LB1914 v LK2554

[KRK]

Trying to wade through the information overload associated with buying a first tractor. Have looked at a 25hp Chinese but am tempted by Kioti's apparent visible quality, and warranty, doubtlessly and obviously affirmed by readers on this specific forum, but there is a few thousand dollar price increase that I am trying to justify with more research.

I know the LK2554 is discontinued, but a nearby dealer still has stock.

That said, if I understand the printed word correctly, this new peson questions the lack of a live clutch for the PTO that I presume means the PTO, and its speed, follows the engine every time I stop or turn around, etc. I predict bush hog work at varrying and perhaps very slow speeds and even backing into areas to get into, alongside and under obstructions. Will this work or will the bush hog spend its life speeding up and slowing down and not cutting when I creep backwards into the brush?

How about the inability, with the LB1914, of having 2wd available. Do I understand correctly this is hard on grass for mowing when making the lots of tight turns I will have.

I've a few acres to mow, a few acres to bush hog and some to clear and then maintain. I am seeking a tractor with a loader and a backhoe but the working areas, hills and trees, dictate a smaller tractor and the budget does, too.

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif But of course, I am all ears.

 

[Morgan1952]

KRK,
Welcome to TBN.
Well, I can't tell you anything about the LK2554, I don't know anything about them. However, I can tell you that the LB1914 is a great little tractor. The PTO stopping when you depress the clutch is a little bit of a pain but When I'm backing up to get into tight places with the brush Hog I just use a lower gear to give me the reaction time I need without using the clutch except to stop. You'll be suprised at what you can get done with this little fellow. Mine is an older model, but they haven't changed much over the years.
I sure that someone with knowledge of the LK2554 will give you some insight on them very soon. Hope this helps.
Bob

 

[DK35vince]

Non live PTO means the PTO will shut off when the clutch is depressed .

 

[KRK]

Yes, I know, hence one of the original questions was ". . . will the bush hog spend its life speeding up and slowing down and not cutting," etc.

My opinion now has changed to the point where this non live clutch is surely a bad thing, as is the constant 4-wheel drive tearing up the yuard on every turn, and these machines are thus to small and therefore I am probably not able to make use of a Kioti.

 

[depratt_equip]

The LB1914 and LK2554 are not full time 4-wheel drive. You can put it in 2wd. The brush hog will only speed up and slow down when you press the clutch in. If shift fast enough then you won't have to really worry about this. Most of the time when I am brush hogging I don't really shift any gears at all, so the PTO is always going at the same speed.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Most of the time when I am brush hogging I don't really shift any gears at all, so the PTO is always going at the same speed.)</font>
In all fairness to the poster, to back up under trees, or into them to cut small saplings, you'll need to push the clutch in, and people who are used to this type PTO get very good at doing so quickly with little PTO speed loss. For straight cutting, one rarely needs to disengage the clutch much. Simply set the proper speed for the conditions and go round and round. But, yes, there are times you'll need to use the clutch.
But as Jon said, these models are 2/4WD switchable.
Why not go up to the CK20 gear or HST? The gear is synchronized between 1st and reverse only, but has an overrun clutch on the PTO drive line. The HST has a live PTO. John

 

[KRK]

Overrun clutch? This new guy does not know what you mean?

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Overrun clutch? This new guy does not know what you mean? )</font>
It keeps the PTO from pushing the tractor when you push in the clutch which would happen if you were using a mower or other PTO implement on the back and didn't have an over running clutch.
Generally, you'll not lose the PTO power unless you keep the clutch pushed in for a while also. It makes a racket that you may think sounds like something is breaking, but that's just the OR Clutch slipping. This will also come into play if you were to have your mower at full RPM and then suddenly throttled the tractor down. That would let the mower spin, without pushing the tractor forward from the PTO momentum.
I hope this is a clear explanation. John

 

[KRK]

It sure is. Thank you. Timely, too, as I am on my way out the door to go look at tractors in person.