Buying Advice ck20 or ck27

[grizzlydave]

Hi all im looking for a cut with loader , i will be building a house so there will be digging , back filling , grading , driveway building and everything else thats involved . Several people have said the ck 20 is a beast of a machine for its size , the only down fall is there is no shuttle shift option which for me is a must ! I have a 55 horse tractor at the farm 25 miles away and just wont be practical to drag back and forth . I know there are a ton of very experienced people on here and would like your opinion on which machine to get

 

[IslandTractor]

Both very capable and solid machines. Major obvious difference is size. Obviously the 27 is bigger, not just in engine but overall. Lift capacity with loader is almost identical though (the 27 lifts maybe 50-70lbs more but the 20 lifts over 1000lbs). You mentioned shuttle shift: that is only available on the 27. The 20 comes with either manual tranny with syncho in 1st and R but no shuttle. 20 and 27 also come with HST option, the 20 has 2 range and the 27 has 3 range HST.

Both very fine tractors. I owned a CK20 HST for several years. It was a little beast and did a huge amount of work. I've not operated the 27 but have driven the closely related CK30 which is also very nice. I liked (and miss) the compact but sturdy size of the 20 for it's manuverability.

Again, if shuttle shift is the most important feature you are limited to the CK27 but they are both excellent machines.

 

[earljr59]

I have a ck 25,and really like it. I think the ck27 is the newer model and basically looks the same.This is a handy size and impresses me on what it can do.I agree with Island Tractors comments and think you will be impressed with either size. My ck25 has the shuttle and it works well for me. Good Luck:thumbsup:

 

[grizzlydave]

I drove the ck 20 hst today now i understand what alot of people were talking about when they said it cant go up hills in high range , it stalled out going up a small (8 foot rise in his parking lot , pavement at that ) I couldnt believe it ! Maybe i've spent to much time on big machines but any tractor should have been able to make this slight incline ! The dealer did not have a gear ck20 on the lot , so i would like to hear from any ck20 gear owners on its performance , it would have to better ! Thanks for the replies

 

[VictorW]

If you think the CK20 might be the size you want, I wait until you could drive a gear. The CK20 only has a two speed range but the CK27,30,35 have a three speed range in the hydro. Some guys have said that high in a CK20 hydro is a little weak.

From some of the jobs you mentioned, the CK27 gear might be better. More hp and weight for grading and driveway building and also a shuttle shift which you mentioned was a must.

I'd definately try to drive both before you buy.

 

[rimshot]

I agree with what the guys are saying about the CK20 high gear and steep grades. I drive one and it is no hot rod. It's the smallest and handiest little tractor Kioti makes but I can't do a wheely with the thing as long as it is in high gear going up hill (especially with the backhoe on). That's what low range is for. But I can do everything the original poster is asking.

What's the rush anyway? I just take my time and out manuever the ck 25's & 27's and 30's. They might beat me up the hill but when that new basement gets backfilled I'll be right there at the finish line with the rest of the pack. Back on the Farm I remember When we bought a brand new Massey Ferguson with what they called multi power. Guess what, that new (at the time) tractor wasn't about to get up the hill in high gear either. We just down shifted and away we went.

There is always something bigger and stronger and can climb a more challenging grade. Either tractor will work for the job at hand.

rimshot

 

[bearhawk]

I have a CK20HST and I stay in low gear all the time unless traveling on the road.

I find even when able to use high, it is just uncomfortable going fast on uneven terrain. Maybe it's just me, or my back.

 

[IslandTractor]

Thinking about this some more, I would go for the CK20 HST as a construction or project tractor but would go for the CK27 shuttle as a field mower or bush hog machine. Both tractors can serve in either role but that is how I would distinguish their relative strengths. Maneuverability and equal loader strength favor the CK20 in tight quarters while the extra PTO HP, one foot larger implements, and longer wheel base favor the 27 in the field.

 

[grizzlydave]

Thats exactly why i am looking at both machines because once the house is done there will be 2 acres to finish mow 4 acres to brush hog and the never ending hunt for fire wood plus snow removal

 

[Gittyup]

The problem with the CK20 gear is only two reverse speeds, and both are pretty slow. With the shuttle you get 8 reverse speeds, where is proported to be about 80% of the corresponding forward speed. I've used both, and own a CK25 gear. Going in reverss is a huge difference.

