How many hours can i expect?

[maximus1277]

I'm sure this question came up before, but I need to ask: What's a reasonable number of hours can I get out of my ck 27 HST? Mine just turned 400, and I work it rather hard. If I had a choice, I should have purchased something a bit more powerful.... Size and weight are perfect, but it would be nice to have a few extra ponies. Also, what should I expect in terms of potential breakdowns? Any common issues with this model?

 

[DK35vince]

It often comes down to maintenance and how the machine is used and cared for.
I have seen some compact tractors with thousands of hours that are in excellent condition and should last thousands more.
I have also seen many with low hours that are a total junk heap.
I have around 1900 hours on my DK 35. If it needs something repaired it gets it. I try to keep it running and looking good and I'm expecting to get thousands more hours from it

 

[bumperm]

Looks like you are putting on about a hundred hours a year . . . the tractor may outlast you :c)

Don't know about Kioti vs Kubota - from your avatar and description, you might have a better handle on that than me. Both should be reliable and both, depending on models, can have their foibles. Do a search on make, model and include the word "problems" or similar. That should net you some threads discussing the various problems like tractor owners have experienced.

My take is that Kioti, hp for hp, is heavier than Kubota and feature for feature, is arguably a better value as long as long term reliability is not factored in. With reliability considered, Kioti may still be the better value. As to that I have no experience as I've only owned Kubota, but my experience with them has been good. In order of "Made in XXXX" reliability order, I'd say it's Japan, Taiwan, S. Korea, China, and India. Just like in the USA, there's overlap, good and not so much, so my guesstimate ratings are far from hard 'n fast.

bumper

bumper

 

[CobyRupert]

The answer you tell your wife is: "yep, everybody at TBN says you should trade at 400 hours"

 

[DK35vince]

In order of "Made in XXXX" reliability order, I'd say it's Japan, Taiwan, S. Korea, China, and India. Just like in the USA, there's overlap, good and not so much, so my guesstimate ratings are far from hard 'n fast.

bumper

All I know is my Kioti DK has been excellent. Nearly problem free for the past 13 years.
My previous tractor was a John Deere 850. (made in Japan by Yanmar).
It was a good, reliable tractor. I had it for around 15 years, and sold it with 1800 hours.
I have had my South Korean made Kioti DK for 13 years and 1900 hours.
So far I would rate the reliability and build quality of my Kioti every bit as good as my John Deere was.

 

[wolftree]

One of the first things learned from John Deere Power Shift and International Harvester Hydro's in the 60's was do not lug them. Heat will destroy.

 

[maximus1277]

The answer you tell your wife is: "yep, everybody at TBN says you should trade at 400 hours"

I love it! I will start to drop hints ... Maybe she'll believe me.

 

[tman1020]

from every thing that i have read 4000 hours is a good rule of thumb. more is not uncommon.

 

[square1]

The answer you tell your wife is: "yep, everybody at TBN says you should trade at 400 hours"

+1,000

 

[Gary Fowler]

Heck, I wouldn't think of getting a new tractor when mine had only 400 hours, UNLESS, I was looking to get a second tractor with more (or less) HP. Now that would be a good reason to buy another tractor. IF your present tractor is too small OR too large to suit your needs, then adding in a second tractor of the size needed is the right thing to do. Not too many tractors will do everything one needs done. This is why I have two- one is too large to get in small spaces but the smaller one lacks the weight and power for heavy duty jobs. Most of my work is with the small B26, but when I want to move a lot of weight or cubic volume, I break out the P7010C.

 

[ritcheyvs]

4,000 hours on a tractor is roughly similar to a car with 200,000 miles. But hours are not all the same. Some (mostly older) hour meters are really engine rev counters that read true hours only at rated RPM. Lower RPMs make that style meter run slower. Other gauges indicate actual elapsed time whenever the engine is running. But tractors lack many of the things that make a car "worn out", like shock absorbers, rubber suspension elements, body rust, seat cushions, or even driving over salted winter roads. So well-maintained tractors should "outlast" cars with similar operating hours. Good Diesel engines can last a very long time if maintained; there are Mercedes Diesels with millions of miles and 300+K miles is typical. On the other hand, early Volkswagen Rabbits Diesels had more than a few problems and many were short lived. Also, even Mercedes made some dogs like original 350 SD engines that ovaled-out the cylinders in only 100K-200K miles (caused by a weak initial connecting rod design). I doubt Kioti has been around long enough for a reliable track record. Besides, with so many different engine models (e.g. Tier 3 vs Tier 4), data from a 20-year-old model may not tell us much about current models and current models have low hours.

