Kioti CK30SHST 4.90 star(s) (23)

Poor
Model Year: 2014

At 800 hours, a front right wheel bearing disintegrated and mixed silver bearing pieces and flakes into the oil .It was very costly to replace the oil . I had to take the left side apart also to flush all the silver bearing flakes out. I must constantly lubricate the foot HST lever because it is always sticking in the drive position. Even with the right clutch pedal pressed in, the transmission is often very hard to get out of any range. The front shift arm in the transmission broke at about 1000 hours. I had to change it and flush the transmission to get the broken peaces out. Replacement oil and filters very expensive.

Pros: Starts good in cold weather
Cons: Too many breakdowns for a new tracto

Kioti CK30S Review
Model Year: 2011

I live on a hillside on a narrow lot with cross fencing. I originally had a JD 1151, but found that I was constantly fighting the steering and shifting gears (MT), so I stepped up to a new 4WD power steering HST model and picked the Kioti for price. And also because the guys there were the only ones around here who really seemed interested in taking care of me and my tractor. This tractor has plenty of power for rough mowing and tilling. The bucket is respectable, in fact I think this 30 could just about do everything the JD @ 55 could do. If you need to sling around round bales, though, you have to go up a class---probably 80 hp. min. The HST has 3 ranges, but because of the slope I can realistically use only 2 ranges. I first tried the CK20S for about a week, but it only has 2 speeds of which I could only use the lower range, so it was WAY too slow (if you're not on a hillside, though, definitely try it out). The 30 is tough to shift, and I do find I have to shift a lot still because of changes in slope. Basically if there was a way to have separate forward/reverse shifters, that would be perfect. I could put the forward speed in low and keep the reverse in medium for most of the work. I do still need that extra-low reverse speed for certain areas, though. Oh yeah, 2WD is useless, I slip on my driveway in 2WD. I have had issues with batteries discharging, possibly my fault, but I'd keep an eye on that and see if others are reporting it as well. The bucket operates fast and I like the quick-change. I wish it had extra hydraulic connections for running some of those skid-steer attachments though. I would love to have a finishing mower as well, but realistically the 30 is too big. If that 20 had 3 HST ranges that probably would have been the perfect fit. Stupid hills! Oh yeah, I filled the tires, so that might be why, but this thing feels tippy when going cross hill. The 1151 was very tall and narrow, yet I know I went on much more severe "leans" without feeling unstable. With the 30, even areas that I would drive my truck along without a second thought, it just feels like it's going to tip. Maybe it really is a lot more narrow than it seems. Or maybe it's the fluid in the tires (industrial - turf tires would definitely spin on these hills, and I had Ag tires on the JD and it would occasionally bite into the lawn, so I picked industrial.)

Pros: Unbeatable value, versatile, great support team.
Cons: Difficult shifting, feels tippy.

Good Tractor
Model Year: 2013

The only reason I downgraded performance was the amount of weight the front end loader can handle. The size of the bucket (60") is more than the tractor can lift if you fill it full of sand or gravel. Beyond that, one shortcoming: the tractor is easy to use, has never caused me any problems and has made life around the property much easier. I looked at several models when I purchased this tractor. Green paint is expensive and not made in the USA anymore. Red paint has plastic parts on the rear end that I thought I might break and the other orange tractor was more expensive for the comparable product.

Pros: Quality, price, value, reliability.
Cons: Lifting ability.

Kioti
Model Year: 2008

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Pros: .
Cons: .

Kioti CK30 HST
Model Year: 0

Tractor has performed flawlessly since purchased. The optional Kioti cab is well designed and quiet however tends to get very hot inside without A/C. Removing the doors helps a lot in this regard. I find that the HST rocker pedal is hard to get used to especially when using a rear mount snow blower. Also, having both brake pedals on the same side as the HST pedal makes turning with brakes awkward. Owners manual has numerous errors and inaccuracies in it.

Pros: Price, quality construction.
Cons: HST pedal design.

CK30-HST
Model Year: 1985

This tractor has been a God-send on many occasions. I bought it primarily to clear snow; but have found that it is a back-saver for many other chores. It couldn't be better for moving and spreading blue-stone. The front-end loader has never complained. It developed a hydraulic leak early on and was fixed promptly. The fuel shut-off also failed early on and was replaced promptly. Fortunately, there is a dash-mounted manual fuel shut-off. I'm 70 years old and don't expect to need another tractor. It was purchased from Dave at the Enfield, NH Kioti dealership. It has never needed chains and always starts, regardless of the temperature.

Pros: All good.
Cons: Nothing worth mention.

Kioti Ck30 Built Tough
Model Year: 2011

Great tractor at an affordable price. I use this tractor for everything from plowing snow, moving dirt and moving logs w/ forks. Have a small sawmill so am moving logs quite a bit. I put some pretty large logs on the front end, probably too big so if something breaks, it's my fault. Bought a grapple this summer, that 's a handy thing to have. No problems w/ the tractor, highly recommend. Don't pay the high price for green or the other orange.

