CK20S HST

[crabjoe]

1st, let me say I'm new here.. I was pointed to this site from a fishing forum I frequent and I currently don't own a thing other then a Craftsman yard tractor. Which I'm killing, ever so slowly....

My needs are fairly small being that I only have 1 acre, but I'm tired of borrowing a friends Skidsteer or shoveling dirt. I started out thinking about a Simplicity Legacy XL, but after reading, I'm thinking something bigger. So now the hunt begins.

As of today, I haven't physically seen any of the Sub compacts or compact tractors, but what I need is something with a FEL. I move a lot of dirt with rocks... And the reason I'm thinking about going with something bigger then the Simplicity is because I'm afraid that the Legacy's FEL won't reach high enough to load my pickup bed and I like all the extra attachments available with the bigger units...

Shoot.. With intros over, let me just say that Kioti updated their website last night. They now show the CK20S and no longer the CK20. From the specs, there seems to be no difference (no HP increase) except the name change and the dash.

That's about it for now.... Now back to work and thinking about which dealers I need to visit this weekend to start looking for a new toy.

 

[asylum575]

Thanks for website update info. The CK20 is a real nice machine. I've been stuck between Kubota's BX24, B7610 and the Kioti CK20. I think the Kioti specs out the best, but the truth of the matter for my size property, just about 1 1/2 acres anything bigger than the BX might be overkill.
I tested the CK a while back and definitely preferred the backhoe. Two drawbacks for me were the price on the mid mount mower and no front blade available. The price on the CK was good compared to the Bseries.

 

[IslandTractor]

I bought a CK20 after nearly killing a Craftsman mower too. It is a great machine and outlifts and out-features the Kubota B series equivalents. It is significantly bigger but not more expensive than the BX series subcompact.

For one and a half acres it depends on what you really need to do. If it is really mostly mowing then go with the BX and MMM. If you are moving a lot of dirt or clearing land then the CK20 starts to shine. I would ignore the MMM as it is unreasonably priced. A decent quality 5ft rear finish mower and 4ft bush hog can be had for close to the price of the Kioti MMM. If I were doing a CK20 again I'd frankly put a 59" Caroni flail on it. That would be a very nice set up for finish mowing and bush hogging and only costs about $1600 shipped. The new KB2465 looks like a very nice BH. I had the KB2365 and it did the job with no complaints.

 

[crabjoe]

It is significantly bigger but not more expensive than the BX series subcompact.

When you say significantly bigger, is it really that much bigger or might it be an illusion? I ask this because when I looked at the dimensions , the BX23 is taller with ROPS and an inch wider, but shorter in length. It kind of surprised me that the CK20S wasn't taller because it's ground clearance is much higher.

Well, I guess I'll know when I start looking this weekend. And to be honest, I'd really like something small because I don't have much room, but the numbers for performance just keep saying CK20S HST. Plus, I need as much bang for the buck as possible because I'm tapped out. In the last couple years, I've bought way to much stuff.

The worst purchase was the Craftsman mower. I should have listened to my CFO when she said get something bigger. She wanted me to get a Deere or MF because she had grown up on a ranch. I told her, "my dad had a Craftsman and it's lasted him over 15 years with not a problem.", all the time thinking "All I'm going to do is cut grass and the only reason he got rid of the Craftsman was because he moved." Little did I know, at the time, I was going to be shoveling so much dirt and how right she was. Now my DYT4000 wobbles (Front axle or something is slightly bent), the cuts way uneven, even after replacing the spindle and blades, and I've got slow leaks in 2 of my tires.... But for now, it'll have to do.

 

[IslandTractor]

When you say significantly bigger, is it really that much bigger or might it be an illusion?

No illusion. The BX looks like a riding mower compared to the CK20. Look at the weight and length of the machines with FEL and BH. As I recall the BX FEL can lift about half of what the CK does and the BH is much smaller too.

The BX is a very nice machine and may be more appropriate for your situation. Kioti doesn't have a machine in that subCUT catagory.

 

[tonybada]

I bought a CK20 after nearly killing a Craftsman mower too. It is a great machine and outlifts and out-features the Kubota B series equivalents. It is significantly bigger but not more expensive than the BX series subcompact.

For one and a half acres it depends on what you really need to do. If it is really mostly mowing then go with the BX and MMM. If you are moving a lot of dirt or clearing land then the CK20 starts to shine. I would ignore the MMM as it is unreasonably priced. A decent quality 5ft rear finish mower and 4ft bush hog can be had for close to the price of the Kioti MMM. If I were doing a CK20 again I'd frankly put a 59" Caroni flail on it. That would be a very nice set up for finish mowing and bush hogging and only costs about $1600 shipped. The new KB2465 looks like a very nice BH. I had the KB2365 and it did the job with no complaints.

what does a ck20 hst with a fel go for?

 

[asylum575]

The ck20hst as a TLB was around $18000, as a T/L probably around 13000. Kioti had a promotion on the CK20gear with loader for $11950. I'm not sure it's still available. I didn't see it on the new website.

 

[coasterez]

If there is a dealer nearby check out the TYM T233 or T273. Capabilities close to the CK and sized more like a BX.

 

[crabjoe]

If there is a dealer nearby check out the TYM T233 or T273. Capabilities close to the CK and sized more like a BX.

Thanks for the info.. It's funny, but I was looking at the TYM site last night and was hoping to stop by a dealer in New Holland, PA on my way to Wallace. I'm also planning on going to look at the Bota's later today.

