Kioti DK45S Hydro

[tulenutn2o]

Personally, I like the gear with shuttle shift reliability. Hydrostats are ok in lawnmowers for the average person. I think hydrostats are a way marketing was able to attract alot more customers who would otherwise be intimidated by a tractors operation. Hydro is easy. Hydros generate ALOT of heat! With that, must have means of cooling. With this comes more chances of problems. More components, more fluids. Heat breaks down fluids-cooled or not.Simply because cooling takes place after the heat is generated. Now, Hydraulic wheel motors are neat. In my opinion, this method is the only way I would have hydro. My aerial lift uses this. For the record, my lawnmowers are Hydro and I wouldn't be without it for them, Just not in my Bigger tractor.Not for a few more years anyway. Maybe I'm comparing apples to oranges with wheel motors and hydrostat? I don't know, to each his own, I guess.These are strictly my thoughts.

 

[Mousefield]

Personally, I like the gear with shuttle shift reliability. Hydrostats are ok in lawnmowers for the average person. I think hydrostats are a way marketing was able to attract alot more customers who would otherwise be intimidated by a tractors operation. Hydro is easy. Hydros generate ALOT of heat! With that, must have means of cooling. With this comes more chances of problems. More components, more fluids. Heat breaks down fluids-cooled or not.Simply because cooling takes place after the heat is generated. Now, Hydraulic wheel motors are neat. In my opinion, this method is the only way I would have hydro. My aerial lift uses this. For the record, my lawnmowers are Hydro and I wouldn't be without it for them, Just not in my Bigger tractor.Not for a few more years anyway. Maybe I'm comparing apples to oranges with wheel motors and hydrostat? I don't know, to each his own, I guess.These are strictly my thoughts.

Somewhat like a standard or automatic in cars and trucks. Personal preference but nothing wrong with either. I happen to like my HST on the CK35, if works very well for my application.

 

[IslandTractor]

Somewhat like a standard or automatic in cars and trucks. Personal preference but nothing wrong with either. .

I agree. Some of the bias against HST reminds me of criticism of the old slush box automatic transmissions of the early 60's. Yep, those were bad. But modern automatics are so good that even race drivers cannot outshift them so it really is just a personal choice these days.

If I were row farming or pulling implements all day long it seems a gear tranny would make more sense due to the loss of efficiency with HST but for general all purpose work, especially if it involves using the FEL, it is hard to deny that the HST is easier to use and probably easier on the powertrain. To each his own.

 

[Grateful11]

HST has been around for quite while even on tractors and some of fairly large
in size. We wanted HST for loader work and the because of my limited
use of my left leg. Our other 5 tractors are gear model, I suspect they said
the same thing about Shuttle Shift at one time, our CaseIh 5140 has Power
Shuttle shift. So far the Kubota L3940HST has been all we hoped for and then some.

 

[ewhyte]

I have a gear/shuttle model and it works well. Having said that, I find the cab a bit cramped and my clutch leg gets tired with a lot of shifting because I can't stretch my leg out very far. I wouldn't have that problem with the HST transmission. I've even thought of reworking the seat position to set it further back a few inches.
It's still a great tractor btw.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm wondering if the thread title is a bit misleading. This is a five year old thread that Tulenutn2o reactivated. As I understand it there are as of 2010, two different 45 hp cab models. The DK45S cab is gear only and is a slightly older (?2006) and slightly larger tractor than the DK45se cab (2009) which is HST only. The cab on the DK45S was cramped for me (6'5", 230) and I haven't had a chance to see the newer DKse cab yet.

 

[bluechip]

Just an update, the DK45S is being phased out, replaced by DK45SE available in shuttle or HST, both cab and ROPS. Last year the 45SE was only avail in Hydro. The cabs on the SEs are larger than the 45S cab.

 

[charleyfarmall]

Shuttle or HST depends on what you plan to do with it. We use a CK27 as a small utility tractor for loader work, mowing small areas and along fence lines. The HST is perfect for that and I am really glad I have it. For tilling, discing, hay etc. I have two geared tractors and that's perfect for them. They are more efficient for field work. However, any time I use them for a lot of loader work I really appreciate the HST on the Kioti.

Basically, if you are going to do a lot of reversing, HST is great. In fields you tend to mostly go one direction, and geared tractors put down the power a little better and use less fuel.

 

[Mike476]

I had the chance to sit in a DK45SE with cab a few days ago, am considering one as my next tractor. The cab was quite comfortable, I'm 6' 2" and 250 pounds. It was a HST, couldn't drive it, dealer had it almost put together for a customer that had oredered it in. Nice machine!