Big enough for the job?

[tiktock]

I live in NH and have a BX1880 and it handled our snow just fine. I doubt anything beyond our rare and exciting "actual" blizzards in the 24"+ range and wet would give trouble. I have less HP than you are shooting and I have to actually rev mine down because it throws the snow so far it was landing on my neighbor's property.

Only downfall are the super crappy 1-3" slush storms...which suck for any snowblower. I put it in high gear and use that speed to pcik up enough slush to load the blower. I literally blew 5" of pure water/slush multiple times last year and never had it bog down.

 

[dpgoalie]

Update:

I went to a fair today and looked at tons of tractors and haggled on prices. My final two choices are the Kioti CK 2610 and the Kubota B2650.

Kioti Pros:
Bigger frame
Heavier (might be a con)
Much more lifting capacity
Better flow rate
SB66 blower is a beast!!!! 66"
Dealer down the road

Cons:
Same price as Kubota because blower is $7500
No tilt steering
No AC
Lower resale
Blower auger is chain driven

Kubota Pros:
Higher resale
Quicker blower removal
Cab is awesome. Comes with AC, rear wiper, armrests, Kenwood stereo
Shaft driven blower
Dealer down the road

Cons:
Much lower lift capacity
Blower is not as rugged and is 63"

So I will take it all in and pull the trigger on one of these on Monday.

The outlier: JD dealer is offering me a great deal on a JD 2032R. $1,500 cheaper than the Kioti and Kubota. But has an ugly Curtis cab.

I'm open to ideas on the top two choices.

Thanks!!!

 

[5030]

I'd like to help you but those units are about 60 horses less than I run.

 

[the old grind]

If you're buying it to re-sell it, and want it to be less weight on your trailer when taking it to the dealer for fluid changes and tire pressure checks, buy the Kubota. It's a nice 'lightweight' CUT for it's hp.

If you''re buying it to use it, can pull your own maintenance routine, and want the size, useful weight, (traction) and FEL capacity of many 30-35 hp CUTs (eg: my two >30hp NHs) but w/o the Tier IV baloney, buy the Kioti.

The Kioti is somewhat 'more tractor' than either of my NHs. The Kubo is smaller and lighter. btw, a rule of thumb for me in this size category is 15x 19.5 R-4s on the rear or you're missing out.

You may have noticed that M-F and Branson don't offer true peers to these. IIRC Mitsu does, and competes strongly with Kioti in this size/use class. t o g

 

[628pm]

If I was replacing anything I would go with the b2650, that is a nice tractor. Don't know or I missed in a thread where are you going to keep the tractor, I would just about bet they will not fit into a regular overhead garage door (7'). I always have to measure before I buy to ensure things clear. We keep talking about building another garage(shed) with higher opening, but I need to downsize instead of having another place to store stuff.

 

[dpgoalie]

The B2650 is very nice. I think the cab is far superior. But Is a nice cab better than longer frame, greater lifting capacity and more weight? That is what I'm torn between. My garage doors are 11 feet tall.

If I was replacing anything I would go with the b2650, that is a nice tractor. Don't know or I missed in a thread where are you going to keep the tractor, I would just about bet they will not fit into a regular overhead garage door (7'). I always have to measure before I buy to ensure things clear. We keep talking about building another garage(shed) with higher opening, but I need to downsize instead of having another place to store stuff.

 

[5030]

Garage is for cars, truck and bikes. Barn is for tractor(s). My barn door is 14 feet high....

 

[nbryan]

A B2650HDDC with factory cab is over 88 inches = 7' 4"
Obviously a rops version will go easily with it folded down.

 

[dpgoalie]

Signed, sealed and waiting for delivery!

Pulled the trigger on a:

2019 Kioti CK2610
SB66A Blower
Cab
Loader
Turf tires
Additional valves
And some other odds and ends

Kubota B2650 is very nice but Kioti is bigger and specs out better.

So, to address my original question, I think the CK2610 is big enough for the job.

Thanks everyone. Your opinions mattered.

 

[the old grind]

Signed, sealed and waiting for delivery! ... 2019 Kioti CK2610 ... to address my original question, I think the CK2610 is big enough for the job.

Thanks everyone. Your opinions mattered.

