New to Forum, Input on tractor choices

IslandTractor · Apr 10, 2006

I've never needed any, but have been exposed to parts prices for the Kioti, and find them to be very reasonable in nearly every case. That's a big plus in my book.


Obviously, you have never had the urge to replace the seat on your CK20 with the newer suspension seat that comes with seat belt retractors. $600. That is pure rip off a la BMW or Volvo. It probably costs Kioti about $75 in quantity.

I ended up buying separate seat belt retractors for $10 and will let my tush suffer to save the other $590 for implements. There are aftermarket suspensions seats available for less than $100 if needed. The original seat ain't so bad but the seat belt arrangement was a safety hazard as the belt could easily slip into the wheel well and was certainly an annoyance when hopping on and off the tractor.

KiotiJohn · Apr 10, 2006

( Obviously, you have never had the urge to replace the seat on your CK20 with the newer suspension seat that comes with seat belt retractors. $600. That is pure rip off a la BMW or Volvo. It probably costs Kioti about $75 in quantity. )
I was quoted about half of that, still expensive.

I've never had a problem with my seatbelt as I place it where I want it on the sides, and it stays right there.

Notice that I qualified the price statement when I said, "very reasonable in nearly every case." That would cover an expensive seat, wouldn't it?

Some of the other prices I've heard of and seen posted:'
Fan blade $11
PTO rod/shaft $35
starter $138
Compare these to some of the posts I've read on other brands, and you'll see Kioti parts as reasonable if not inexpensive.
John

Sasquatch · Apr 10, 2006

I recently priced out a CaseIH JX55. It came with a creeper transmission, MFWD, Buhler loader. Total came to $35,500 Cdn.

I wanted a creeper as I grow strawberries and need the slow speeds for planting.

I actually put down a deposit last week, and the dealer up here in Manitoba phoned me today and told me that it would take 5 months before I would receive the tractor!

I sent an angry email to CaseIH customer service. I find it appalling that an organization that size cannot match inventory to anticipated demand. I realize that creeper transmissions are not that common, but if they are a special order item, then the brochure ought to state that. I'm keen to find out what they say, if and when they reply.

In the meantime, I'm pricing out a Kubota, probably an M4900. Kubota has the right idea when it comes to a creeper gear: install it as an after-market kit if you want one. Why on earth can't Case do the same?

I leaned toward Case because I've had a 395 tractor for 16 years now and it's never given me any significant problems. It just didn't have a creeper gear so it was always problematic at planting time.

I'm curious if any of the other posters to this forum have run into similar problems when purchasing a small tractor.

Sasquatch · Apr 10, 2006

Update on JX55.

Just got a call from a CaseIH rep re my email. He says the holdup is the creeper gear and it's something you have to special order. The tractors are also built in Ankara, Turkey, something I didn't know, so there's also a big lag time for shipping. But if the creeper is a special order, they should at least point this out in the brochures.

I'll be pricing a Kubota in the next day or two. I don't really feel I owe it to them to wait.

rockyridgefarm · Apr 10, 2006

leaned toward Case because I've had a 395 tractor for 16 years now and it's never given me any significant problems 

Not that THIS Case is anything like one from that long ago... I am not saying that they aren't nice machines, but they are alike in name only...

My Deere has creeper. It was an option that consisted of a switch that plugged into the wiring harness. Very nice. Took longer to cut the hole for it than anything.

HEC · Apr 11, 2006

I have the creeper gears which was an option on my kubota 5700 and I can't believe how much I use them,they are great.If hst isn't what you can use and it wasn't for my needs than creeper gears are the next best thing.
Herb

Sasquatch · Apr 12, 2006

Further update on the JX55.

My email to Case got a lot of action for me. The factory rep got on the phone with the dealer and looked into more options. Case offers a slightly fancier model, the JX1060C, which comes with a creeper transmission as standard equipment. The drawback, of course, is that these tractors come with a higher price tag. However, Case gave the dealer a discount and I was able to purchase a JX1060C for the same price I had agreed to for the JX55.

The tractor will also be here in about 6 weeks, as opposed to 5 months, because nothing has to be specially installed.

Just goes to show what an email to the right people can accomplish.