BTW, do you have one of the TYM sub-Cuts?

Thanks.

 

[coasterez]

I have a CK25. I originally went looking at the CK20. Then realized that for just a little bit more money I could get a lot more tractor. It's way bigger than a man needs for my 2.5 acres. But, I was looking for mostly a digging machine and it sure is nice to have the power, size and weight of the CK25. I don't mow with it. I will say that the old design loader (KL130) is a piece of crap though.

I first looked at the TYM. I really really liked it, but it actually cost more than my CK25. And the CK25 is more tractor. Given the loader problems and lack of anything from anyone to resolve it, I might be sorry that I didn't get the TYM instead. My only concern with TYM is: will they be around in 10 - 15 years? If you think so, and you can swing the extra cost. Get the TYM.

 

[coasterez]

BTW. The TYMs are not subcuts. True CAT1. They are just amazingly compact, and very maneuverable. Compare dimensions. Then test out the TYM and the CK20. You'll be surprised at the difference in maneuverability.

I think Montana also sells the TYM K2s rebadged. Not sure if they are selling for more or less though.

 

[IslandTractor]

was hoping to stop by a dealer in New Holland, PA on my way to Wallace. .

Hey, if you're going to see Rick see if he's got my old CK20 TLB on the lot for sale. He should have had enough time to go over it and fix it up for sale by now. It was a great tractor and I did a lot of work with it. I'm sure he's put the loader fix on it which is really about all that it needed in addition to fluid changes.

By the way, Rick pointed out to me that the TYM loader is the same loader as on the CK20.

 

[crabjoe]

Hey, if you're going to see Rick see if he's got my old CK20 TLB on the lot for sale. He should have had enough time to go over it and fix it up for sale by now. It was a great tractor and I did a lot of work with it. I'm sure he's put the loader fix on it which is really about all that it needed in addition to fluid changes.

By the way, Rick pointed out to me that the TYM loader is the same loader as on the CK20.

Ahhh, so that's where your old machine is...

As for the Loader, I don't think they're the same. But then again, what the heck do I know. I only drove my 1st sub-cut today, which was a Bota BX24. BTW, the reason I said I didn't think it was the same was because TYM advertises that their loader is setup to take Bobcat attachments. Maybe it is the same, but with a quick attach already installed.

 

[wallace]

Hey, if you're going to see Rick see if he's got my old CK20 TLB on the lot for sale. He should have had enough time to go over it and fix it up for sale by now. It was a great tractor and I did a lot of work with it. I'm sure he's put the loader fix on it which is really about all that it needed in addition to fluid changes.

By the way, Rick pointed out to me that the TYM loader is the same loader as on the CK20.

Island, I had it sold before it came off the trailer

 

[coasterez]

Yes, the TYMs are skid loader QT style loaders, at least when I looked they were.

 

[crabjoe]

Yes, the TYMs are skid loader QT style loaders, at least when I looked they were.

That's a hugh plus for me because I have a friend, with a landscaping company, that has a bunch of attachments. Last week, I spoke with a friend that I had lost contact with for 10 years and he tells me he's working for Bobcat of Baltimore. This means more attachments.

My worry now is where I should worry about being able to use these attachments. When I was at the Kubota dealer today, I was told that most would not work because the hydraulics are just to weak on SCUTs and most compacts.

Anyone know if a compact or smaller can drive something like a Harley rake? The Bota dealer also told me I probably couldn't use any dingo attachments either for the same reason. That was even if I got an adapter for Dingo attachments. It really surprised me when he say mini Skid loaders like the Dingo put out 8-10 gpm.

 

[IslandTractor]

My worry now is where I should worry about being able to use these attachments. When I was at the Kubota dealer today, I was told that most would not work because the hydraulics are just to weak on SCUTs and most compacts.

The Kubota dealer is correct. I think you will find that Bobcat hydraulic implements come in low and high power requirement categories. There is no way you can run the high power implements with even a big CUT. For a small CUT you should be fine with things like a 4n1 bucket or grapple or some of the tree cutting devices. The common feature here is that the hydraulics are just running a ram of some type. Where you will get into trouble is in trying to run a hydraulic motor off the CUT. They can do it but the performance may be inadequate. CUTs are designed to run gearboxes with their PTO not with their hydraulics. Bobcats don't have PTOs so they have much higher capacity hydraulic pumps to compensate. I believe a Harley rake would require a fair amount of hydraulic output so would not be advisable as a FEL attachment.

 

[IslandTractor]

Island, I had it sold before it came off the trailer

I hope you found it a happy home with a nice warm barn.

I guess I'll need to change my avatar photo one of these days too.

 

[coasterez]

What IslandTractor says is correct. There will be some attachements you just can't use effectively. What it means is you should pay close attention to hydraulic pump capbilities on the machines that you look at. Kioti is quite good in this area. You'll have to step up a notch or two away from the BX's to get something comparable to the CK20 or K2s. I would also suggest looking at Massey, Mahindra, NH, and Deere. They have nice small sized CUTS too.

I regret not getting a QT loader. It really will come in handy. Once you see the TYM, I think you'll love it. But, you may not like the price.

 

[IslandTractor]

I regret not getting a QT loader. It really will come in handy. Once you see the TYM, I think you'll love it. But, you may not like the price.

You can get a QA adapter for the Kioti KL120 or 130 pretty easily. ATI, Horst and Millonzi sell them for starters. There may be other manufacturers. I even have one left over from my CK20 I'd part with.