Who really makes what?

[TSO]

I was told by a MTD distributor, back when they first and i mean first started selling compact tractors, they were Kioti. The later ones are yanmar, but the very first ones where Kioti. Mtd actually purchased some Kioti tractors and then disassembled them, because they were considering making there own, using the Kioti design.

I'm not sure that's correct, MTD makes garden tractors and small equipment from what I recall. MTD is Modern Tool and Die out of Ohio, and they actually make lots of equipment for other companies that rebrand them. Think Toro, Wheelhorse, yard king, ranch King, Craftsman, entry level mowers like that, and other small mowers you see at the big box stores.

That is the first time I have ever heard anything to the contrary, especially throwing Kioti into the mix.

 

[DK35vince]

Kioti/Daedong made 3 models for Cub Cadet for a year or two, 8 or 9 years ago.
The 8354, 8404 and the 8454 models.
They were the same as the older style DK models, painted yellow and white.

 

[grm61]

I think a kioti geared tractor is all there's. The hst in the DK is a kanzaki made in Japan. Cub Cadet sold kioti for a while too.

Huh?? Japan what??

 

[TSO]

Kioti/Daedong made 3 models for Cub Cadet for a year or two, 8 or 9 years ago.
The 8354, 8404 and the 8454 models.
They were the same as the older style DK models, painted yellow and white.

That's very interesting, had never heard that before

 

[Creamer]

I am not too worried about parts down the road as long as the original manufacturer is still in business. For instance my Ford 1710 is a Shibaura. There are no Shibaura dealers around here so obviously I was going to the Ford dealer which is now New Holland which does not carry a real good inventory of parts for my tractor. The obvious alternative is the web. Twenty years from now if the parts are available somewhere in the world it will be almost as good as buying them from a local dealer because the dealer will not stock them anyway.

 

[Katahdin]

That's very interesting, had never heard that before

I've seen a few of the Daedong/Kioti Cub Cadets around here, here's a picture from another TBN thread:

 

[Katahdin]

Huh?? Japan what??

"KANZAKI is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Yanmar Company Limited. For over a half century, KANZAKI has been a core of the Yanmar group, focusing on the production of machine tool, gears, and hydraulic equipment."

Hydraulic Equipment & Transmissions | Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.

So...Kioti HST tractors use Yanmar transmissions. This is confirmed in this PDF (published 2007) which states the Kioti EX35,40,45,and50s use the Kanzaki KHS-42 JAS HST transmission. Lots of interesting HST tranny information in that PDF.

 

[PILOON]

Well I have a Mitsubishi and to the best of my knowledge all major components are Mitsubishi made.
Exceptions being smaller components like air intake, filters, starters and alternators etc are jobber supplied and often crossed with other brands.
On the other hand the Mitsu engines are found in many brands including Yanmar, Ford, Massy and others.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Some Mahindras are made in Korea by TYM. some in India, and some in Japan by Mitsubishi. I suspect China, but don't know for sure.

 

[Mirboo]

The 2600 series Massey Ferguson tractors sold here in Australia are made by TAFE in India.