CK30HST followed me home

[Highbeam]

After much research and after selling my dozer, I went to a Kioti dealer. I at first was sold on the DK40 but a few things swayed me over to a CK30HST. I picked this one up at the Kioti/JD dealer in Port Orchard Washington. The dealer is a long term merchant of the town, 1917, and been selling JD since 1985 and Kioti this year. His shop appears to be well equipped with friendly mechanics. Anyway, he is as local as I could get and it turns out he was very competitive and helpful.

I picked up the Kioti and the JD green 5' box blade. I plan to go back this coming weekend for the 5' rotary mower.

I put a good 5 hours on the machine smoothing out roads and just testing things out. The bucket appears pretty flimsy but sufficient for most tasks. Loader is great. The operator's position and seat is also very pleasant with the exception of the lousy location of the ignition switch, I bumped the tractor off twice with my knee. There is a PTO light on the dash that does not light up with the PTO engaged, am I missing something or is this supposed to light up? The tractor is equipped with the optional 1000 rpm pto too but no remotes... yet.

The tractor in the picture is setting on my new trailer as described in a previous post in the own/op forum. I am very happy with the trailer and it towed straight as an arrow while giving the half ton pickup no trouble. Note the W/D hitch.

More to follow.....

 

[Highbeam]

The CK is equipped with radiator screens to catch what makes it through the grille screens. Unfortunately Kioti screwed up and made it impossible to slide the passenger side screen over to be lifted out and cleaned. The only way to remove the pside screen is to remove the air tube.

That will only be done once since I will modify the screen to make it removable after sliding it over to the dside. The screens got dirty very quickly and will need to be easily removed.

 

[Highbeam]

This picture shows the bottom. Since I have no mid-PTO, the lowest hanging thing is the drawbar on the rear and then that goofy tie rod in front. The tie rod hangs down there jsut asking for a stump to take it out and the ends are not greasable, totally lame. Time will tell how long this tie rod lasts. It seems the linkage and filters ride pretty high, also the loader mounts offer a place to attach a belly pan.....

 

[Highbeam]

Back on the trailer and home. I gave it a wash job and waxed all the sheet metal. I believe in a good coating in the beginning to protect the machine from scratches and oxidation. The finish seems pretty good.

I checked the air pressure in the tires and found the right-rear to be at 41 psi which is way over the 35 psi max printed on the tire and the 30 psi as recommended in the manual. Fronts were at 40 which is less than the 50 max and as shown in the manual.

The hydro fluid was a good inch above the full line. How big of a deal is this? Can I correct after 50 hours or should I siphon some off?

The beer holder on the fender does very well.

 

[Buck]

Thanks for a fair and honest evaluation of your new gem. I like the Kiotis too and your 4000 lb'er looks like a great machine. I think you made a great choice and wish you the best of luck!

 

[HODAK]

The radiator screen issue was discussed before. I just slide the right side over and lift out on my CK30HST. There were others who said they couldn't do this and then again there were those who said they didn't have this problem. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[TForan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The radiator screen issue was discussed before. I just slide the right side over and lift out on my CK30HST. There were others who said they couldn't do this and then again there were those who said they didn't have this problem. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )</font>


Same here. No problem at all.

 

[Noodlearm]

Yep, no problem here with the screen. Just pull the right side straight out and then slide the left side over to the right side and pull it out. Have fun with your new machine.

 

[RedRocker]

The payment book followed me home too /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[kIOTICK30]

No problem hear.

 

[HODAK]

Highbeam, I can relate to the ignition key location and shutting down the tractor. I bumped that key about three times before I took the key to my stationary belt and disc sander and ground off those plastic wings. It's not a pretty key anymore, but my knee has not shut the tractor down since then either. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Highbeam]

I adjusted my seat and the steering wheel to hopefully reduce the key bumping. A bit unsettling to go from 2000 to nothing like now.

How about the PTO light? does yours light up? The lights aren't overly bright and maybe the color is just too dark.

Another thing I noticed last night that is a bit lame is that the seat has a dished back. This is noramlly fine except that when I store it outside I like to flip the seat up. This allows a big ol' puddle to form on the rear of the seat back.

This tractor is great. These little nit-piks are about as bad as it gets on this tractor and they aren't anything. The dealer called yesterday night and let me know that the cutter is in and ready for pickup. Hot dog!

 

[HODAK]

I don't think my light comes on either. I'll check it in the shed tonight where it's nice and dark. I hear you when it comes to nit picking the little things. It's the big things that would be a problem and there aren't any so far. 62hrs on my CK30HST and I continue to be impressed. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[depratt_equip]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( How about the PTO light? does yours light up? The lights aren't overly bright and maybe the color is just too dark.
)</font>

This light will probably be really really dim..... because it doesn't have one for the PTO /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ... Some of the DK's now have a light be the CK's do not yet have one.....

 

[Highbeam]

Ah rats, there are about 20 blank spots for idiot lights and if you look closely you can see the non-white symbols. All of the other white symbols seem to have bulbs that work. I suppose it is better to know that it isn't supposed to work than to know that it is broken.

Now I just have to figure out a place to put the PTO cover since it won't fit inside the little tool box. I also lost the little cotter clip from one of the drawbar pins.

Do you folks store your tractors outside with the seat flipped forward? Does water puddle up on the back and saturate the foam?

 

[HODAK]

This light will probably be really really dim..... because it doesn't have one for the PTO


Yea.........that's about as dim as you can get /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[depratt_equip]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Do you folks store your tractors outside with the seat flipped forward? Does water puddle up on the back and saturate the foam? )</font>

We just leave the seat in the regular position. Sometimes we fold them forward, it does not soak into the seats... The back does hold water and when you flip it back will flood the seat, so usually we just leave the seat up... It will get wet one way or the other, unless you have a shed to park it under... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[RedRocker]

The tool box is the first thing you need to replace. I made a box, some others have used ammo cans, just about anything is an improvement.

 

[Highbeam]

Yes, I think an ammo can will fit nicely. Haven't seen one in a while though. I'll have to grab my "cheaper than dirt" catalog.

My next nit-pik, since we're accomplishing things, is that the little rubber **** on the floor mat do not fit into the holes of the deck at the edge. This leaves the mat sticking up for tripping and for crud to find its way underneath. The tit needs to be cut down or the holes drilled out. Did you all just ignore this or fix it? The holes are much too small on the edge of the deck but are large enough on the inside of the deck to allow the mat to seat. The holes are in the right place, just too small.

Please bear with me, I'm getting this thing dialed in.

 

[HomeBrew2]

An AWESOME TRACTOR !!! Congrats and cheers !!!