Trade up?

[ERE]

I have discovered, sadly, that I purchased too little tractor for my needs. My CK25HST is perfect size for maneuvering in the vineyard, but it will only handle a 5' mower. The problem is the huge amount of time I am spending on mowing. I mow about 8 acres of pretty mixed terrain. Some of it has to be done very slowly because of slope or rocks/trees etc. Anyhow, this has been a rainy spring and I feel like I'm living in the seat. Seat time is good, but that many hours mowing is getting to be a drag.

I'm not sure what my options are other than tough it out. Tractor performs beautifully and only has 193 hours on it. I suspect that I'll get unpleasant sticker shock if I try trading up. Have any of you tired it?

Has anyone tried a 6' mower on a 25? The official answer is that 5' is the biggest and I suspect that's about right based on RPM drop when I mowing uphill.

 

[vtcoyote]

if you don't mind trading up and like the size of the ck25, you could trade up to a ck35, i have been running a 6 ft. brushhog for a little over a year now and with no problems, you can feel the weight on the back of the tractor, but if you put the MLS Control Valve on a slower speed it works just fine.

 

[ERE]

I do like the size and I think either a 30 or a 35 would work. Unfortunately there isn't a dealer very close to me so doing a trade up is awkward. They could quote a price of the new gear, but unless I trailered (I'd have to borrow one) to their location, they can't give my a quote on my current CK. If the quote isn't very good when I get there, then I'm stuck driving back without anything.

 

[Limecuda]

If a finishing mower is feasible then it can handle a 6 footer. If nothing else how about a flail mower?

 

[ERE]

That's an interesting idea. I'll investigate the pto HP required for flails. I've never used one so this will be interesting.

 

[IslandTractor]

I think a CK30 would be a no brainer for a six foot flail like a Caroni TM1900. A CK25 would be pushing it a bit but so long as you are either going slow or not mowing really heavy stuff I think it would be worth a try. At worst you'd have the new mower you'd need for your next tractor.

 

[Gittyup]

ERE,

I hate to say it, but I think you just didn't get enough tractor and mower for that much cutting. Mowing is ok, and sometimes downright pleasurable, until it takes longer than an hour or two. Then it's just plain work. For 8 acres, I'd be looking to run a 7' - 8' mower. Would an extra foot get it done fast enough to suit you?

Perhaps, if your terrain will allow it, you might consider keeping your tractor and getting a really fast used commercial ZTR. Just another option to consider.

 

[LD1]

I second the ZTR idea. They are a lot better for mowing than a tractor, provided that it isn't real wet or muddy. They get stuck real easy.

It will probabally be cheaper in the long run too instead of taking a loss by trading up.

 

[ERE]

I like the ZTR idea, but the pastures I mow are pretty rough with a fair amount of rocks so I suspect that I'd be beating up a ZTR fairly badly (not to mention my kidneys). I also have some steep slopes that I lose traction on unless I'm in 4WD. The ZTR would work great in the vineyard, but I would still have to get the tractor in to spray.

I'd love a 7 foot mower/tractor, but I would never be able to maneuver it between the rows of the vineyard and make the turns at the ends. I think I've trapped myself unless I can convince Mrs. ERE that a 2 year old tractor needs to be replaced just to get an extra foot of mower. Maneuverability in the vineyard is a real issue and the CK25/35 frame size is about as big as I can maneuver effectively without a lot of backing and filling.

 

[Gittyup]

Get another tractor. Then you'll have one for you and one for the wife. Both of you cutting will cut the time way down.

There are good buys on older stuff that is perfect for mowing. Right now a local guy has a Kubota L245 with only 600 hours for sale at $3K. Sweet old tractor (1979). Looks almost like new.

Have you thought of using the split brakes to turn more tightly in the orchard? Or taking out a tree at the ends of each row?

 

[unhappykioti]

Using brakes to turn shorter with an HST!!! I'd like to see that one.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I'd be looking at a real high HP economey tractor. Say a 50Hp Kubota MX5100 2WD for about 13k, or you can find 2WD New Holland TN65's with low hours for about the same. NH TT-Series are very cheap too, but you can tell in some ways. Moving a few HP up is just not going to make a real difference, you need a much bigger tractor if you expect a real difference.. not just the next model up.

 

[Gent]

I have discovered, sadly, that I purchased too little tractor for my needs. My CK25HST is perfect size for maneuvering in the vineyard, but it will only handle a 5' mower. The problem is the huge amount of time I am spending on mowing. I mow about 8 acres of pretty mixed terrain. Some of it has to be done very slowly because of slope or rocks/trees etc. Anyhow, this has been a rainy spring and I feel like I'm living in the seat. Seat time is good, but that many hours mowing is getting to be a drag.

I'm not sure what my options are other than tough it out. Tractor performs beautifully and only has 193 hours on it. I suspect that I'll get unpleasant sticker shock if I try trading up. Have any of you tired it?

Has anyone tried a 6' mower on a 25? The official answer is that 5' is the biggest and I suspect that's about right based on RPM drop when I mowing uphill.

Have you seen the TYM Tractor line? To me these tractors out spec many out there in the field. If you have to trade up be sure to keep an open mind when picking out your next tractor. I here you can get a 23 and 27 hp TYM with a loader now between $10995 and $11995.

 

[pjf]

Ere

What is the width between your vines

 

[LBrown59]

Get another tractor. Then you'll have one for you and one for the wife. Both of you cutting will cut the time way down.

My wife and I do that with these.


Together they cut a 9 foot path.
Makes short work of 2.33 acres.

 

[ERE]

Width between vine rows (center to center) is mostly 10 feet with two rows at 9 feet. Actual width when the vines are leafed out is probably two feet less. I can easily get a 6' mower through and with care, I can manage a 7' in the narrow rows. The main problem is I have about 18 feet turning on one side of the rows (28 on the other). It's already a bother with the CK25 in that I have to raise the bucket above the 7' fence height to make the turn on the 18' end. I think with any larger tractor I will need to drop the bucket to make that turn or back back out the row to make the turn on the 28 foot side.

I looked at the TYM. The 353 HST looks interesting, but I can't find any dealers that post prices on their web. Same problem for Kioti. I can't get any dealer to quote me a price (two of the closest dealers (70 miles) didn't even respond) and the dealer I purchased from isn't listed on the Kioti web site anymore.

 

[MotorSeven]

ERE,
I would give a light weight 6' bush hog type cutter a try. There is a difference between the light & heavy weight mowers. If you are mowing the same ground on a regular basis & the grass isin't too tall i do not see why the Ck25 could not handle a 6'er. It's a $500 gamble compared to a $5K loss if you trade up. I have 244 hrs on my CK & the dealer is offering $11.5K on a trade to a DK40se.
RD

 

[unhappykioti]

If the loader is causing problems turning why not just take it off. For the type of mowing you are doing I don't think a bigger mower would be a problem.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have 244 hrs on my CK & the dealer is offering $11.5K on a trade to a DK40se.
RD

Do it.

 

[MotorSeven]

Island....shhhhhuuush

Went to the dealer the other day, got all the numbers from 24 months up to 84. Talked later to the War Dept.(wife), & apparently it has been sent out for a feasability study pending appropriation of funds. Since the financing specials end on July 1, i have been presenting favorable arguments ref the purchase on a daily basis......................tic...toc.....tic.....

RD