Pros: Sturdy and tough.
Cons: Hydro peddle creeps a little but you learn to live w/it. No big deal.

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Good Tractor
Model Year: 2011

I have used it to clear land, move brush piles, drag trees around, moving loads of building material for an addition on my house and plowing snow in the winter. I have not been easy on it that is why I wanted to see how it was running after a couple hundred hours. I have lost some pins, broke some grease fittings, etc all easy fixes. The only problem I had that was from the factory was pinched o-ring in 3pt hitch valve which was covered and repaired w/o any cost to me. I believe that paying more for another brand would have been no gain to me. Anything I have needed to do it has came through.

Pros: Weight, ease of operation and price.
Cons: Nothing yet.

Happy Kioti Owner
Model Year: 2009

Kioti tractor has not only performed as advertised is has done so reliably. I use this tractor to assist with my logging work. It can drag several logs at a time with little effort. I also us it to grade my mile long dirt road using a eight foot long blade to cut the road. I have found that that the blade cuts best going up hill (and our road is steep). Would I buy again or recommend Kioti - you bet! One final think I like about the Kioti is weight - it is over 1,000 pounds heavier than comparable models of Kubota or Deere. And with tractors weight is everything.

Pros: Reliability.
Cons: Started have a minor problem with pre-heater, but this is easy to fix.

Great Larger Then Compact Tractor
Model Year: 2010

So far this has been a great tractor, I have a FEL and backhoe with it. I've been surprised how powerful the backhoe has been, its a woods model. I've also used a York rake, 72" plow, Ratchet Rake, pallet forks, a PTO driven post hole digger and PTO chipper. I was concerned it wouldn't have enough HP to run the chipper but it did fine all day. Hard to say enough about how nice the FEL control feels, allows precise loader work easily and very comfortably.

Pros: Smooth operation, plenty of power.
Cons: Brake pedals on the same side as the HST, making it impossible to use an individual wheel brake and give power.

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2010 Kioti CK30HST
Model Year: 2010

Tractor has performed well. No complaints.

Pros: Nice priced tractor.
Cons: Loader capacity a little too light.

Some Issues Need More Attention from Kioti
Model Year: 2008

With 425 hrs and a recently expired warranty I have been having some reliability issues that are now not covered. First the battery was draining for some reason. Charged it back up and ran the tractor---no problems. While running it I found the headlights coming on when the switch was off. Cycling the headlight switch on and off several time finally resulted in the lights turning off. Put the tractor away and come back two days later to find the battery drained again. Had the battery tested at dealer and he said it was still real strong. After going through this scene several times the dealer sold me a switch for $38. I installed it, ran the tractor and found the battery dead again. I disconnected the relays (disabling the headlights). Problem has not come back. However it hasn't been resolved either just mitigated. The next problem to come up was a fuel leak at the fuel filter. Found several cracks in the bottom of the fuel bowl (plastic). There is a spring in the bowl beneath the filter which keeps pressure on the filter to keep it seated properly. The combination of pressure, vibration and solvent properties of the fuel have weakened the plastic so it is now crazed (lots of little cracks) and leaking. It should be recalled since it create a fire hazard. Poor design; should be Pyrex glass bowl instead of plastic.

Pros: The tractor has done all I have asked of it and I do enjoy using it.
Cons: Could have better warranty.

CK30 HST Easy to Operate
Model Year: 2006

Purchased tractor used with very low hours and in near new condition. This is my first tractor with hydrostatic tranny. Doing FEL work with it is quick and easy. There is an adequate range to do most any work with LOW/MED/HIGH ranges. The tractor has plenty of power for most jobs and sufficient weight to complement the power. To date, I have used a 5' rotary mower, a grader box and of course the FEL. The tractor performs very well with all of these attachments. I have industrial tires and it does not tear up the ground like my old tractor with agricultural tires. I would always choose a 4wd unit in these lighter compact tractors if you are doing any FEL work. The operator station is well thought out and the controls are all in easy reach. There is plenty of room to climb up on the tractor and easy to exit if you exit to the left side. This tractor has a much better operator station than my old Kioti---thank you for that. Access to the engine compartment is good and all of the filters are very easy to get to and change. Operation is straight forward. It starts easy and runs great. I would recommend this model to anyone looking for a compact with a good range of power. Minor aggravation with shifting from one range to another or to neutral. Occasionally when first firing up the tractor (even after allowing it to idle for 5 minutes or so) the only way to get it to shift into one of the ranges is to operate the FEL up or down, then it shifts no problem. Once the tractor is fully warmed up, this issue goes away.

Pros: Good power range, reliable, easy starting, easy to operate.
Cons: None that I can think of other than painfully slow road speed, but that is probably a plus on the side of safety.

Kioti Tractors
Model Year: 2010

I am a former JD consumer dealer who now handles Kioti, Land Pride, Stihl and several mower lines. Sold my JD 3203 this summer and got a Kioti CK30. Kioti is a VERY GOOD tractor at a great value. Once I get customers past the name and into the quality and value, they will usually go w/ Kioti. Biggest competitor is Kubota but Kioti is more tractor for less money. My personal use for the tractor is property maintenance (woods), snow and moving logs. I have a Woodmizer sawmill.

