Dr Orangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Kioti

[murphy1244]

Maybe in your neck of the woods, Murph

Yea, If you read our police blotters you see thefts are up for cup holders. Times are tuff you know. CM, Thanks for the heads up on squeal fix. Bought a new tool box to replace the factory one.

 

[IronHog]

That is a beyond slick little tractor.......

 

[IslandTractor]

I discovered a fatal design flaw today. There isnt a cup holder!

You still looking for that thing? Look back over your right shoulder and down. I will admit it isn't the most convenient spot for a drink holder but it does have the advantage that you are unlikely to knock a drink over while working with the FEL. I keep an unopened can of V8 in mine just in case I get thirsty. I've gotten a little smarter over the years and after spending time cleaning off all the mowing dust from the can I now keep the can upside down.:licking:

Now what I am wondering is whether (?when) the DK cab versions with A/C will have refrigerated drink holders just like some of the new minivans do.:thumbsup:

 

[MotorSeven]

The little storage cubby lid breaks in little children's hands very easily...

Or opens like a Nascar roof flap while being trailer'd...then breaks off and wings away into oblivion...ask me how I know:laughing:

 

[logdog]

Sorry for the delay everybody. Crisis adverted . I did find it. I never thought to look behind my right shoulder for a cupholder so I amend my original statement. "I found a fatal flaw. The only worse place for the cupholder would be on top of the rollbar . "

 

[logdog]

So Kubota wins the cupholder battle but this isnt a minivan so it will all be ok. Put about 7 hours on it yesterday and was impressed with every non cupholder related aspect.

 

[k0ua]

Or opens like a Nascar roof flap while being trailer'd...then breaks off and wings away into oblivion...ask me how I know:laughing:

so is the best thing to do just break it off and throw it away upon delivery?:laughing:
Or carefully remove it (if the the delivery ride did not already do that) and save it for trade in time and put it back on?
James K0UA

 

[logdog]

Oh by the way Log I swapped for a DK35se Saturday and hope ot have it delivered in about a week and a half or so.

James K0UA

We have had a pretty similar few weeks. I think you are going to be real happy. I know I am. I didnt look at the 35 because of the loader but I understand feature wise it is the same as the 40. Just wait until you hook up something to the 3 point. You will wonder how you ever got by with the "standard series" set up on the 3400. Oh, if only we had time machines to go back and stop ourselves from buying out L's

 

[k0ua]

We have had a pretty similar few weeks. I think you are going to be real happy. I know I am. I didnt look at the 35 because of the loader but I understand feature wise it is the same as the 40. Just wait until you hook up something to the 3 point. You will wonder how you ever got by with the "standard series" set up on the 3400. Oh, if only we had time machines to go back and stop ourselves from buying out L's

I know..but there was no Kioti dealer nearby, and I did not know much about them.. and nothing about TBN.. The really disgusting part is I paid within 300 bucks of the DK35se for the L3400HST and this is 19 months later. ( I really paid too much for the Kubota) and the DK35se is more like a grand L in features not a "standard" tractor. I would have gotten the 40 but the wife liked getting on and off the 35 much better, and of course it was more money so I settled for the 35. I can't wait to get the darn thing.:drool: I used my Kubota for several hours over the weekend, and it is still a great tractor, but I am looking forward to the DK

James K0UA

 

[logdog]

I know..but there was no Kioti dealer nearby, and I did not know much about them.. and nothing about TBN.. The really disgusting part is I paid within 300 bucks of the DK35se for the L3400HST and this is 19 months later. ( I really paid too much for the Kubota) and the DK35se is more like a grand L in features not a "standard" tractor. I would have gotten the 40 but the wife liked getting on and off the 35 much better, and of course it was more money so I settled for the 35. I can't wait to get the darn thing.:drool: I used my Kubota for several hours over the weekend, and it is still a great tractor, but I am looking forward to the DK

James K0UA

The difference for me was somewhere around a grand I believe. I will have to look and see what the exact amount was when I get home. Im sort of curious. My wife has been very impressed so far. We keep starting to beat ourselves up over buying the L but then we remind ourselves we made the best decision at the time.
You are really gonna love how quiet the drive is. I know it rides alot better too. I imagine most of that is the weight of the tractor.

