WillKol
New member
Hi,
I posted previous about the pricing of a CK35 HST. I received a lot of feedback about sizing up to the DK40se HST (and read about it) so I had the dealer bring one over to my farm so I could try it for the day. First, the tractor is great. I overfilled the FEL with wet hay and manure, drove it to a fence on a downhill slope, lifted over the fence and dumped. Tractor was never light in the back, extremely stable even while turning with the bucket raised high, and all at 1500 rpms. I did notice once in a while, going from reverse to forward there was a HST hesitation... it took a while for the power to kick in. Also, if I was using the forward HST to dig into a pile, if I was rolling / lifting the bucket (working it into the pile) it would hesitate, sort of jam up until I let off the HST. Not a big deal at all though, just very minor observations.
Here's the problem. The DK is 72 inches wide (the FEL). My barn is 87 inches wide (5 corridors). Not a lot of room for error at all, especially with manure wheel slippage. 17 inches may seem like a lot, 8.5 inches each side, but it's really not when you factor in steering down the 40 foot corridor. I found myself all day long within an inch of the poles (posts) and walls, and the outer lean-to's are only 4x4s. If the tractor slipped into a wall I'd have little ability to get it out of the barn... I'd probably have to detach the bucket, somehow get it out of the way, and then see if I could pull forward / move backwards until I was out. I should probably go down in tractor size to the CK35, giving me and extra 6 inches on either side... 14.5 inches each side, but I would lose the following:
1) Lift capacity. I was hoping to lift 600lbs round bales. I was also reading the FEL has trouble lifting a full load of stone / has problems with breakout force. I worry that it would have trouble lifting a fully bucket of wet hay / wet clay slop.
2) Width. CK35 is a little narrower. My property is hilly and stability is a good thing.
3) Traction. Property has very thick clay soil. When it gets wet it's like driving through muck / quick sand. Couple that with slick manure and it's a real treat if you don't have tracks. The ruts can quickly get deep. I need ability to get out (DK40se had no problem getting out and I was using R4 tires).
4) HST. CK35 likes to 'push back' the drive pedal. I'm wondering if this gets annoying.
5) No draft control. I don't really need this.
6) BH power. I have lots to dig, pond to clean, some stumps to pull (I know this could take hours for a single stump).
7) Trade-in value. Dealership told me DK's have better trade-in value.
After reading so much about the CK35's FEL and other things I'm worried that the tractor won't be able to handle lifting, and it will be very frustrating to use. Am I just over-saturated with too much reading? Do you think the CK will perform well enough? Also, do you think the narrower tractor will be a good thing, or should I stick with the DK40se HST and just drive slow?
Here are 3 photos of tractor & barn.
On the upside, if I buy the CK35 I save $3500, and then get to buy more attachments, like a grapple add-on for the bucket (unless it won't work with the FEL).
Thanks in advance for any insight. This is an excruciating decision... too much to think about.
I posted previous about the pricing of a CK35 HST. I received a lot of feedback about sizing up to the DK40se HST (and read about it) so I had the dealer bring one over to my farm so I could try it for the day. First, the tractor is great. I overfilled the FEL with wet hay and manure, drove it to a fence on a downhill slope, lifted over the fence and dumped. Tractor was never light in the back, extremely stable even while turning with the bucket raised high, and all at 1500 rpms. I did notice once in a while, going from reverse to forward there was a HST hesitation... it took a while for the power to kick in. Also, if I was using the forward HST to dig into a pile, if I was rolling / lifting the bucket (working it into the pile) it would hesitate, sort of jam up until I let off the HST. Not a big deal at all though, just very minor observations.
Here's the problem. The DK is 72 inches wide (the FEL). My barn is 87 inches wide (5 corridors). Not a lot of room for error at all, especially with manure wheel slippage. 17 inches may seem like a lot, 8.5 inches each side, but it's really not when you factor in steering down the 40 foot corridor. I found myself all day long within an inch of the poles (posts) and walls, and the outer lean-to's are only 4x4s. If the tractor slipped into a wall I'd have little ability to get it out of the barn... I'd probably have to detach the bucket, somehow get it out of the way, and then see if I could pull forward / move backwards until I was out. I should probably go down in tractor size to the CK35, giving me and extra 6 inches on either side... 14.5 inches each side, but I would lose the following:
1) Lift capacity. I was hoping to lift 600lbs round bales. I was also reading the FEL has trouble lifting a full load of stone / has problems with breakout force. I worry that it would have trouble lifting a fully bucket of wet hay / wet clay slop.
2) Width. CK35 is a little narrower. My property is hilly and stability is a good thing.
3) Traction. Property has very thick clay soil. When it gets wet it's like driving through muck / quick sand. Couple that with slick manure and it's a real treat if you don't have tracks. The ruts can quickly get deep. I need ability to get out (DK40se had no problem getting out and I was using R4 tires).
4) HST. CK35 likes to 'push back' the drive pedal. I'm wondering if this gets annoying.
5) No draft control. I don't really need this.
6) BH power. I have lots to dig, pond to clean, some stumps to pull (I know this could take hours for a single stump).
7) Trade-in value. Dealership told me DK's have better trade-in value.
After reading so much about the CK35's FEL and other things I'm worried that the tractor won't be able to handle lifting, and it will be very frustrating to use. Am I just over-saturated with too much reading? Do you think the CK will perform well enough? Also, do you think the narrower tractor will be a good thing, or should I stick with the DK40se HST and just drive slow?
Here are 3 photos of tractor & barn.
On the upside, if I buy the CK35 I save $3500, and then get to buy more attachments, like a grapple add-on for the bucket (unless it won't work with the FEL).
Thanks in advance for any insight. This is an excruciating decision... too much to think about.
