CK27 HST vs CK35 HST for mowing

cletus99 · Mar 31, 2014

Although I'd really love to get a DK40, it's just not in my price range right now. I've been talking with my dealer about getting a CK35. I believe he said the price for the CK35 hst with FEL would be about $18400. Pretty sure that included 2 rear remotes I had asked for. Anyway he told me he had a CK27 HST in stock that would save me about $2000. My only concern is how it will handle mowing having the less pto hp. I already have a 5 ft rotary mower so I'll be using it with it. Saving the $2000 would allow me to go ahead and purchase a 6 foot finish mower that I will otherwise have to wait to get and really need. I guess my question is how well will the CK27 run a 5 foot rotary mower and a 6 foot finish mower?

Ranchofla · Mar 31, 2014

cletus99 said:
Although I'd really love to get a DK40, it's just not in my price range right now. I've been talking with my dealer about getting a CK35. I believe he said the price for the CK35 hst with FEL would be about $18400. Pretty sure that included 2 rear remotes I had asked for. Anyway he told me he had a CK27 HST in stock that would save me about $2000. My only concern is how it will handle mowing having the less pto hp. I already have a 5 ft rotary mower so I'll be using it with it. Saving the $2000 would allow me to go ahead and purchase a 6 foot finish mower that I will otherwise have to wait to get and really need. I guess my question is how well will the CK27 run a 5 foot rotary mower and a 6 foot finish mower?

Well I have a CK20 about 4 horse less than the CK27 at the PTO and I run a 4' brush hog and 4' finish mower without issue. I can not tell you if the horsepower difference is enough or not as my only previous experience was with a JD model 50 ( don't remember what he HP was) and a 5' brush hog.

Rancho

SSdoxie · Mar 31, 2014

I don't run a finish mower so have no idea if they pull more HP or less than a rotary cutter (bush hog), the 27 is same as my CT225 and I run 4' rotary because was what I had with the old previous tractor, and mine could easily handle the 5'. My cutting does not involve any major hills or grades to speak of, so yes the 27 will run it but the 35 will be able to do it faster. When comparing exact same tractor except engine HP like the CK27, 30, or 35 the increase in HP equals ability to do the same job faster.

cletus99 · Mar 31, 2014

I know that the CK35 would run them better and I may still go with the CK35. I'm trying to see if anyone has experience running these size mowers with 20 hp pto tractor. My gut is telling me maybe not. I'm quite sure it'll be fine for anything else I will use it for around here because there's no difference otherwise. Just concerned about mowing. I do not want a smaller mower than 5 foot rotary mower and a 6 foot finish mower.

k0ua · Mar 31, 2014

cletus99 said:
I know that the CK35 would run them better and I may still go with the CK35. I'm trying to see if anyone has experience running these size mowers with 20 hp pto tractor. My gut is telling me maybe not. I'm quite sure it'll be fine for anything else I will use it for around here because there's no difference otherwise. Just concerned about mowing. I do not want a smaller mower than 5 foot rotary mower and a 6 foot finish mower.

I am not trying to push you one way or another, but I will offer this experience from years ago.. I was running a 6 foot finish mower with a Long 2360 full sized UT, but when I switched to a CUT the New Holland TC33DA, with a BEFCO 5 foot finish mower, I cut down considerable in mowing time by going to the smaller more maneuverable tractor with HST. It made cutting around trees much easier and the ability to find the right "gear" with the infinitely variable ground speed of the HST made a lot of difference even though my mower was 1 foot narrower. I never really bogged down with the 5 foot finish mower, but this is a 33 gross horsepower tractor, I am not sure what it put out on the PTO.. but probably about 26. I think you would be better served with a 5 finish mower. but I don't know your working conditions either.

cletus99 · Mar 31, 2014

Thanks James. I don't have any trees to worry about. Mostly long straight flat cuts.

DK35vince · Mar 31, 2014

Can't help you with the 27 but the CK 35 should run a 6 or a 7' finish mower no problem.
I don't have a CK but I have an older model DK 35 with the same basic engine as the CK 35 and my DK runs a 6' brush mower and a 7' finish mower fine.

Illini22 · Mar 31, 2014

I bought a ck35 new in dec of 2012. Picked up a used frontier 84" finish mower a few months later. The tractor handled the mower fine. The 6' gill box blade could stop it though (900lbs).
I got rid of the ck for over reasons.

Illini22 · Mar 31, 2014

I bought a ck35 new in dec of 2012. Picked up a used frontier 84" finish mower a few months later. The tractor handled the mower fine. The 6' gill box blade could stop it though (900lbs).
I got rid of the ck for over reasons.

joe04785 · Apr 1, 2014

I got a ck30 hst along with a 6 foot finish mower that mow's 3 acres with no problem. If the grass is really tall and thick you will just have to slow down for a bit. No big deal to me though. If you mow your grass every week, then you shouldn't have a problem.

