Will be looking to buy

VictorW · Jan 27, 2006

As Kilowatt mentioned, the rops on the CK 25 & 30 is high. I put mine in the 45' position on my CK30hst and it just fits under a 7ft, door. The CK25 & 30 are heavier and may make rutts if your ground is soft. I was thinking during your mowing time. I have my CK30hst with R4 tires. I was worried about them for snow plowing but to my amazement, never slipped a bit unless on ice. The CK 20 is a tough machine and I thought about buying one but I did the "a little bigger might be better just in case routine". As someone said, the CK20 is narrower and that may be a plus for your uses. The one thing I would consider is getting the HST. It makes work a lot faster and I have never lacked for pushing or pulling power.

If I were you, I'd go take a look at the 20 and 25 and see what feels comfortable for you. Maybe you'll have some specific questions which I'm sure you'll get responses to. Both tractors you're looking at should do what you want. Think about the future uses too. Happy tractor looking. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

gravel13 · Jan 28, 2006

I too was originally looking at the ck20 and wound up getting the ck25, but not the hst. Go to a dealer and try out a ck20 and ck25. Depends on where you are located in MA but if you want I am more than willing to let you come over and play around on my ck25.

IslandTractor · Jan 28, 2006

Here's another vote for the CK20 from a satisfied owner. The size of the machine is much more appropriate for 2 acres than the big brother CK25/CK30 frames. Easier to store, more manuverable etc. Also, unless you are pulling some implement that requires lots of hp, I don't see the advantage of the bigger tractors in a property your size. I use mine on a 4-5 acre property to brush hog, clear overgrown meadow etc and it is fine. Bigger might move things faster at times but I used to maintain the land with a Sears lawn tractor so one needs to reality test occasionally in this tractor sizing business.

I am not arguing the CK30 is not a great machine, just that it is bigger than most people need for maintaining a 2 acre plot. Also, even though it is 50% more powerful and heavy, it doesn't come close to being 50% more capable when looking at things like the FEL or BH or size of PTO implements. I can pull a 48" brush hog, the bigger machine pulls a 60. I can pull a 60" rear finish mower, the CK30 a 72. More capacity, yes but again not particularly relevant when you are talking 2 acres. Point being that you should not assume a 30hp machine will do jobs 50% faster. Consider the more compact storage requirements for tractor and implements and balance that against the incremental gains in capacity and cost.

Good luck. I am sure you'll be happy with either (but in this case smaller is better /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif)

Maineiac · Jan 29, 2006

Not to confuse the matter further, but I am completely satisfied with my LB1914. It is a gear machine, so the ease and convenience of HST are missing. On the other hand, it makes a little more power than the CK20, has a little bit better ground clearance, and can be found at a price FAR less than the CK.
I have 1000' of road to maintain and snowplow, plus a small woodlot and many other projects on the 5 acres I manage. This machine (TLB) has exceeded my expectations in performance and price.

djt · Jan 29, 2006

Since I do have the time, I will look into the LB1914. A few questions I have already is about the PTO. How useful is the midpoint PTO and is there much advantage to having a live PTO. I will add a backhoe at some point and was wondering if the live PTO helps in operating it. Thanks again for the great comments.

VictorW · Jan 30, 2006

After having an old Ford 8N without a live PTO, I would never want to go back but that's just my opinion. As far as the bh, you would probably run it off the tractor's hydralic system unless you buy one that has a PTO mounted hydralic pump which usually has a higher price due to the extra pump. Some people like these because it doesn't work the tractor's system. As far as the mid PTO, it depends on the attachments you add. The most common that use a mid PTO are a front mount snow blower and a mid mount mower. Think of what attachments and bh you want to add and that may help your decision. A mid PTO can be added later if you need it.

TBDonnelly · Jan 30, 2006

...I will look into the LB1914. A few questions I have already is about the PTO. How useful is the midpoint PTO... 

I don't believe the LB1914 has a Mid-PTO option. ???

Don

wallace · Jan 30, 2006

( Since I do have the time, I will look into the LB1914. A few questions I have already is about the PTO. How useful is the midpoint PTO and is there much advantage to having a live PTO. I will add a backhoe at some point and was wondering if the live PTO helps in operating it. Thanks again for the great comments. )

The only use for the mid pto would be to run a mid mount mower.
The Lb1914 does not come with a mid pto.
The backhoe will have no affect with a live pto on either the CK or the LB.
If you choose to run a backhoe down the road do not get a mid mount mower, unless you dealer carries the Woods brand that is the only backhoe brand on the market that will work with a mid mount mower. (that I am aware of)

If you are doing a lot of mowing were there is lots of forward and reverse that is where it is nice to have a live pto.

KRK · Jan 30, 2006

I'd second this opinion to investigate the LB1914. I have one (and yes, it does not have a midpoint PTO) and for me, too, it has been everything I needed and done everything I ask. Working with gears has become second nature and the shuttle shift changing from forward to reverse makes most work very easy. Actually, although there are 8 gears (8 forward and 8 reverse) I wind up doing nearly everything in just two of thee so gear changing is minimal. Do not overlook the fact that the LB1914 has acres of real metal instead of plastic so it will bend rather than shatter when that tree comes down.