Happy Kioti owners?

[ulflyer]

I bought the CK30 HST last spring after looking intensely at the Kibota. Ergonomically the Kioti suited me best as the seat has some springing to it, better than Kibota, its larger in size which I liked, has a step to ease getting up/down and the HST seemed quieter, less whinny. Also preferred the metal hood as opposed to polymer. All just personal things. Really wanted to like the Kibota as I have a dealer with exc reputation nearby whereas Kioti is a bit further and very small.

Its got one issue that some others have had: sticky treadle. Mainly I use it to mow and have to be very carefull around the house where theres more going forward and reverse. Have learned to keep my heel on the treadle to put it to neutral when needed. Usually, after an hour or so it eases up.
Intend on putting it in the shop this fall. One forum member had to have a whole new transmission put in but it was done under warranty. Despite that, I really like it a lot and am satisified I made the right decision for me.

 

[flatlander dave]

I've owned my kioti for about 1 1/2 years, little over 400 hours. Its a dk50 hst se cab. I looked at the other orange, green, and blue. All other brands were imported also. I saved over 12K buying kioti. Very pleased. I agree with other post about dealer network, I'm on my second dealer, other dealer is gone. I wish there parts distribution was better designed but thats my only complaint. Tractor is built like a brick $#%^ house. Heavy, nice fit-n-finish. Don't regret buying Kioti.

 

[whitmerlegacyfarm]

Welp after havin mine for a lil over a day im very pleasef. I did extensive research for the last year. Seemed to b so many more standard features with kioti then other brands. I rely wantef a new holland but just seemed cheap build n way to pricey. So I will keep ppsting. I believe I made the right choice. Time will tell. I have a dk50se hst. 46hrs

 

[grsthegreat]

Welp after havin mine for a lil over a day im very pleasef. I did extensive research for the last year. Seemed to b so many more standard features with kioti then other brands. I rely wantef a new holland but just seemed cheap build n way to pricey. So I will keep ppsting. I believe I made the right choice. Time will tell. I have a dk50se hst. 46hrs

i forgot...did you get it with or without the cab? still waiting for some pictures....:laughing: :laughing: :thumbsup:

 

[whitmerlegacyfarm]

i forgot...did you get it with or without the cab? still waiting for some pictures....:laughing: :laughing: :thumbsup:

Pics should b soon. Been runnin around with holiday n tryin to get a lil seat time. I didnt get the cab lol all the local farmers would be on me bot it lol.

 

[grsthegreat]

Pics should b soon. Been runnin around with holiday n tryin to get a lil seat time. I didnt get the cab lol all the local farmers would be on me bot it lol.

naaaa. ya need a cab :laughing:

i actually had to use the A/C today while harrowing the horse pasture.....got kinda hot today. put in 3 hrs of bouncy bouncy time

 

[Rustyiron]

Thanks for the reply's, You guys suprised me with some of the price savings. The Kioti sounds like a good value. Remember the old Avis (Ithink) rental car commercials? I think it was, "were #2 and we try harder" . It sounds like that may be the situation here. My buddy is looking 1st for used, but with some of the financing deals out there......

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks for the reply's, You guys suprised me with some of the price savings. The Kioti sounds like a good value. Remember the old Avis (Ithink) rental car commercials? I think it was, "were #2 and we try harder" . It sounds like that may be the situation here. My buddy is looking 1st for used, but with some of the financing deals out there......

The Daedong/Kioti business model is similar to that of Hyundai in challenging the Japanese companies. Focus on efficiency and don't worry about staking out the highest "Lexus" spot on the tractor hierarchy. Kioti clearly is copying Kubota which cuts development costs and because they also manufacture in Korea their manufacturing costs are less too. That adds up to quite a savings that they can pass on to the customer in order to build market share.

Kioti tractors are really very well made, that is not where they skimp in order to undercut Kubota. What you don't get from Kioti is the latest greatest HST innovation (probably four or five years behind Kubota) but then again you have to ask who was complaining about the last generation of Kubota HST? Another difference that works in Kioti's favor IMO is that while Kubota generally seeks to build lighter tractors (there are benefits, especially for mowing which is a common use of CUTs) they are unable to offer quite as powerful loaders as the relative size of the axles and other structural components are not engineered for the heavier stresses. To be fair, Kubota is also very conservative in how they engineer and the result is that their loaders are typically 10-25% less powerful at a given horsepower size compared to Kioti. For shoveling poop out of a barn this is not an issue but for working to clear land or similar loader intensive tasks, the added loader capacity is a nice bonus with the Kioti tractors. Some Kubota dealers still like to mutter about Korean pot metal as the reason why Kioti's are not as light as Kubotas but anyone looking into the sophistication of Korean steel making abilities will see that for the smokescreen it is. Kubota is the exception in that they focus on engineering for lighter weight, Kioti is just using more traditional overbuilt tractor construction techniques.

 

[Monkeyonmybackfarm]

I just joined yesterday as I was looking information on my DK35. I purchased it in 2002 and I had looked at the other orange tractor and a red one. The $4000.00 difference in price for a tractor that offered so much more than the standard tractor. The DK35 is built heavy with a focus on being tough where it counts. For example on other tractors the steering rods are so flimsy that you have to be careful when bushhogging or a small tree will bend it..The money I saved I purchased a frontend loader and a piece of equipment...

Mine came with a metal tool box, rear work lamp, a creeper gear, shuttle shift,automatic stop on pto. That weren't offered on the others. The price difference was a good bargain for me but I was sold after the test use of the tractor by the dealer for a week.

Since my purchase, I have found that the tuffness of the tractor is far beyond my experience with other tractors I have owned over the last 30 years. I run veggie oil in mine during the summer months with no difference in power, starts in the colddes of weather and is really good on fuel...My IH won't run on veggie oil, the one time I tried it I have to have the injectors refurbished. From my research in the asian countries bio-fuels or veggie oil is what most tractors on run on...

I have never had to do any warranty work and only one repair at 600 hrs was change a front wheel bearing. I don't like that the front grill is plastic, as mine needs replacing, but all the others are plastic also...

 

[rd_macgregor]

In '06 when I was shopping for my first tractor, Kioti came out on top for weight, capabilities and features...all with a savings of more than $6k. I've had a couple of warrantee issues (all taken care of nicely) on my DK45SC, as well as some cosmetic damage working in the woods. After over 550 hrs, this has been a great tractor for me (though I'd like HST and ag tires!).

Sad to say, if I had to replace my tractor, I probably wouldn't get another Kioti; the only Kioti dealer in the province dropped the line because Kioti headquarters was forcing some onerous business/sales standards onto them.

I've heard that the parallel Bobcat line of Daedong-made tractors doesn't include all the bells and whistles that Kioti has, but haven't checked that out for myself.

Any the name brand tractors are fine choices, too. Saving a bunch on initial purchase is great, but I think the dealer has to be near the top of the list for importance in the purchase decision...especially so for those of us who aren't real handy with machinery.

BOB