Pros: Heavy, durable, good lift cap.
Cons: Lack of name recognition.

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CK30 HST Review
Model Year: 2009

Great tractor that does everything I hoped it would. Easy to maintain, good fuel economy, easy to use HST. I would like to have a larger fuel tank and a slightly larger operator's platform. Although the tractor does have a very nice seat and easy to operate/access controls, even at just 5'9" occasionally my right knee with bump the key and shut the tractor down when on rough terrain. I had an issue from day one with the electrical system (headlights would not work) that I had to resolve on my own because my closest dealer was 5 hours away. I would buy another Daedong built tractor in a heart beat, but would find a Bobcat or McCormick dealer closer to home instead. I have not had to take it to a dealer for any repairs, but it does need to have some work done to fix an issue with the loader hydraulics and I have been told by Kioti that the warranty is no longer in effect. Have purchased all my filters and things like that over the internet from an out-of-state Kioti dealer with great support. I would like to have a better system to keep debris out of the radiator screen. While bush hogging I have to stop probably once per hours to remove the radiator screen to knock seeds and the like off to keep the engine cooling system in the normal range.

Pros: Strong tractor, comfortable, fuel effecient.
Cons: Dealer network.

Great Little Tractor
Model Year: 2010

I replace an older Yanmar gray market tractor that I also liked. I do a lot of hillside rough cut mowing, and the straight drive Yanmar and narrow wheel base were big disadvantages. The Kioti handles the hill side with ease, and the loader capacity and ease of use is also a great advantage.

Pros: Quality with good warrenty and vendor service.
Cons: No real cons, the tractor does more and does it well than I expected.

Reliable, Dependable, Fair Priced Kioti
Model Year: 2008

Reliable tractor that starts, runs, and is most capable of everything that I have thrown at it... for a fair price.

Pros: Dependable, strong tractor.
Cons: Tight seating area.

The Only Problem is the Paint
Model Year: 2007

My only problem is with the paint job. The metal wasn't prepared/cleaned enough for the paint to stick well. I live on the coast and I was parking it in a lean-to but it started showing signs of rust so I made room for it in the garage. That and spraying it down with Fluid Film going into winter (something like LPS #3) seems to have solved the problem. Other than that I have NO COMPLAINTS. I run the little puppy at 1,800 rpm for most everything except when I'm using the rototiller, then I run it around 2,000/2,200 rpms. 1,800 seem to run the backhoe just fine, too. At that rpm I can go two or three days at 6 or 8 hours a day before refueling. This tractor is a niche tractor. It's not a big tractor nor is it a small tractor. I can lower the roll bar and go in small barn doors to clean stuff out that bigger tractors wouldn't fit and smaller tractors would take forever to get the job done. One of the things I bought for it that is outstanding is a 5 pronged brush fork that screws down on each side of the bucket. I've put a lot of pressure against them in 1st gear (I normally run it in 2nd gear) and they've held up fine. I've tried to find some on the net but the closest thing I've come across is these pallet forks. The difference is I have 5 tines that are held on with clamps like these on each side of the bucket and all 5 are connected on a single bar that runs from side to side. I HIGHLY recommend them (The tines are like 2" square tubing). http://compare.ebay.com/like/250935468129?_lwgsi=y&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar When I bought this I bought a brush hog, rototiller, box scraper, and backhoe. I'm very pleased with all of it.

Pros: Pretty much everything.
Cons: The paint job.

Kioti Paint
Model Year: 2007

The only thing I have a problem with on my Kioti is the paint job, they could have done a better job. I bought the front loader, backhoe, box scraper, brush hog, and rototiller with the machine. All work very well.

Pros: Love the hydrastaic drive.
Cons: The paint job could have been better.

Happy with My Decision
Model Year: 2011

Overall this is a great value. It is a much larger, heavier tractor that other comparable brands of tractors. This is an incredible advantage when doing FEL or BH work, but a disadvantage if you are using it mostly to cut grass or jobs requiring the PTO as more power is needed to move the extra weight and therefore not available to the implement. If I could do it again right now, I'd opt for the CK 35HST for that extra little bit of hp. If I could justify spending the money (I don't think I could) I'd move up to the DK 40/45 HST. As far as issues are concerned, I've had many. You can read about them here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/218090-my-new-ck-30-a.html The bucket seems to be a little more than the tractor can handle, even though by specs it has as much or more lifting capacity than comparable tractors. I often have difficulty raising or scooping the FEL when I go into a pile of material. I think the bucket is simply too big. Having owned another tractor that, by specs anyway, is similar to other tractors in the CK 30's class, I can say that my CK 30 is a much more capable tractor. I also purchased a Woods BH-70x backhoe with the tractor. I paid the extra over the Kioti BH because of the factory thumb and the heavy duty 4 point sub frame attachment. This has been an issue with the Kioti BH according to members here on TBN so I'm very happy with my decision.

Pros: Features, weight, cost.
Cons: Lift capacity, hp, defects.

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