New tractor help

[GregMVT]

I am looking at 3 models and am undecided which one would be the best fit for what I am going to use it for. There is a local dealer, Moore's Corner Inc in Granvillem NY. about 10 miles from me. One of the owners gave me "rough" quotes on each. All are manual, ag loaded tires, and FEL. They are:
CK 25 $14,900
CK 30 $15,800
LX3054XS $15,000

I own a little over 13 acres, most of it is wooded or overgrown, and hilly. I have a small sugaring operation and would be using the tractor for brush mowing, skidding logs out to fire the evaporator, upkeep on the trails, and possibly collecting sap. The hill behind the house has a fair grade but the trail goes straight up and I can get up it fine with my Polaris ATV even in the snow. Most of the maples are on the other side of the hill. There is also an overgrown apple orchard on the far side that I would like to reclaim, that's the biggest reason for the brush cutter. The dealer had quoted me on several models, a Walco for $895 and 2 Woods, one for $1,095 and the other for $1,195 depending on if it had a shear pin or slip clutch. He claimed all would cut up to about 2 inch brush.

Sales tax is not an issue since farm equipment in Vermont is not subject to this and I asked the dealer about it. He said I would need to sign the form over there so maybe there's a tiller or box blade in my future too!

Right now I am leaning towards the 3054 mostly for the extra horsepower but could go with the CK30 if convinced that is a better machine.

Thanks for any help.
Greg /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Jim_in_Omaha]

I have a LK3054. So far been zero problems with the tractor itself @ 140 hours. The things I don't like about it is the tight control area with getting on and off the tractor. And the fact that the shuttle is not syncronized. The main transmission is and can be shifted as smooth as a car. I've just learned to shift the shuttle at just the right time and it goes smoothly. And it seems to be getting better with hours.

I bought mine used with 42 hours for a fantastic price with several other attachments. The CK is fancy by comparison to the LK. I would probably throw the vote to the CK because of the syncro shuttle itself. Something to think about if your going to be doing a large amount of loader work.

thx
Jim

 

[KiotiJohn]

You don't mention whether the prices on the CKs are for HST or Gear drive. Generally, the prices are within norms.
As for the right one, I think you would be better off getting the CK30 for the HP, and the telescoping arms and sway bars. This makes you hook up so much easier as you can adjust the arms more easily.
The platform design of the CK30 is much more comfortable, and the controls are all within easy reach making for an easier learning curve as well.
If the CKs are gear, then you'll probably like the synchronized shuttle and transmission better than the mechanical shuttle on the CK30. In case you're not familiar with them, with the synchro, you can still be moving when you shift the tractor, with the mechanical, you come to a stop first. Of course, I've found that people adapt to either fairly easily, but I would personally prefer the synchro.
All three of these tractors will do what you need to do, it's more a matter of which one you'll be comfortable using for long periods, and which one will make the jobs easiest. My vote would be for the CK30. John

 

[depratt_equip]

KiotiJohn: I think he said they are all manual in the original post. Also the only one that has the mechanical shuttle is the LK3054XS which it what I think you meant to put. From looking at your post time it appears to be the wee hours of the morning for KiotiJohn /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I would go with either the CK30 or LK3054XS, many dealers are looking to move out the LK3054xs models because of the popularity of the new CK30 at least I know this is true at our dealership. So you may be able to get that one at a good price if the dealer will deal any.

 

[To20Chris]

I love my LK3054, and the new XS version has a less confined operator station. I plan on keeping mine indefinitely and would recommend it to anyone, BUT..... for $800 you get the synchro shuttle, telescoping arms, more open operator platform, and a larger displacement engine. That's hard to pass up - Get the CK30!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

From a standpoint of "value" I think you would be hard pressed to pick anything other than the CK30. For a slight increase in price you get many added features and the modern design and more productive 130 loader. My opinion of the CK25 is that it is a bad overall value and underpowered for its size/weight -an opinion that doesn't make me very popular but one that I continue to stand by, and considering the low PTO hp for the track width that sort of nails the coffin shut on the CK25 in my book. The LK is a solid machine, I've seen one in action but never used one. But for the added benefits the CK30 offers, I would think you be best off with that machine if you want to stick with this size/power range.

