Kioti DK40SE vs MF 1635

[lubepimp]

Hello Everyone,

I've been spending way too much time researching on here and other interweb sources, and actually going to dealers. I think I'm down to a Kioiti DK40SE and MF 1635, both comparably priced and both dealers seem to me that they would be good. I'm getting the tractor for much landscaping work on my property (removing stones, stumps, grading, ditching), and clearing snow on a 1/2 mile uphill/sidehill driveway. Implements will be loader, backhoe w/thumb, front hydraulic blade and rear-facing snowblower. I think I've researched them both to death and am looking for some direct input to help decide. Obviously the Kioti has more ponies; MF backhoe looks stronger; Kioti loader is stronger. I grew up working with a couple of different Masseys and so I'm partial, but the extra hp on the Kioti may have me go that way.

Lots of great feedback and opinions on here, looking for some more!

Cheers,
Tyler

 

[TSO]

Is it just price that is keeping you from using actual comparables? A 1643 would have couple more ponies than the DK40 but the overall size would be similar. Also, a 1648 would jump you up to a comparable loader.

You could also look at an LS R4041. That will compare with the DK40 with horsepower, and the backhoe should be about the same, and the loader is close. The DK loader will lift about a foot higher and lifts a couple hundred more pounds. But, the LS might be a bit cheaper and the warranty is a tad better.

Food for thought

 

[lubepimp]

It is price that's limiting me on the Massey. Like everything else in or around my garage I started out my search not thinking I would be spending so much money, but always end up diving in for more. Bigger is better, no matter what the girls say LOL. Choices so far have also been influenced by what the local dealers have here on their lots.

There is an LS dealer about an hour away, I went by there last week-end (it was closed) and they only had a few tractors on the lot...I think the closest to what I might consider was a 3030. I did hop on it, layout seemed OK. Researching different makes it seems the LS is the one I find most often there are issues with things straight from the factory, I haven't found the same with the Massey or Kioti. Maybe I should head back there when they are open.

 

[Coyote machine]

I'm partial to the DK-40se/hst and have everything you want for implements, except front blower & hyd blade. I have the Kioti KB-2485 hoe and it does everything I ask of it; including a hydraulic thumb and custom made ripper tooth from MIE. (Michigan Iron & Equipment). I've got T-N-T and a diverter valve to allow me to run my snowplow off front hydraulic lines. I replaced the Kioti loader control handle with a SureGrip joystick trigger controlled switch for my grapple and plow, also from MIE. 2 pairs of rear remotes, a log grapple and 4000# capacity winch. There is nothing I can't do with this setup, and with over 1000 hours of hard work between this and my prior Dk-35se/hst I am one happy camper.
If I were to ever upgrade I'd go to the 60HP range Kioti, but I have no need for that level of 'destructor'!:laughing:
Check my signature for attachments, etc. I like them all, and use them all.
I'm not slamming any other brand; I'm just saying my Kioti does what I want/need it to do very well, and spends zero time down for repairs. Routine maintenance, yes.

 

[Jesse masterson]

My kioti continues to amaze me, I havea dk45 with a rhino95 c hoe! Never felt a need for bigger and actualy for 98 % of what I do a dk35 would have sufficed.

 

[lubepimp]

Thanks for the feedback so far guys, sounds like I can't go wrong with the Kioti. Like i said earlier I've always been partial to the Massey, I guess I'm waiting to see if anybody speaks up with a reason to go Massey over Kioti. Other than the funny name

Also the Massey is about $3500 less....

 

[TSO]

Thanks for the feedback so far guys, sounds like I can't go wrong with the Kioti. Like i said earlier I've always been partial to the Massey, I guess I'm waiting to see if anybody speaks up with a reason to go Massey over Kioti. Other than the funny name

Also the Massey is about $3500 less....

Have you priced the 1643 & 1648?

 

[Jesse masterson]

Well here's feedback on Massey I had a 271 xe 4 wd had nothing but oil leaks, got rid of it at 175 hours bought kioti had no problems since. Just my exsperience.

 

[lubepimp]

Have you priced the 1643 & 1648?

That's a good point....just realizing I mixed up some of the pricing I have been looking at (thus the 3500 less). If price and HP are relatively the same, then the question becomes reliability? I also need to sit an price out implements, the thumb for the Massey is about $1500 less than the Kioti!!!

 

[GManBart]

There is an LS dealer about an hour away, I went by there last week-end (it was closed) and they only had a few tractors on the lot...I think the closest to what I might consider was a 3030. I did hop on it, layout seemed OK. Researching different makes it seems the LS is the one I find most often there are issues with things straight from the factory, I haven't found the same with the Massey or Kioti. Maybe I should head back there when they are open.

Where have you heard there were issues with things straight from the factory with LS? If you read the LS, Kioti, and Massey sections here, there are very few issues with LS in general, much less brand new. I'm not biased because I own an LS, a Massey, and I'm very likely buying a Kioti in the next few weeks.

