CK30HST Capability

[Highbeam]

I have about 90% decided to step "down" from a DK40 to a CK30HST. 3500$ cheaper, 1000+ lbs lighter, and HST. However, the lift capacities bother me. The loader lists a pretty low lift capacity. I plan to use this machine to slowly clear about 10 acres of forest and I really want a bucket mount grapple to pick up and stack brush. Do you folks find the Kioti loader on this tractor adequate for decent lifting or do you hit the limits of the hydraulics fairly often? The 3ph lift weight is pretty small but reasonable.

It was a tough decision to step down and the final 10% will be decided when I sit on the tractors.

Is the 30 HP sufficient to brush hog real brush with a 5' hog or just mow fields. I guess I am worried that Kioti made the CK series as a homeowner type deal since the DK is supposed to be the tougher one. The CK30HST looks real good.

Also, is the "electronic tachometer" actually a digital readout or a needle?

 

[TractorLegend]

I don't think I would consider anything about the CK's a "homeowner, light duty, couldn't muster the power, got it on sale at Sears" type of rig. It sounds like a **** backhoe when its running. And while theres always a bigger tractor available, it depends on your lifting requirement, and sometimes too big isn't good when space is an issue. The HST is ultra convenient.
The loader lift capacity at full height is 1155 pounds.
I chose to hire out an excavator guy when I needed a few stumps pulled and one big rock I needed taken out.
I think theres a rule of thumb that whatever you buy it will be inadequate 10% of the time.
I think you could run a 6 foot brush hog with fair ease. Im sure others will chime in on this. The tach and other gages are needle and the hour meter is digital

 

[albmn10]

Hello Highbeam, ill second what tractor legend said, the Ck30 is no lightweight... When i was looking for tractors in the 30 hp range i was set on higher lift capicities with the loaders as well...I ended up with the Ck30hst with the woods 1012 loader which ironically i had 2 kubota and 2 kioti dealers highly recomend them. It gives you the 30 -40 hp lift capicities while keeping the smaller frame with the Ck30. Lift capacity just under 1400lbs breakout just over 3000lbs. In the spring i easily knocked over several 6-7 inch trees and popped out the rootball with my tooth bar. Also easily picked up many 7 ft long by 18in by 12 in thick concrete slabs which were littered all over my property by a previous owner. If it fits in my loader its picked it up ...The standard ck30 loader the k130 wont lift as much , but will give you a better viewing platform and a deeper digging capicity. I use a 6ft boxblade with no problem as well with the Ck30. The Hst is very smooth and a pleasure to use while doing loader work. Im sure many more ck30 owners will chime in for you and give their experiences as well... The Ck30 is an excellent machine.. Good luck

 

[KiotiJohn]

The difference in lift capacity may mean you have to take a little smaller load, maybe a few more loads, but I don't think it will be significant. You will need to have a heavy weight on the back to get max lift.
The CK30 is a very capable tractor, good and strong, and I like the KL130 loader as well. One thing to be careful of though is the transmission filter which hangs down a good way. I always advise that owners build a protective cage around it, or a belly pan if he/she plans to do a lot of work in the woods. A good sized stump can break that filter off at the bracket.
If I were going between two tractors, it would be between the CK30 and the DK45S, not the DK40. A DK35 is the same size as the DK40, and probably would be a better deal as well.
I've heard it said that the longer you own your tractor the smaller it is. I think most people wish they had more HP some of the time at least.
John

 

[RedRocker]

I've NEVER had to dump brush cause I couldn't lift it all, it's lifted everything I can cram on there. I don't think you'll be disappointed, I've been extremely happy with mine. I cram my 5' bush hog into some nasty stuff and have never bogged it down either. The rebar I hit was kinda hard on the blades, but it didn't bog down. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MSU_Keith]

I am in the process of clearing a couple acres of dense hardwoods with CK30HST and have not had any problems with skidding and stacking saw logs, dragging tops to chipper, hauling chips and spreading on trails. I have not gotten to many of the big stumps yet but do plan to dig'em out with my BH.

I agree that a bigger machine and FEL bucket would allow me to work faster but I feel the CK30HST is an excellent value at its capability and price point. I guess it depends on how deep your pockets are and your definition of 'slowly' clearing 10 acres.

It depends alot on work methods too - the less you move things the quicker it goes. I started by cutting down trees dragging and stacking slash, bucking and stacking firewood, and dragging and stacking sawlogs. Then I would rent a chipper every other week and do all the chipping. The work site was real neat but I found I was moving things twice and three times: once to pile, then to chipper, and finally chips to trails. My new method: big rental chipper located where I want chips, tops get dragged whole to chipper and I'm done with those. Firewood size logs get stacked at the pile to be bucked later. All thats left in clearing are sawlogs which I can push aside for skidding later. Things are moving much quicker.

If your going to burn slash then the grapple will be a big help making piles - not sure it will help much if you plan to chip.

 

[Noodlearm]

Yep, no problems here either. I have used a 6' brushhog on 5 foot tall weeds with no problems and my loader has lifted everything I have tried (including a few things accidentally)

 

[VictorW]

I've had my CK30hst with Ind. tires since April with 48 hours so far. Like someone else said, you might want a bigger tractor 10% of the time but is it worth the extra cost for those few times. I had the loader filled full with 2B gravel, sand, and dirt. It lifts it with no problem other than the back gets light and you have to go slow. As KiotiJohn said, you'll want some rear weight for those big loads. I added a KB2375 hoe to my attachment arsenal and that took care of the weight problem and it really can push just in 2wd with the hoe weight. It will run a 5ft brush hog easily but the cut will be a few inches narrower than the tire width. I run a 6ft to cut old farm field grass with no problems. I haven't had the chance to see what it would do with tree saplings. It's also not a light duty homeowner tractor. It's built tough and weighs as much as the Kubota L3400 series. A big difference from Kubota B series that weighs in around 1600-1800 lbs. Not that the B series aren't good but as anything, each series has their own capacities. I guess if I wanted to get some of my work done faster, I would have bought the DK45 but the cost wasn't worth it and the hst is nice to use. My tach is a needle. Works fine, easy to use and read.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[gmsssi]

Highbeam,

I found myself in a situation similar to yours early this year. I had timber taken down on 10 acres of my property in order to salvage some income from a gas well they drilled on my property. In my negotiation, I got some dozer and clearing work but I still got tons to do.

I realized my Kubota B9200 (22.5 HP) just wasn't going to get it and I needed a FEL, so my search began for a 30-35HP machine. After lookin at soooooo many different brands and sizes, long story short, I bought the bigger DK45s. I'm glad I did. Some of the stumps I had to deal with, well should I say I still can't deal with them until I put another 1000# on the back of the tractor. The loader has been a godsend. I know with the work I've done so far, I'd have many more hours on the smaller 30-35HP machine.

I'm just telling you this to be sure on the size. I agree that the CK30 is a great machine, I almost bought one. I just want you to re-evaluate your current need and needs you might NOT have thought about. Which ever you chose, you'll enjoy and be welcome to the pack!

Good Luck

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

There have been many threads on this lately. Be aware that Kioti lists pivot pin loader measurements. A 1000lb lift does not mean you can lift 1000lbs because its measured from a theoretical point. With a brush grapple on a CK30 you would probably be able to lift about 600lbs of material before the loader would stop. (That's a 30% reduction for moving 20" forward to where the load actually is and subtracting an extra 100lbs for the heavier grapple bucket).