Other advantages of the bigger tractor:

• way more hydraulic flow means faster more agile hydraulics
• bigger backhoe; that extra foot of reach can really make a difference
• much more weight lets you put the power to the implements, especially backhoes
  weight also makes safer and more stable for loader work
• handles bigger implements in general, like chippers, tillers, bush hogs, and mowers, box blades, etc.
• Larger loader bucket

Having used both to do real work, anyone that thinks the CK20 will finish faster, or as fast, as its bigger brother, is wrong in almost all cases. The CK20 is capable, but not quite as much so as the CK27 would be. I've moved over a 1000 tons with mine, and it's been a real beast.

But, if it were me, I'd go for the CK35 HST. This machine is awesome. HST is better, provided the tractor has enough HP (like the CK35). The CK27 will be best in the gear version, though. That's why I went that way.

 

[IslandTractor]

Thats exactly why i am looking at both machines because once the house is done there will be 2 acres to finish mow 4 acres to brush hog and the never ending hunt for fire wood plus snow removal

Those are not really such large numbers that I would clearly favor the 27. I managed almost exactly that much mowing and bush hogging with my CK20 using a 4ft bush hog and 5ft finish mower. If you are bush hogging a couple of times a year the 4ft mower is not a big disadvantage. If you are hogging five or six times a year then the incrimental advantage of a five foot mower certainly start to add up. The flip side is that it is cheaper to buy and easier to store the smaller implements.

If the property to be mowed regularly is hilly I would remind you that the CK20 HST is only two range and it can mow in high only in flat areas so you will be forced to mow in low which can be aggrevating if the land is smooth and would otherwise tolerate faster speeds.

Bottom line: there is no "wrong" tractor here. Both can do the jobs and you just need to pick between smaller, less expensive, compact and bigger more capable and faster.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

I too was torn between the CK20 & CK27 & decided on the CK20 HST.
For my needs (loader work & mowing) I could not justify the larger CK27.
I've been moving a lot of fill, large stones & tree stumps & am very impressed with this machine!
Folks have to told me to go bigger than what I need, but I'm very pleased with my decision.

 

[whiskywizard]

I hemmed and hawed between the CK20 and 27 too. I chose the 20 hydrostatic and put the savings toward a ZTR mower. Of course, the tractor will cut grass, but with its weight, and loaded rear tires, it's really too heavy for that task. Especially in the spring. The fact that the 20 won't race up a hill in high has had no impact on me whatsoever.

 

[grizzlydave]

Well i wouldnt say ray race up a hill , it'll race to the hill then stall on it ! I drove the gear ck20 yesterday man what a differance ! I believe i will go this route it had no problems on the same hill that stalled the hydro in high

 

[IslandTractor]

Well i wouldnt say ray race up a hill , it'll race to the hill then stall on it ! I drove the gear ck20 yesterday man what a differance ! I believe i will go this route it had no problems on the same hill that stalled the hydro in high

Again, depends on what you are doing with the tractor. If it is mostly construction then high gear or high range hydro won't be used that much and hills are not usually a big issue either. HST is real useful if you are doing a lot of loader work or tight manuvering though. If you do have hills that you traverse in the course of daily business then yep it makes a difference and the 2 speed HST is a disadvantage. I don't know why Kioti has failed to add a three range hydro to the CK20. Kubota did it for their B range about two years ago and it cannot be that big a deal.

 

[earljr59]

Grizzly Dave, I am glad to see you looking at the Kioti tractors.Was at a dealer recently and they all are nice and i would love an enclosed,air conditioned cab.But thats off subject. I think you will like either size and glad you got so many good comments.With that said,I must add on size I can honestly say I have never once wished I had went with a smaller size. Not one time.

 

[grizzlydave]

Thats the one thing i do not want happening (wishing i wouldve gone bigger) But after hearing what everyone has to say i think the ck20 gear will be the right machine

 

[VictorW]

I think you're picking the one that will do overall best for you. The CK27 might be better for your beginning jobs, get done a little faster, but then once they're done, the CK20 will work great for the finish work and the never ending yearly work.

 

[IslandTractor]

I think you're picking the one that will do overall best for you. The CK27 might be better for your beginning jobs, get done a little faster, but then once they're done, the CK20 will work great for the finish work and the never ending yearly work.

Good point. My DK40se gets big jobs done many times faster but there are MANY times I wish I still had my CK20 or even a BX24 to get routine chores done. Storage is a consideration as well. My CK20 would fit in the barn with grapple and bush hog attached and still leave room to walk around and behind. The larger tractor just fills the space and I cannot close the doors unless I dismount the grapple before entering.

Small is beautiful.

 

[charleyfarmall]

I agree with Gittyup. Everything you are doing will be done more easily with a 27 or 30. The tractor isn't so big that it get's in the way. I have done hours and hours around buildings with my CK27HST and wouldn't really go smaller.