 

[lubepimp]

I would have to go looking again to find the specific comments, but the other night I had narrowed my choices down to the Kioti, Massey and LS. Spent a considerable amount of time in the reviews section on TBN and crossed LS off my list because of the 3 they were the only one that received comments about build quality and issues. Nothing major that I recall and owners still seemed satisfied, just something to help me narrow my list down. That being said I may still give the dealer a call tomorrow...it would be much easier if I could have one of each!

 

[Coyote machine]

What thumb for a Kioti are you looking at that costs $1500 more than one for a Massey?!:confused2:

 

[lubepimp]

What thumb for a Kioti are you looking at that costs $1500 more than one for a Massey?!:confused2:

Dealer told me ahydraulic thumb would cost $1900, requires some welding andplumbing. MF quote includes thumb, take $380 off if I don't want it.

Is the Kioti dealer making things up?

 

[the old grind]

My question: Was the Massey thumb hydraulic too?

I wouldn't be swayed too much by a few negative or positive comments about OOB issues. IMO, a lot of the leaks and loose bolts we hear about reflect as much a dealer's setup as o'all build quality.

As for comments from members such as CM, GMan, & TSO, understand that these fellas really know their stuff and have done their homework on the brands they mention. (well, they've owned and still own them ...)

That said, it seems the best bang for buck tractors are what's on the table and I'm just glad I don't have to make such a tough decision. Between the several makes & models discussed herein, I hardly think a guy would be disappointed if he chose only by color at this point.

Dealer support really comes into play if you break stuff & if you do it a lot you won't be their favorite customer for long. Buy what looks & feels right. I'm all NH and Deere (have had 2 ea so far..) and it was features & ergonomics that put me there vs sage advice, or they'd be Kioti & LS. (well, that color thing, too ... ) :2cents:

(Coyote, MIE has my digging tooth ready to be picked up ... and a SSQA grapple too. Yeah, those guys are great & I'm only 1/2 hr away from them. )

 

[coobie]

I have owned both Massey(model 1240) & Kioti (DK 40se)tractors.Both have been flawless.I would have kept the massey but no local dealer support located in my area is the reason I upgraded to the Kioti DK40se.Good luck on your choice.

 

[Coyote machine]

Dealer told me ahydraulic thumb would cost $1900, requires some welding andplumbing. MF quote includes thumb, take $380 off if I don't want it.

Is the Kioti dealer making things up?

A hydraulic thumb on a Kioti hoe would require welding the cylinder attachment plate to the dipper stick and hydraulic lines to a joystick or foot pedal to control the thumb's travel. You can't compare that to the Massey set-up unless you have them price out the actual thumb separate from the hoe price. Have you compared hoe specs side by side? breakout force, digging depth, etc.? Hydraulic hoe thumbs are not cheap, but they are great tools to have....

Why would you think the Kioti dealer would be making things up? What things?

 

[Coyote machine]

My question: Was the Massey thumb hydraulic too?

I wouldn't be swayed too much by a few negative or positive comments about OOB issues. IMO, a lot of the leaks and loose bolts we hear about reflect as much a dealer's setup as o'all build quality.

As for comments from members such as CM, GMan, & TSO, understand that these fellas really know their stuff and have done their homework on the brands they mention. (well, they've owned and still own them ...)

That said, it seems the best bang for buck tractors are what's on the table and I'm just glad I don't have to make such a tough decision. Between the several makes & models discussed herein, I hardly think a guy would be disappointed if he chose only by color at this point.

Dealer support really comes into play if you break stuff & if you do it a lot you won't be their favorite customer for long. Buy what looks & feels right. I'm all NH and Deere (have had 2 ea so far..) and it was features & ergonomics that put me there vs sage advice, or they'd be Kioti & LS. (well, that color thing, too ... ) :2cents:

(Coyote, MIE has my digging tooth ready to be picked up ... and a SSQA grapple too. Yeah, those guys are great & I'm only 1/2 hr away from them. )

Cool.:thumbsup: Let's see pics of your MIE 'tooth' and grapple when they arrive! And in action too. Wish I was 1/2 hr from them, they'd be very busy building me stuff :laughing:

 

[TSO]

I'll give ya a quick rundown in my feelings on the 3 tractor brands you're looking at, because I've owned them all!

Bought a new Kioti CK20s HST. Put about 200 well earned hours on her. Shortly in, I think within the first 30 hrs, there was a bad leak at the bottom of the steering shaft. Turned out to be an O-ring within the steering assembly. Needed to be completely replaced, tractor was out for a couple weeks but the warranty covered it. It later developed another leak at the loader couplers, another O-ring failure, but that was an easy fix. Otherwise it was a very good tractor. Sold it to buy larger.

Bought an LS R4041 shuttle. Kept it for 50hrs. Only problem was the front SSQA levers & pins were really tight and prone to getting stuck. Decided I hated the shuttle, traded it back in on...

...an LS R4047 HST. Put 150 hard earned hours on her, never had a single problem except I blew a headlight fuse twice. Turns out it needed the next size up fuse, and never had another problem. Decided I wanted a cab so went shopping again. Sold the LS and bought my ....

