Snow Review of using new CK-35 HST in the snow

[George in Spokane]

We've had about 3 feet of snow in the last week on my 1/2 mile road. The snow is very fine and drifts of four feet can form in a few hours. I've been using my CK-35 for many hours almost every day. I now have 18 hours. Here's what I've found:

With good chains on the front and rears, plus filled tires, plus wheel spacers, it never has gotten stuck or made me worried. It has started every day although one day around 5 degrees it barely started.

I've cleared most snow using a 7' back blade and this has worked very well. As the walls of the road have narrowed I've been going backwards more and also using the FEL. Lots of power and the HST makes things so easy.


Problems:

- The key lock keeps freezing even though I use the little plastic cap.

- The HST pedal is very close to the platform and ice collects under the reverse part of the pedal. No problem but annoying.

- This morning I noticed the 3pt is lowering very slowly. It got a little faster after I started working but remained slow. It rises fast. I checked the dipstick with the machine off (in the back) and it seemed fine. The blade is a lightweight KK but I have about 100lbs of weights on two rods I welded to it.

Sometimes there is also a groaning noise near the 3pt when pushing backwards. In the summer I'd be right on this noise, but with the wind howling and the snow blowing I've only done a little investigating. Anything to worry about?

All in all I'm very pleased with this machine.

 

[bearhawk]

--- This morning I noticed the 3pt is lowering very slowly. It got a little faster after I started working but remained slow. It rises fast.---

I am sure in your getting on and off the machine you have inadvertently bumped the down control knob. The silver knob just under your seat. In one direction it lowers real fast, and in the other you can actually stop the 3 point from lowering at all.

Just open it back up again.

 

[LBrown59]

This is adjustable

L . B .

Problems:
- The key lock keeps freezing even though I use the little plastic cap.
- The HST pedal is very close to the platform and ice collects under the reverse part of the pedal. No problem but annoying.
- This morning I noticed the 3 point is lowering very slowly. It got a little faster after I started working but remained slow.
It rises fast. I checked the dipstick with the machine off (in the back) and it seemed fine. The blade is a lightweight KK but I have about 100lbs of weights on two rods I welded to it.

 

[George2615]

From the sounds of it you store your tractor outside.

A lot of stores (especially locksmiths) send lock deicer for your key lock. You could use a warm can of penetrating oil to deice the lock but it may gum up when it gets cold.

The groaning noise and slow lowering of the 3pt. may also be due to cold hydraulic fluid. Make sure to warm up the motor for a good length of time before use. Even then the fluid is not up to a maximum operating temperature. I don't know if you use a multiviscosity hydro/trans fluid. I do on my tractor and still note the loader and 3pt. operate very slowly for the first 15-20 minutes of plowing. Then it gets faster but not as it would if it were 70 degrees outside.

Best bet if possible would be to keep tractor in a heated garage / barn. Even an unheated barn is better than outside. You might want to consider a block heater or lower hose heater that could be plugged in a couple hours before you're going to use the tractor. I know what your going through since we had about 24" of snow the last couple of days just southeast of Lake Ontario.

 

[BJN644]

I just ordered a 300 watt magnetic oil pan heater to assist in my warm up. There is a nice flat machined spot on the hydraulic sump (rear axle) just behind the transmission drain plug that should work fine. I know mine needed close to a 30 minute warm up before the hydraulics would start to work normally.

I'll post my results when the heater shows up.

I know how nice it is to have a tractor after the last snow storm we had, close to 2 feet of snow and 4+ foot drifts. When my old Chevy yard truck gave up the Kioti came to the rescue.

 

[George in Spokane]

You guys saved me again!

Today was warmer and no groaning so you were right. I normally keep the machine in an unheated shed but this requires me to lower and raise the ROPS each time. Because it has been snowing so much I've been leaving it outside. I need a heater.

Also I adjusted the 3pts knob and now it goes up fast.

New problem: We've been having so much snow that I've been working it hard. Today I noticed that the reverse pedal is only about an inch off the deck. I can go quickly forward (about 2 or 3" of travel) but reverse is very slow. I wonder if I bent something.

I crawled under and everything looks good. The mechanism is exposed and the little piston, spring, and lever arms all look good although I don't think I could spot a small bend. Any ideas?

Oh yeah, there is another grease zerk down there. How many does this thing have?

 

[IXLR8]

You guys saved me again!

New problem: We've been having so much snow that I've been working it hard. Today I noticed that the reverse pedal is only about an inch off the deck. I can go quickly forward (about 2 or 3" of travel) but reverse is very slow. I wonder if I bent something.

There have reports of the pedal for reverse bending, at least the 'tab' that you step on.

Oh yeah, there is another grease zerk down there. How many does this thing have?

Last count I did, FEL, tractor and BH w/thumb ~ 40 !! And I am not sure I have them all. Which is also why I bought a powered grease gun.

 

[Mike5252]

Aren't there adjustments on the forward/reverse pedals that could address this? I'm not familiar w/ the Kioti set up, but I believe most other makes have some adjustments in the pedals.

 

[BJN644]

There is some type of adjustment because mine would creep forward, but was re-adjusted at the 50 hr service.

Not sure where the adjustment is, but there is one. I'd contact your dealer.

 

[George in Spokane]

Thanks. Unfortunately it keeps snowing so I can't afford to lose the machine for the days it will take the dealer to fix it.