My opinion? Trade or supplement the tractor if it doesn't meet your needs. Otherwise plan on including it in your will.

 

[nc redneck]

I would not be concerned over 400 hours. Working on 1032 on my 45 no oil usage or other warning signs.

 

[Barrettseq]

I just took in 4 LK3054s in on trade that have been working in a blueberry farm for about 6 years and they all have about 3500 hours. They have cosmetic issues like the seat, shut off cable, lights and the fenders are rusted but mechanically they're still sound. No leaks, start right up with no smoke and are still a tight solid tractor. I also had a DK45SE with 1400 hours that I rented to golf courses and the only thing i had to replace was the steering cylinder where the welded end left a small hole for oil to leak out. Keep up on normal maintenance and service and you should get 3500 hours easy.

 

[5030]

With regular maintnance, air and oil filters and good motor oil you will get tired of it before it gets tired.

 

[Sportsman762]

I would say that as long as it is maintained well it will last at least 3000 hours and could most likely be run to 5000.

 

[Fuggley]

Yes, I agree with Sportsman. A small properly maintained diesel should get 5k hours before an engine rebuild.
Based unofficially from the problems reported on this forum, the CK line appears to be a very reliable tractor. Kioti dealers are able to provide most of the parts you will need if you want to do your own repairs, with the exception of the injector pump.
If you read through some of the many posts on this matter it appears that Kioti treat injector pumps as "black boxes" that they source from their suppliers without regard to longer term maintenance needs. It is "buyer beware" in the case of injector pumps as demonstrated by the totally irresponsible manner in which Kioti have responded to injector pump "known faults" that could occur after warranty ends.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I don't have a Kioti but my brother does and I'm impressed by it.

I recently bought a Mahindra over a Kioti by not much more than a coin toss to make up my mind. Both excellent machines.

I'm 68, my brother is 66 and we expect that the Mahindra and the Kioti will outlast us both..

 

[boggen]

maintenance... maintenance... maintenance... is what it is all about...

you have your ram rods / pedal to the metal and through the floor board folks.. never look back, just keep on going, and wait till something breaks before fixing it.
then ya have pre maintenance folks, that grease things, keep things cleaned after each use, when something begins to go. get things dealt with, before it causes a complete break down. let unit set a couple minutes before shutting down, along with waiting a couple minutes after start up to let things warm up. when bearings or like start to get bad, things are fixed vs waiting for a complete shearing of shaft and something falling off. keeping mower blades balanced / sharpened.

keeping the sun/ rain / snow off a unit can also make things last longer. the unit does not have to be placed in an actual shed, but a simple over hang, or something, to keep direct sun light / rain / snow from coming down on it. sub loves to bake rubber and like stuff causing dry root in tires, to hoses, to seat cushion cracking, to other. at same time, a tarp can do as much damage, keeping things "wet / high moisture under tarp" letting the wind blow through it and around it, can help dry things out, and help reduce rust.

oil changes, coolant changes / flushing (antifreeze/water mixture), repacking various bearings that rely on grease to keep lubricated. using correct type of grease in correct areas.

i use and abuse machinery, as in i will run stuff right into point pressure relief valves kick in for hydraulics, to getting every little bit last fraction of a MPH going through things. running finishing mower decks through tall stuff, and get the blades all tangled up with tall weeds and eating up a belt. lugging engine some pulling stuff. but before hand and after wards, i run the machine down of "pre maintenance / regular maintenance" checking for leaks, double check torque on bolts, etc...

it is the DIY'er and being half way mechanically inclined to be able to fix stuff on the tractor, even if it just means undoing some bolts, and replacing seals, and/or bearing, tracking down some electrical issue with a multi reader. that can go along ways in learning and keeping a tractor in shape long haul. sending it to dealer every time = rather expensive. and generally a shop/service manual for tractor. can help the dummies like myself, work through things and get things done with less effort.

having a dedicated person run the machine can help, and always asking them does something seem wrong with the unit? even if it is minor, example wife/hubby running a second machine to help mow, or get chores done around farm. or what not. or they run it, and you repair it thing...

 

[Coyote machine]

Exactly 4987 hours.