... Massey 1648 HST cab. I would have preferred the 1652 for the extra HP, but there were very few tier 3 Massey cabs and I got my 1648 for a great price. I've put 90 hrs the Massey in just 3 months and it's been perfect. It doesn't start as smooth in the cold as the LS did, but then again, it never fails to start either. I had thought there was a possible with the fuel pump because it makes a clicking sound, but it turns out that's normal.

My impressions: (and I understand the CK20 is smaller than the other two, but I have had some seat time checking out the DK and NX models)

The Massey feels like a bit better in quality than the other two.

The Massey loader is stronger than the LS loader. It seems underrated at 2527 lbs to 113" ... not sure if it would out do the Kioti loader, but they're close.

For open station, the Massey has the best fit/finish, but the Kioti cab seems a bit nicer than the other two.

The Massey hydraulics appear to be better than the other two.

The LS loader has the best visibility.

The Massey bucket is the heaviest duty build.

The LS feels the most "rugged"

------
Overall, I think the Massey is a better tractor than the others, now that I've spent more time on it. But, with that said, if I was buying again right now, I'd be leaning towards the Kioti NX series because their cab is really nice and they've added assume great premium features, and the price is fair.

My opinions anyhow ...

 

[lubepimp]

A hydraulic thumb on a Kioti hoe would require welding the cylinder attachment plate to the dipper stick and hydraulic lines to a joystick or foot pedal to control the thumb's travel. You can't compare that to the Massey set-up unless you have them price out the actual thumb separate from the hoe price. Have you compared hoe specs side by side? breakout force, digging depth, etc.? Hydraulic hoe thumbs are not cheap, but they are great tools to have....

Why would you think the Kioti dealer would be making things up? What things?

The $1500 difference makes me wonder, but I'm now off my current "tractor" and have double-checked my quotes...again...and not sure if the MF is hydraulic or mechanical. Which leads me to ask about how great of a difference there is. I mainly see the application need for digging/removing field stones. I have friends that in the past have brought their industrial backhoes to remove some for me and it's like child's play. I don't expect the same from a compact tractor but definitely see some value in having a thumb. Lots of rocks around here and plan to eventually rent myself out.

 

[lubepimp]

I'll give ya a quick rundown in my feelings on the 3 tractor brands you're looking at, because I've owned them all!

Bought a new Kioti CK20s HST. Put about 200 well earned hours on her. Shortly in, I think within the first 30 hrs, there was a bad leak at the bottom of the steering shaft. Turned out to be an O-ring within the steering assembly. Needed to be completely replaced, tractor was out for a couple weeks but the warranty covered it. It later developed another leak at the loader couplers, another O-ring failure, but that was an easy fix. Otherwise it was a very good tractor. Sold it to buy larger.

Bought an LS R4041 shuttle. Kept it for 50hrs. Only problem was the front SSQA levers & pins were really tight and prone to getting stuck. Decided I hated the shuttle, traded it back in on...

...an LS R4047 HST. Put 150 hard earned hours on her, never had a single problem except I blew a headlight fuse twice. Turns out it needed the next size up fuse, and never had another problem. Decided I wanted a cab so went shopping again. Sold the LS and bought my ....

... Massey 1648 HST cab. I would have preferred the 1652 for the extra HP, but there were very few tier 3 Massey cabs and I got my 1648 for a great price. I've put 90 hrs the Massey in just 3 months and it's been perfect. It doesn't start as smooth in the cold as the LS did, but then again, it never fails to start either. I had thought there was a possible with the fuel pump because it makes a clicking sound, but it turns out that's normal.

My impressions: (and I understand the CK20 is smaller than the other two, but I have had some seat time checking out the DK and NX models)

The Massey feels like a bit better in quality than the other two.

The Massey loader is stronger than the LS loader. It seems underrated at 2527 lbs to 113" ... not sure if it would out do the Kioti loader, but they're close.

For open station, the Massey has the best fit/finish, but the Kioti cab seems a bit nicer than the other two.

The Massey hydraulics appear to be better than the other two.

The LS loader has the best visibility.

The Massey bucket is the heaviest duty build.

The LS feels the most "rugged"

------
Overall, I think the Massey is a better tractor than the others, now that I've spent more time on it. But, with that said, if I was buying again right now, I'd be leaning towards the Kioti NX series because their cab is really nice and they've added assume great premium features, and the price is fair.

My opinions anyhow ...

Fantastic opinions! I don't want a cab tho'....can't imagine working in the good weather enclosed and I still consider myself tough enough to work in the snow. I do snowmobile and I've been clearing this driveway for the past 6 years with a 4-wheeler and walk-behind blower. I'm fine with it except for the amount of time required.

2 things I noticed about the Massey: HST seemed "whiney", and the loader control seemed to get in the way if I wanted to get in on the RHS. I discounted both because, well...it's a MF. I think maybe I'm too biased to begin with? I hate to leave it to my wife to decide.

Does anybody think the lower HP MF is going to be an issue with what I've listed as my tasks?