I'm so proud not to be the only one to recognize what a BAMF the 'no tier IV' CK 2610 brute it is, but also jealous after seeing them in person and comparing 'SxS' to the barely equal* CUT I was there to pick up ... besting mine in everything but rated hp, so FEL & 3PH lift, std Fel cap, o'all weight: ... me not even close with my 2nd, 3rd, 4th, NH/Shibauras ... that I got seat time on (also T5C) Yesterday .. 9/30/2019.

* '04 NH TC33DA (Shibaura, 1.5L 'loaded')

What you did, IMO ... :thumbsup::dance1::drink::dance1: ...

 

[chim]

When you get to be my age, you'll be wanting to sit in front of the fire and toast your feet instead. Quit blowing years ago. Easier and quicker to plow. .........................................

At 70 years of age, snow is still the most fun for me on a tractor and I've been eagerly checking the 2019-2020 Winter predictions for the past month. Since finishing the 8' front blade in time for last Winter, I can say that although the blower makes good video material, a power angle front blade has been the nicest snow tool I've had so far.

 

[varmint]

I'd second Chim's observations. I don't mind plowing, except I don't have a cab, which makes all the difference. Don't forget you can lift the pushed snow up and over an existing pile- my medium sized L3400 with a 76" blade will lift snow over a 5' high pile easily. Too small a tractor will get pushed around by the angled plow, obviously, so take that into consideration. Blowers tend to require fussing, in my limited experience. With a plow, you will get "feedback" and adjust accordingly. Gravel roadbeds are less of an issue with a plow, since you don't have to worry about getting stones caught in the augers.

 

[IH3444]

The Kioti 2610 is an awesome machine for the price. You also now get the upgrade loader. Same loader used on their 40hp machines. Great decision. Does it come in a cab model? Did you get gear or hydro trans.

I've also read that the fuel can be turned up on these after the warranty is up, to up to as much as 32hp.

 

[dpgoalie]

I got the HST with a cab and it has the upgraded loader.

I'll post pictures when it arrives next week.

The Kioti 2610 is an awesome machine for the price. You also now get the upgrade loader. Same loader used on their 40hp machines. Great decision. Does it come in a cab model? Did you get gear or hydro trans.

I've also read that the fuel can be turned up on these after the warranty is up, to up to as much as 32hp.

 

[fruitcakesa]

Agreed, snow plowing from the comfort of the cab, listening to the radio is one of my favorite tractor activities and it accounts for the majority of my tractor operating time.

 

[dpgoalie]

It's been over a month and I'm still waiting for my ck2610. Apparently they are having a hard time getting the cab. They keep saying next week but it never comes. I haven't taken delivery so I might bail and buy a Kubota B2650.

I'll give it another week.

 

[PaulL2]

I might bail and buy a Kubota B2650.

It's a Kubota forum, so I'll probably get killed for this, but, if you went through a process and decided that was the tractor you wanted, I wouldn't change because of a few weeks. You'll have it for 10 years, and if you compromise for a couple of weeks of waiting, you'll regret it. Of course, if the ck2610 was actually a compromise, and you really wanted the Kubota but it cost a bit more, then go ahead!!

 

[rScotty]

It's been over a month and I'm still waiting for my ck2610. Apparently they are having a hard time getting the cab. They keep saying next week but it never comes. I haven't taken delivery so I might bail and buy a Kubota B2650.

I'll give it another week.

The tractor world isn't usually in a big hurry. It's probably a holdover from the time when all machinery was ordered in the off season anyway.
For tractors, ag, and commercial machines, a month is about the minimum I'd expect for a new machine configured the way you want it. That's pretty near to instantaneous
If part of that custom configuration is a cab, count on twice as long. Things like remote hydraulics & AC can also add some time.

Now all of that is just business as usual as I've experienced and seen it in a dozen purchases. I know it's hard waiting, but that's how it works.
Of course there is probably some way to go to the "head of the line", but count on it costing more. So now you know. If you have a personal deadline it's best to put that into the original order. If the dealer thinks you might back out, you can bet that will add time rather than reduce it.

The thing to remember is that when you finally get the tractor it's a new puppy. It doesn't know any of this, and will work for you just as well as if it had appeared the very next day.
rScotty

 

[dpgoalie]

The tractor has arrived!

 

[AllByteNoBark]

Very nice! Hope it gives you a lot of good years of service.