picture i have of it so far. i took it on my crummy camera phone at the dealership....hes putting R4 tires on it plus a few extras..should have it in 2-3 days...ps.the front plow doesnt come with it...its just as it sat on site. i get the bucket right now

 

[Hoosier Hay Man]

Congratulations!:thumbsup: You won't be sorry for getting the cab.