I also live in Massachusetts and purchased a CK20HST with FL in May of this year. All summer long I have had rough fill brought in to level off my lot. By rough fill, I mean rough, pieces of granite blocks, big chunks of cement, etc. I would get sometimes three 18 yard loads brought in one day. It would take me about two hours to level those loads out. If it would have been clean fill and I wouldn't of had to pick where I would put these huge chunks of cement and rocks, I could have leveled it much quicker. The CK 20 would get a full bucket of dirt every time with a little practice. Using a FL takes a little practice also. BTW, I did have the rear tires loaded because I did not get the backhoe attachment. So far this little tractor has satisfied me with the power of both the engine, and the hydraulics. I would rather have the hydraulics go in by-pass than break something on the FL. I have forced the tractor into the piles of dirt enough to spin the front and rear tires at the same time, not all four, but one in front and one in rear. Even with the rear tires loaded, I have lifted some dirt with chunks of rocks, and cement to the point where one of the rear tires came up off the ground. The snow this winter thus far has not been any kind of challenge for this tractor. The challenge is getting the tractor started. I have to crank it about 8 to 10 times before it will start and keep running. I will be installing a block heater this spring. Also, the keyloack froze on me several times. Injected some WD40 and unfroze the lock. My tractor sets outside all the time although I have been covering it with a larg tarp. I have a new SIMS cab coming from Canada next month. Really anxious for that to land. The tractor cranks perfectly okay and will start right up, but as with any diesel it takes it a while to get the compression and heat in the cylinders up high enough for it to keep running. Just one thing I wish Kioti would rethink. The shuttle peddle for the HST is perfect, but I wish Kioti would have found a better place for the huge filter that sits right behind your foot. It gets in my way alot, maybe my foot is just too big, 11-1/2. All in all, I'm very happy with my CK20 HST and am really glad I got the HST. I was considering the shuttle shift but glad I got the HST instead. When working with it in dirt and especially in the snow, the hydr works much more fluently and it's easy getting a rythm going. Now if we could just get the dumping of the bucket to match the rest of the works, we would have a perfect machine. BTW, I use a product called Stanadyne Diesel Conditioner, recommended from a high school friend that has spent all his life rebuilding diesel pumps and injectors, and his father done the same thing. Son took over after father died. So he knows what he is doing and talking about. It replaces the lubricants that have been removed from diesel in the recent future to adhere to EPA requirements. 1 bottle will condition 60 gallons so it is worth the extra money and effort to dump some in the 5 gallon jug before fillup. This stuff helps prevent fuel gelling, waxing and freeze-up in cold weather, lowers fuel pour point as much as 40 deg.F, increases fuel cetane rating, combats rust and corrosion,and cleans and lubricates the Diesel Fuel Injection System. I think a bottle costs like nine bucks if I remember. Anyway, we are supposed to get whopped with 18 to 24" of snow today into tomorrow, so the Kioti will get it's ultimate test in snow removal. Although from what I have done with this little beast this summer in moving dirt, snow is not going to pose any problems I'm sure. I'll probably wished I had a bigger bucket is all. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
