Ls vs kioti

Coyote machine · Sep 27, 2014

High range, at least on a Kioti HST is about useless for anything but road speed travel. Medium range or low, when needed are the two ranges that get 98% of the use on my tractor. Loaded tires are a must, and rear ballast too. I'm usually carrying my KB-2485 hoe on the rear, ( +/- 1000#) or my box blade, but almost never no rear weight.
Dealer is not an issue with the two DK series Kiotis I've owned. Only if you plan to spend a lot of time or $ having your selling dealer do your service work is dealer a factor in buying, IMHO. There are a lot of great KIoti dealers accessible via online ordering, etc. Can't speak to LS....

GManBart · Sep 27, 2014

Poopdeck Pappy said:
I'd prefer the AC over the crabs.

On a serious note, I've got the DK50SE HST-C and I didn't see any reason to buy the DK40 or 45 instead. The price difference wasn't that great for something I intended to keep for a long time. And I figured the tractor could use the extra HP for the AC. I haven't been disappointed in it.

D'oh!

I tried finding a DK50SE cab a while back....no luck

paulfun9 · Sep 27, 2014

Coyote machine said:
High range, at least on a Kioti HST is about useless for anything but road speed travel. Medium range or low, when needed are the two ranges that get 98% of the use on my tractor. Loaded tires are a must, and rear ballast too. I'm usually carrying my KB-2485 hoe on the rear, ( +/- 1000#) or my box blade, but almost never no rear weight.
Dealer is not an issue with the two DK series Kiotis I've owned. Only if you plan to spend a lot of time or $ having your selling dealer do your service work is dealer a factor in buying, IMHO. There are a lot of great KIoti dealers accessible via online ordering, etc. Can't speak to LS....

One of the biggest factors in my decision to go with the Kioti over the LS was that all the LS tractors I test drove, the high range was worthless for anything even road travel! Its strange how two people can have different perspectives but the high range in my Kioti is better suited for use than the high range in my JD and many of my friends machines. Then again its not really meant to be a work gear but a travel gear anyway. I seem to spend the most time in medium range. Only time I actually had to use low was when I was pulling My stuck international out and that weighs over 12,000 pounds and with no hydraulics and a full bucket down in the hole it pulled it out without any trouble.

Poopdeck Pappy · Sep 27, 2014

When I bought my Kioti DK50SE HST-C, it was delivered to my property and has stayed there ever since. I can't remember ever having it in high range, now that I think about it. I use medium range more than low, but I put it in low 4wd when pushing over cedar trees or if I'm moving a lot of material with my box blade.

murphy1244 · Sep 27, 2014

I use high range a lot. Scoop and go!

mjstef · Sep 28, 2014

GManBart said:
I think you misread what I said. That dealer said he wouldn't put a cab Kioti on his lot smaller than the 50hp model because he felt the 40 and 45hp models were under powered. If a customer wanted one, he would order the crabbed machines with the smaller engines, but isn't recommend it. He didn't order crabbed models without AC....not even sure if it's possible. He had similar feelings about the XR line from LS in the larger frame size anyway.

If you look at PTO power for a DK40SE cab, it's down to 30hp from the open station which is at 34. 30hp at the PTO is pretty light (my opinion) for a machine that size, so I kind of get his point. Then consider that it's a 4,500lb machine before FEL, implements, counterweight, loaded tires, etc, and it makes more sense. I'm sure it would be fine for less taxing jobs, but could be sluggish for others, and dealers don't want stuff on the lot that might disappoint....if you special order it, you're sorta on your own.

The hydro drive sucks more power than a/c ever world dream of. Maybe the reason i don't notice any power loss is I have a gear drive......

mjstef · Sep 28, 2014

Coyote machine said:
High range, at least on a Kioti HST is about useless for anything but road speed travel. Medium range or low, when needed are the two ranges that get 98% of the use on my tractor. Loaded tires are a must, and rear ballast too. I'm usually carrying my KB-2485 hoe on the rear, ( +/- 1000#) or my box blade, but almost never no rear weight.
Dealer is not an issue with the two DK series Kiotis I've owned. Only if you plan to spend a lot of time or $ having your selling dealer do your service work is dealer a factor in buying, IMHO. There are a lot of great KIoti dealers accessible via online ordering, etc. Can't speak to LS....

I am able to use high range all the time with the shuttle Trans without issue. The hydro likely sucks to much power for anything but road travel.

Gary Fowler · Sep 28, 2014

I use High range(it has a 3 range HST) on my B26 all the time. It climbs hills pretty good and I can even load a bucket of sand in the FEL in High range most times without downshifting if I am transporting it a goodly distance. It only goes about 12 mph in high range though so it can pull a bit in high range due to the low speed gearing.

My LS in high range and anything above 1st or second gear is not much use for pulling. It is good on the road though at about 25 MPH top speed. I go thru the 4 gears when roading it, mostly because it is cool to do all that shifting like a big 18 wheeler. I could start it in 3rd I suppose but never in H 4 it just doesn't have the power to do that without slipping the clutch. Most of my use is in Med range unless I am doing something that I want to go really slow then I slip into L range (this is geared tractor)

I cant believe that a Kioti DK40 only has 30 PTO from a 40 Hp engine. Most tractors only loose about 6 HP between engine and PTO so the 34 should be PTO. Maybe the 30 is drawbar HP but most CUT or any other don't report DB HP any more.

GManBart · Sep 28, 2014

Gary Fowler said:
I cant believe that a Kioti DK40 only has 30 PTO from a 40 Hp engine. Most tractors only loose about 6 HP between engine and PTO so the 34 should be PTO. Maybe the 30 is drawbar HP but most CUT or any other don't report DB HP any more.

It does seem strange, but they clearly spec it as PTO horsepower. The DK45SE cab is rated at 36hp PTO, and the DK50SE is listed at 37.5hp PTO, so they are consistently on the low side for the engine size and machine.