RSKY · Apr 2, 2014

I use a 5' rotary mower with my CK20. The 27 or 35 should easily run a 6'.

gregfender · Apr 2, 2014

cletus99 said:
Although I'd really love to get a DK40, it's just not in my price range right now. I've been talking with my dealer about getting a CK35. I believe he said the price for the CK35 hst with FEL would be about $18400. Pretty sure that included 2 rear remotes I had asked for. Anyway he told me he had a CK27 HST in stock that would save me about $2000. My only concern is how it will handle mowing having the less pto hp. I already have a 5 ft rotary mower so I'll be using it with it. Saving the $2000 would allow me to go ahead and purchase a 6 foot finish mower that I will otherwise have to wait to get and really need. I guess my question is how well will the CK27 run a 5 foot rotary mower and a 6 foot finish mower?

I've got a Bobcat CT225 (the white CK27) and I run a 6' finish mower with no problem at all. Usually I run it in midrange and it doesn't even break a sweat unless I start hitting grass over a foot tall, then I just slow down a bit. Your 5' will work like a charm. Feel confident if you want to move to a 6'.

cletus99 · Apr 3, 2014

gregfender said:
I've got a Bobcat CT225 (the white CK27) and I run a 6' finish mower with no problem at all. Usually I run it in midrange and it doesn't even break a sweat unless I start hitting grass over a foot tall, then I just slow down a bit. Your 5' will work like a charm. Feel confident if you want to move to a 6'.

I have a 5 foot rotary/bush hog already. I'm looking to get a 6 foot "finish" mower when I get my new tractor. Then I'll be using both the 5 foot rotary/bush hog and a 6 foot finish mower. My concern was if it would easily run them. I'm feeling more confident that they will perform well enough for my needs.

I'm actually looking at four different tractors right now. The Kioti CK27/35 and the Mahindra 3016/3616. I believe it's going to come down to price as to which one I get. I'm waiting on quotes for them now. Tomorrow I'm going to go talk with the dealers and go from there. I've already looked at all of them before. Haven't driven an HST yet though as none were in stock when I did test drive them. I like both tractors. My only concern is if I am going to like the tredal pedal on the Kioti. I'll find out tomorrow if it doesn't end up raining all day.

davrow · Apr 3, 2014

cletus99, do give the treadle pedal a fair chance. A lot of people cannot stand them, but I like it a lot. It lets me find the one spot where my foot is comfortable and I don't need to move my foot around at all, just rock it forward and back.

The separate reverse pedal on the BX25D I rented kind of drove me nuts. The reverse pedal was too far back and I had to move my foot a long (seemingly) way to reach it, and I could never get my foot to land in the same place every time. Of course, take that with a grain of salt, I only had it for four hours.

cletus99 · Apr 3, 2014

davrow said:
cletus99, do give the treadle pedal a fair chance. A lot of people cannot stand them, but I like it a lot. It lets me find the one spot where my foot is comfortable and I don't need to move my foot around at all, just rock it forward and back.

The separate reverse pedal on the BX25D I rented kind of drove me nuts. The reverse pedal was too far back and I had to move my foot a long (seemingly) way to reach it, and I could never get my foot to land in the same place every time. Of course, take that with a grain of salt, I only had it for four hours.

Oh I will. I plan on driving them tomorrow, weather permitting. It's going to come down to cost probably more than anything though. I will learn to live with either when it comes to cost. It'll be better than my Ford 3000 that's for sure. The right side step broke off it and I haven't had time to get my buddy to weld it back on so I've been riding around with my right leg propted up on the transmission for a while now. My leg is usually asleep by the time I'm done mowing. :laughing:

So what size mower do you use with yours?

davrow · Apr 3, 2014

cletus99 said:
So what size mower do you use with yours?

I live in the desert. No mowing. (no snow plowing, either :thumbsup

No help at all with your decision, am I? :laughing:

k0ua · Apr 3, 2014

davrow said:
I live in the desert. No mowing. (no snow plowing, either :thumbsup

No help at all with your decision, am I? :laughing:

But if you need help with how to skin and prepare rattlesnake, he can fix you up!:laughing: Just kidding...

cletus99 · Apr 4, 2014

We'll looks like I will end up going with a Kioti CK27 HST. The Mahindra dealer just wants too much money. I sat down with the Mahindra dealer and he gave me a quote on a 3016 and a 3616 HST, both with two rear remotes from fit right with TNT setup, sunshade, and FEL for $24153 on the 3616 and $21090 on the 3016. That was including all fees with $2500 down and including insurance.

I left there and went to see the Kioti dealer which I have talked to many times over the last few months. He gave me a quote on a CK27 HST with FEL, sunshade, two rear remotes, bucket hooks, filled tires, brand new 6 foot Kioti finish mower, and a nice used post hole digger with auger all for $19500 out the door. Pretty good deal I think. I just sold my boat that was on consignment at a boat dealer so as soon as they get the loan on it paid off I'll be moving forward on that deal.

cletus99 · Apr 4, 2014

davrow said:
cletus99, do give the treadle pedal a fair chance. A lot of people cannot stand them, but I like it a lot. It lets me find the one spot where my foot is comfortable and I don't need to move my foot around at all, just rock it forward and back.

The separate reverse pedal on the BX25D I rented kind of drove me nuts. The reverse pedal was too far back and I had to move my foot a long (seemingly) way to reach it, and I could never get my foot to land in the same place every time. Of course, take that with a grain of salt, I only had it for four hours.

I didn't mind the treadle peddle at all. Kind of liked it actually.