Suggestions for must haves for a new Tractor owner?

[Iron Oak]

Hello all,

I go to pick up my new CK30 HST tomorrow. This will be my first tractor and I'm looking for some sage advise from you fine folks on must haves or things that have helped make your life a little easier with the day to day use of your tractor.

I am a former mechanic so I have a fair amount of tools.

One thing I can think of is a grease gun with pistol grip and the famous LocknLube. Anyone had better luck with a particular brand on the grease gun or is the nozzle the more important part?

Anything else you can suggest?

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Thinking implements? Grapple, by far, is my most useful piece of equipment. Pallet forks are versatile. A nice add-on to protect your tractor would be a decent grille guard. The factory guards provide little real protection. Extra remotes are required for many implements. Oh ... A chain-wrench to get the factory filters off on your first service interval. You may want the dealer to load your rears before you take it home.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

If you are going to be using a box blade, then a hydraulic top link is almost a necessity. So you will need a set of rear remotes, and as long as you are doing rear remotes, get both of them and get the set that has the 2nd remote with the float function.

If a grapple is in your future, then either a 3rd function on the loader or a set of hoses run from a set of rear remotes up to the front.

Think of everything that you might want to use the tractor for, now is the time to get your best deal from the dealer on extras on the tractor and or implements.

Good luck. :thumbsup:

 

[jeff9366]

Here is a useful LINK: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/NR/rdonl...45263BDD8/11557/pub2917tractorimplements1.pdf

 

[Iron Oak]

Thanks everyone,

Implements are on the list but I found better deals through everything attachments.

I plan on getting the 66" box blade and a 60" rotary cutter. A set of rear remotes and a hydraulic top link will be shortly there after.

I'd like a grapple for the front as I plan on doing some light logging or at least something for the 3pt in the rear to pick up logs to drag. At some point a backhoe but I could spend as much on the implements as I did on the tractor pretty quickly lol.

 

[flusher]

Hello all,

I go to pick up my new CK30 HST tomorrow. This will be my first tractor and I'm looking for some sage advise from you fine folks on must haves or things that have helped make your life a little easier with the day to day use of your tractor.

I am a former mechanic so I have a fair amount of tools.

One thing I can think of is a grease gun with pistol grip and the famous LocknLube. Anyone had better luck with a particular brand on the grease gun or is the nozzle the more important part?

Anything else you can suggest?

Get your rear tires filled with Rimguard.
Rear hydraulic remotes--2 sets (minimum), 3 sets is better
Get the skid steer quick attach option for the FEL on your tractor.
Get a good size toolbox and bolt it onto one of the fenders. The factory toolboxes are way too small.
Get a sunshade that bolts onto the ROPS
Get some type of cup holder for your water bottle if that tractor does not have one already
I use an expanded metal screen that attached to the ROPS on my Mahindra 5525 with hose clamps for protection while mowing.



Good luck

 

[kco]

Hello all,

I go to pick up my new CK30 HST tomorrow. This will be my first tractor and I'm looking for some sage advise from you fine folks on must haves or things that have helped make your life a little easier with the day to day use of your tractor.

I am a former mechanic so I have a fair amount of tools.

One thing I can think of is a grease gun with pistol grip and the famous LocknLube. Anyone had better luck with a particular brand on the grease gun or is the nozzle the more important part?

Anything else you can suggest?

The LocknLube will be too big to grease the loader. At least that's what we found for my neighbour's CK27. It is still very handy for all other fittings. If your tractor is like most Kioti's you'll need a good filter wrench to get the factory-installed filters off. They are installed ridiculously tight.

 

[paulfun9]

A good set of work lights for the rear.
Keep a set of all filters on hand especially an air filter. Many times the need to change out an air filter has arisen long before a service interval.
I don't know how the battery is mounted in the CK but in all my tractors one of the first things I have started doing is putting the battery in one of those marine style plastic battery boxes right from the start.
Check your tire air pressure right from the start as it seems most come with way too much pressure in them when delivered.
Even with it being new always go over the nuts and bolts for the loader, wheels and backhoe and any sub-frame supports that the dealer has installed way too many folks I know have lost bolts and lugs for me to ever trust the set up to be 100% again. Also ensure every fitting was greased prior to use as I have seen some missed as well.
The bucket level indicator on Kioti tractors has been known to come loose also, so its probably best to get some lock tight on it from the start to avoid bending like so many have done before.
The tool box is too small for most folks so it might be wise to look for an alternative.
If you plan on keeping it outside get a cover for the ignition switch, many folks have had problems with them and keeping moisture out should go a long way in prolonging its life span

Good luck and enjoy the new machine!

 

[Piston]

I could spend as much on the implements as I did on the tractor...lol.

I did, in fact I've spent MORE on implements than I did on the tractor.

Remember, it's the implements that do all the work, the tractor just powers them!


If your doing any amount of anything other than moving snow and dirt, you will find a grapple the most useful tool you can imagine.

 

[o2batsea]

Seat time. Priceless.
Actually my most used go-to tool is a ten foot length of 3/8 chain. I can skid logs, lift stuff with the bucket, pull stumps, haul cars and trailers around, and a bunch of other chores.
Get some good rigging hardware and you will always be using it.
Implements spend 99.999999% of their life on earth sitting around doing nothing.

 

[Fuggley]

Seat time. Priceless. Actually my most used go-to tool is a ten foot length of 3/8 chain.....

Yep, what he said.
Even 5/16" - G43 is probably all you will need with a CK unless your really pullin' extraordinary heavy stuff with it. Get the dealer to weld you on some bucket grab hooks.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Yep, what he said.
Even 5/16" - G43 is probably all you will need with a CK unless your really pullin' extraordinary heavy stuff with it. Get the dealer to weld you on some bucket grab hooks.

Strength wise, 1/4" will likely hold all you can pull and then some, but I like to go bigger just for extra safety. I also go with gr. 70 because you can get more strength with a smaller chain. If you plan to trailer it, look at the requirement for tie-down and buy enough grade 70 in the strength you need to put 4 corner ties on the tractor. Most states require separate ties for attachments including the FEL, backhoe, and even the back hoe bucket might require separate tie off. I usually use nylon straps for the attachments but chains for the tractor.

My advice is unless you need a box blade immediately, forego getting a new one. Look for a used one and save about 50% of the cost. It seems almost everyone, myself included, buys a box blade. I haven't used mine in years although I did use it a bit to level my shop location prior building. I also bought a landscape rake that I thought would be useful for grading my interior road, and it does work, but I can back drag it with my B26 FEL in less time than it takes to hook up the rake so it has become a chicken perch and they seem to like it as a bathroom location. Same with my box blade. Lots of folks use them for grading gravel roads but since I have such short road, I don't need it for that.

I haven't used my disk harrow in a couple years now since I got my King Kutter II tiller. I use it instead of the disk for garden prep. I even used it on a pasture fire once to cut a fire brake at over 8 MPH and it did a great job.