 

[k0ua]

The difference for me was somewhere around a grand I believe. I will have to look and see what the exact amount was when I get home. Im sort of curious. My wife has been very impressed so far. We keep starting to beat ourselves up over buying the L but then we remind ourselves we made the best decision at the time.
You are really gonna love how quiet the drive is. I know it rides alot better too. I imagine most of that is the weight of the tractor.

Have you put anything on the 3pt yet and tried to raise it slowly?
I am hoping that the DK will be some better than ole "jerky"

James K0UA

 

[IslandTractor]

Have you put anything on the 3pt yet and tried to raise it slowly?
I am hoping that the DK will be some better than ole "jerky"

James K0UA

The DK 3pt is very smooth IMO. It is also very nice to be able to make very small adjustments from the back lever while standing off the tractor and attaching something to the hitch. The lever in the back is pretty long which makes fine adjustments easier.

 

[logdog]

Have you put anything on the 3pt yet and tried to raise it slowly?
I am hoping that the DK will be some better than ole "jerky"

James K0UA

Sure have. Been using a wood chipper and it is smooth as silk pie!

 

[k0ua]

The DK 3pt is very smooth IMO. It is also very nice to be able to make very small adjustments from the back lever while standing off the tractor and attaching something to the hitch. The lever in the back is pretty long which makes fine adjustments easier.

Sure have. Been using a wood chipper and it is smooth as silk pie!

cool!

 

[logdog]

The extra weight sure came in handy tonight when we where using the ratchet rake to rip out some shrubs. However I did get to see the weakness of R4 tires instead of Ags. Although the lawn sure is happier!

 

[IslandTractor]

The extra weight sure came in handy tonight when we where using the ratchet rake to rip out some shrubs. However I did get to see the weakness of R4 tires instead of Ags. Although the lawn sure is happier!

Are you using 4 wheel assist? You almost have to use that with R4s if you are doing any ground engaging work. Ballast also matters and I forget if you have loaded tires or not. I always have a 3PT implement on just for weight.

 

[logdog]

Are you using 4 wheel assist? You almost have to use that with R4s if you are doing any ground engaging work. Ballast also matters and I forget if you have loaded tires or not. I always have a 3PT implement on just for weight.

I was using 4 wheel. I have loaded tires but I didnt have anything on the rear. The R4 s did a good job but this is the first tractor I have ever operated that had them. So I just have to learn their limitations. Sometimes I hard to take two runs at a shrub to rip it loose.

 

[logdog]

The really disgusting part is I paid within 300 bucks of the DK35se for the L3400HST and this is 19 months later.

James K0UA

I forgot about my homework for last night! The base price (no taxes implements or loaded tires) of the L3700su in October of 2010 was 18075. Base of the Dk40 was 19747. So a diff of 1672 bucks. Factor in 2 or 3 price increases of a couple hundred bucks over the last 17 months or so and I bet the difference is less if we were able to truly compare apples. I really need to get working on that time machine!

 

[MotorSeven]

so is the best thing to do just break it off and throw it away upon delivery?:laughing:
Or carefully remove it (if the the delivery ride did not already do that) and save it for trade in time and put it back on?
James K0UA

No...just back it onto the trailer

 

[IslandTractor]

I was using 4 wheel. I have loaded tires but I didnt have anything on the rear. The R4 s did a good job but this is the first tractor I have ever operated that had them. So I just have to learn their limitations. Sometimes I hard to take two runs at a shrub to rip it loose.

With shrubs and the DK40 it is usually better to use the loader to pop them out rather than push them over. I typically push just enough to expose a riot then stick either the grapple or a toothbar under the bush and curl/lift the bush out. Saves the turf from spinning wheel damage. The KL401 is powerful enough that you don't need to push much at all.