However, for 13 acres, I think you might want to skip past all 3 of these and go up a bit in size, I'd say that without seeing your land, 30hp is the minimum size and 35 would be very reasonable. You said you'd be skidding logs, 30hp is on the low side for that task, unless they are modest size. Many of your tasks would have me questioning your choices as I think you might want to look at slightly more powerful machines.

 

[GregMVT]

I went over to the dealers last night and test drove the CK30 and the LK 3054. I think both are great machines but the CK30 is a lot more user friendly. I will be going back tonight to put a deposit on the CK30 since it is one he had in stock before the price increase and I won't get hit with that. He did talk me into the keeping the R4 tires that are on it, but I will be getting chains for winter work. They will weigh a lot more than ag tires when loaded and won't dig up the trails as much in the spring. As far as skidding I currently use a Polaris 700 Sportsman ATV and it has dragged out some good size poplar and cherry trees. I just have to cut them into 10-12 foot lengths when they get up to a 20 inch base. None of the trees I will be taking out are much more than that. I decided I needed a box blade before the brush cutter. I wouldn't have the time to start on that until early summer once things dry up and my trails are a mess after sap collection last spring and logging all summer. Besides I can practice on my crushed slate driveway to get the hang of how it works. I did post some pictures of my sugarhouse and land last night if anyone wants to see what I'm up against. I'll post pics of the tractor once it gets here!!

Thanks for your help and input, this is a GREAT website!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Greg

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Also the only one that has the mechanical shuttle is the LK3054XS which it what I think you meant to put. From looking at your post time it appears to be the wee hours of the morning for KiotiJohn )</font>
You're exactly right Jon. I was pretty exhausted when I was reading this one, as happens all too often. Some of my cases lately have really been trying!
It's when I'm tired that I most often forget to proof read these posts. I keep promising myself that I won't skip that, but then I go and do it anyway. Thanks Jon.
John

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I will be going back tonight to put a deposit on the CK30 since it is one he had in stock before the price increase and I won't get hit with that.)</font>
Hey that's great. I know you're going to love that tractor. If I can skid the trees that I do with my CK20, I know you'll have NO trouble with much larger ones. No one that has been around when I'm skidding can believe the CK20 will do it, but it does.
As for the brush cutter, when you're ready, I'd go with Woods. I don't really know the Walco, but the Woods mower is very well built, and has a much better gear box than I've seen on a lot of mowers. They have a really large oil channel that bathes the gears well, and all the reinforcement appears better than most. I have a Howse economy 4' that I've been very satisfied with, but it can't compare to the least of the Woods. I'll def. be going Woods when I add a larger tractor to the corral. Congratualtions on your decision. Enjoy! John

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Greg, I looked at your pictures after I wrote my post. I think you will probably be very happy with the CK30 because the logs you will be skidding seem like they will be fairly modest. Some of the guys on the forum talk about skidding really big stuff. I know when I pull out logs, they are more like branches compared to what some of the guys here pull. So all the stuff is pretty relative, which is why I made my suggestion to go up in size pretty conditional. For the size trees I saw in your photos, the CK30 should do the job very nicely. My next choice would have been a NH TC33, which comparably equipped would be running just about $1100 more than the CK30 quote and would have offered a stronger loader plus 10% more HP and a bit more PTO HP for the rotary cutter, but probably not enough to justify consideration given the capabilities of the CK30 and the size of the trees you are pulling. Only if the trees were bigger, then upsizing would make sense.

As for picking the CK over the LK, I think you hit on a key point, the CK is more user friendly. Many folks focus ONLY on price and buy the machine that they can get at the lowest up front cost. But in my mind part of the true cost of any machine is how productive you can be with it. The more comfortable you are, the more ergonomic the design, the better you will be able to use the tractor and the more work you will get done in the least amount of time.

I think you will love the CK30 for all the things it offers and the slightly higher up front cost is something that you will be very happy you paid to get a machine that will do more work more conveniently for you. While I love to spend time in a tractor seat, I do not want to spend unproductive time, so I like getting my tasks done as quickly as possible while still being safe. To my mind, the ease of use factors of some of the more modern designs absolutely justify the slightly higher prices.