What to buy

[Westendorf-RR]

Our loader size increases as well when you get to the 40 HP tractor. I would be interested to know how our two loaders compare to the factory loaders Kioti recommends? Anyone willing to share specs??
TA-111 has 1400# LIFT CAPACITY @ full height of 7'2" and 60" bucket
TA-175 has 2250# LIFT CAPACITY @ full height of 10'2" and 72" skid steer bucket.

 

[Gittyup]

Kioti's specs are on their website. TA-111 lift is about the same as the KL130, I think. Those Kiotis look good with the black loaders!

 

[VictorW]

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones that still hasn't seen a crack on the old style loader for the CK30hst. Others explained what the new loaders look like. The bucket speed seems to be plenty fast but I can only compare it to a smaller JD. I'm sure others have more experience with other brands. I haven't found any area of weakness on my CK30hst. I just use it and perform the normal maintenance, lubrication, etc. I've only had a loader lift cylinder repaired under warranty. It had rust pits on the rod from day one. After repair, no problems. Make sure you go over all the linkage pivots for everything and lubricate well expecially if you are going to do winter work but probably all tractors would suffer from lack of lubrication. Most of the pivots have gray paint and no lube which tend to bind up over time. Some examples are the range selector and 4x4 lever. I can't think of any one point that I like the best. Everything works good for me. If you would have asked my wife, then the answer is the hst and very easy steering. I do wish the bucket was a little bigger. I can fill it full with sand or gravel and lift it with no problem but without some counter weight such as my 6' rear blade, it would be a little a little unstable. I guess that is why Kioti only made it that big - safety. If you go with the 25-30 CK, I would get the 30. You can run a six foot brush hog with the 30 and I have been able to stall the engine at 2500 rpm while in 4x4 doing loader work. Low range and the R4 tires will spin. A few members have posted in the past that they couldn't get any pulling power out of their hst but mine works great. Mine either pulls until the engine stalls or the tires slip. Good luck on your decision and any tractor you buy.

 

[wallace]

Kioti KL130 Lift Capacity to Full Height @ Pivot Pins 1155 lbs Maximum Lift Height 92.5" 60" bucket
Kioti KL401 Lift Capacity to Full Height at Pivot Pins 2,761 lbs Maximum Lift Height 107.8" 72" skidsteer quick tach

 

[Westendorf-RR]

I like your web site wallace, lots of good application photos and happy customers. Thanks for the information.

 

[easygo]

I can't offer personal experience with Kioti, but I will give you my c0.2 on the tractor size. I have 10 acres and own a 21hp Kubota. I was able to do all the chores and more than I originally wanted to, but there is a time factor. The smaller machine will take longer! Sometimes I wish I had a larger machine, but no work ever was unfinished. You can do all you said with the CK-25 or even smaller, but it will take longer. Depending on the size of the project it could take a LOT LONGER. One of my neighbors has a 65hp tractor and using that it only took him a couple of hours moving a roughly 40 yard pile of dirt (barn building project). A guy just a few homes down also has a small 21hp Kubota, had about same size pile of dirt to move and it took him at least 6 hours to complete the work. (driveway project there) Both were piles of lose dirt made by bulldozers or excavators.

 

[williekioti]

I can't offer personal experience with Kioti, but I will give you my c0.2 on the tractor size. I have 10 acres and own a 21hp Kubota. I was able to do all the chores and more than I originally wanted to, but there is a time factor. The smaller machine will take longer! Sometimes I wish I had a larger machine, but no work ever was unfinished. You can do all you said with the CK-25 or even smaller, but it will take longer. Depending on the size of the project it could take a LOT LONGER. One of my neighbors has a 65hp tractor and using that it only took him a couple of hours moving a roughly 40 yard pile of dirt (barn building project). A guy just a few homes down also has a small 21hp Kubota, had about same size pile of dirt to move and it took him at least 6 hours to complete the work. (driveway project there) Both were piles of lose dirt made by bulldozers or excavators.

That right there is an excellent point made. Most modern CUTs will handle whatever chore you need to do, but the size/capability of the machine will dictate the time and ease at which the chore will be done. You alone can can answer that cost/benefit analysis.

 

[IslandTractor]

I can't offer personal experience with Kioti, but I will give you my c0.2 on the tractor size. I have 10 acres and own a 21hp Kubota. I was able to do all the chores and more than I originally wanted to, but there is a time factor. The smaller machine will take longer! Sometimes I wish I had a larger machine, but no work ever was unfinished. You can do all you said with the CK-25 or even smaller, but it will take longer. Depending on the size of the project it could take a LOT LONGER. One of my neighbors has a 65hp tractor and using that it only took him a couple of hours moving a roughly 40 yard pile of dirt (barn building project). A guy just a few homes down also has a small 21hp Kubota, had about same size pile of dirt to move and it took him at least 6 hours to complete the work. (driveway project there) Both were piles of lose dirt made by bulldozers or excavators.

So, the way I read this, the guy with the 21hp tractor had a great time for six hours moving dirt while the guy with the 65hp tractor had fun for two hours then did honey do's for the rest of the day. Small is beautiful.

 

[easygo]

Actually the guy with the big tractor has about 200 acres and he also cuts hay with it as a side income. Putting it that way the 65 hp machine is not very big and he had plenty of other chores left.

Are you saying the small tractors are more fun for less money? I LIKE THAT!!!

 

[clarkmike]

Hello everyone,

Thanks again for all the feedback. I really appreciate the information on the CK series tractor, especially the detailed answers on loader weld issues. I'll know what to look for when I finally pull the trigger on the purchase.

I believe I've convinced my bride a DK series tractor is the way to go for our property. Now to find a good used one at an attractive price...

I'm looking at a 2006 DK45s, but it is quite a distance from here. Having said that.....are there any issues I should be concerned with on the DK tractor?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[whatsgnu]

My DK 45se HST was just delivered about 3 weeks ago and I love it. I too looked at the DK 45s, liked it alot but.. the seat didnt go back quite far enough for my Knees, the HST was only a few hundred more and it felt so natural. Also, I have hilly terrain in western MA, and the HST sits alittle lower and is just alittle wider than the 45s. Although I haven't been out on alot of hills yet because we're buried with snow, the few hilly places I've been, it has felt very stable. So, I guess what I'm saying is, with the wealth of experience 6 hours over 3 weeks of moving snow has given me ... I would highly recommend checking out th DKs or the DKse HST, I think you'll be happy you did.

 

[mark.r]

My DK 45se HST was just delivered about 3 weeks ago and I love it. I too looked at the DK 45s, liked it alot but.. the seat didnt go back quite far enough for my Knees . . .

So it wasn't just me. My dealer has a 45s on the lot with a cab and I jump up in it and that was the one thing I noticed. I probably wouldn't have even paid any attention to it if he hadn't mentioned it OR if there was a 55 and 65 sitting right next to it. But the seat didn't go back as far as my SE. I assume it was do to the cab but not ever having sat in a non cab 45s I can't say.

 

[whatsgnu]

I didn't notice at first either, I drove around and it felt pretty good. Then my son got on after sitting on the HST and brought it to my attention. As my wife watched me work the clutch , she said I looked way to cramped. I guess I had my heart set on the DK45s and didn't really notice until the two of them pointed it out! Then, when I drove the HST I really noticed the space difference . I would try them both out for yourself though because the DK45s sure seems to work well for alot of people. Just as a point of reference I'm 6' and carry alittle extra ballast around the belly. ( the extra ballast around the belly is just a safety thing to help keep the back wheels on the ground while using the FEL ! )