Buying Advice CUT newbie purchase advice

Justaplain · Sep 24, 2004

Check the clearance on the R4's. I never could put chains on this DK35.
I don't consider this 35 to be a "compact". I did a lot of work with an old ford 1310. You just take smaller bites. bcs

NHRich · Sep 24, 2004

Check the clearance on the R4's. I never could put chains on this DK35.


That's a really good point. I checked tire clearance yesterday, and it looked to me like the design of the DK35 (and also I guess the DK40) had a lot less clearance for chains than either the CK30 or DK45 (both of which seemed to have plenty of room). The dealer told me that they do have trouble getting chains on the DK35.

 I don't consider this 35 to be a "compact". I did a lot of work with an old ford 1310. You just take smaller bites. bcs 

I hear ya. The difference in size and weight from the CK30 up to the DK 35/40/45 is a lot. Sitting in the DK-series tractors didn't seem all that "compact" to me, either, maybe one of the reasons I liked them so much.

--Richard

NHRich · Sep 24, 2004

Just an update: today I put the down payment down on a DK45 with filled R4s, KL1590 FEL with tooth bar, KB2385 BH, RB22-84 84" offset back blade, hitch/log skid, sun shade, grill/brush guard, and a 4" piston PTO log splitter. Soil implements like box blade, tiller, bush hog, etc can wait at this point until next Spring. One interesting thing is that the add-on cab kits from Kioti will apparently be out soon, and it looks like for around $2500 you can get a nice cab and heater for your DK. Not as fancy as the pre-built cab, but much less pricey, and nice for northern climes...

Delivery will probably be late next week, except for the log splitter and tooth bar which may be a week or two later. I'm looking forward to doing some serious work with this beast. Thanks to all for your expert help and advice. I'll post pics when I've got 'em.

--Rich

KiotiJohn · Sep 24, 2004

( today I put the down payment down on a DK45 with filled R4s, KL1590 )
Can you see me drooling? Awful nasty on the keyboard! Congrats. John

NHRich · Sep 24, 2004

( today I put the down payment down on a DK45 with filled R4s, KL1590
Can you see me drooling? Awful nasty on the keyboard! Congrats. John )

Thanks! Yep, after looking at some of the other folks' pics of their DK55C and DK65Cs on this site, I need a big ol' drool trough myself. But, man, how awful to have a DK65C -- what's left to lust after? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Apart from the added HP and loader capacity, one of the big things that pushed me towards the DK45 was the combination of ground clearance and wider stance-- you can push the rear axle tread width out to 58.6 in. Given all the hilly woods work I plan to do, small and maneuverable would be nice, but I figure wide and stable is even nicer to keep that pucker factor down...

--Rich

KiotiJohn · Sep 24, 2004

( you can push the rear axle tread width out to 58.6 in. )
With industrial tires, I don't believe you can change the tread width. You will be getting the widest stance available with the industrials and turfs. I think only with ag tires can you change the width. John

cptdave · Sep 28, 2004

Did you buy locally?
Cpt.dave

NHRich · Sep 28, 2004

Did you buy locally?
Cpt.dave 

Yes, plunked down my money last Friday with Dave at Upper Valley Tractors in Enfield-- I got a good deal, and Dave really knows his business and his products, a pleasure to work with. I'm supposed to be getting the tractor and most of the attachments sometime Thu-Sat this week, with a few of the remaining items (tooth bar, PTO log splitter, etc) showing up a bit later, so I can't say anything first-hand yet about service, but based on what I've experienced so far I wouldn't hesitate to recommend talking to Dave if you're somewhere nearby.

--Richard

NHRich · Sep 29, 2004

( you can push the rear axle tread width out to 58.6 in. )
With industrial tires, I don't believe you can change the tread width. You will be getting the widest stance available with the industrials and turfs. I think only with ag tires can you change the width. John


Right now I'm just going on what my dealer said, because I don't have the tractor yet (it's going to be a looooong week until delivery on Saturday...), but what he told me was that with Kioti models under 40HP, what you say is true. The DK40 on up, though, use a mounting disk in addition to the rim, and that gives the ability to push even the R4s out a ways. That matches what's in my owner's manual -- looks like I should be able to widen the stance at least a couple of inches.

--Richard

KiotiJohn · Sep 30, 2004

( looks like I should be able to widen the stance at least a couple of inches.)
Good. I was going to check it out tomorrow at my dealer's but you seem to have found the answer in your owner's manual.
I didn't realize that could be done with industrials on any of the Kioti models. John