Comparing the 'orange' machines.

[albmn10]

I agree that there is not a significant difference between the ck30 and ck35, i own the ck30, but i also own the Woods 80x and the only reason id suggest the ck35 is that, Ix suggested he was possibly interested in a backhoe and i feel the ck35 would handle the 80x better on hilly terrain.My ck30 handles the hoe fine but on steep slopes i can feel the difference where that extra 5hp would be nice. I also have the Woods 1012 loader on my ck30 but the new LC102 is curved with with several hundred pounds more lift capacity then my loader. It basically the replacement for my loader by Woods. The difference in widths between the cks and the L3400 is 5 inches, and that will make a big difference on hilly terrain. The ck30 is a little brute, it utilizes its weight really well, it will pull a 6ft box blade with no problem.. As Island said, once you start adding little extras here and there the next thing you know you have a Dk40... Good luck anyhow...

 

[IXLR8]

I need to be very careful of that 'slippery slope', the uphill kind. Start with the CK20, add a little this, a little that, now I am at a CK35, but for just a little more I can get the DK40 that has these features..... now I have no money for implements to do anything. I am trying very hard to keep total bill less than $20K. I have eliminated the B7800 as it is too small and cramped for me, both the tractor and the backhoe station. I won't be doing any mowing with this tractor, strictly loader, backhoe, rake and some snow removal work. There was a chance of some tiller work, but my neighbor has a JD5105 with a 60" tiller and he has offered to come do any tilling work I might need. So I really don't see any need for me to buy a tiller, so I am not sure PTO power is much of a factor. I think I would rather save some money on the tractor and spend it on better quality implements. Presently have things narrowed down to CK25 gear or JD2520. Any comments on the Woods vs Kioti backhoe/loader for the CK? I am assuming that all the CK machines, 25-35, take the same BH and Loader.

Thank you for all the advice so far,

Jim

 

[IslandTractor]

I need to be very careful of that 'slippery slope', the uphill kind. Start with the CK20, add a little this, a little that, now I am at a CK35, but for just a little more I can get the DK40 that has these features....

Any comments on the Woods vs Kioti backhoe/loader for the CK? I am assuming that all the CK machines, 25-35, take the same BH and Loader.

As someone who went directly down the slippery slope from CK20 to DK40se, I may be a bit biased.

The reason I did not seriously consider going from CK20 to CK30/35 is that the increase in loader capacity was not much at all. Bigger tractor yes, more horsepower yes but only a hundred or so pounds of extra lift with the FEL. The Woods loader fixes that so for my money, if I were to go with the CK30 or 35 I'd use the Woods loader and gain several hundred pounds lift over the CK20/KL120 combo. But, it is a slippery slope....if you consider the cost in light of loader capacity (here is where I am very biased as that is what I do most with my tractor...rip out brush with a grapple) then making one more step up to the DK40 with the KL401 is an obvious no brainer move. Yes it costs a few thousand more but you literally double the lift capacity compared even to the Woods loader on a CK30/35. 2700lbs of lift capacity is a beautiful thing. You also get electric PTO, 4WD and a bunch of other goodies in the bargain. And, unless you are contemplating getting a 8ft or bigger mower in the future, you could be reasonably assured that you won't need to upgrade again. Buying implements twice is lots more expensive than getting the bigger tractor to begin with.

On the backhoe question, I had a Kioti BH and liked it. I liked the new Woods series more so got a 90x the second time around. The 80x is just as nicely featured and obviously a bit less money.

 

[IXLR8]

As someone who went directly down the slippery slope from CK20 to DK40se, I may be a bit biased.

The reason I did not seriously consider going from CK20 to CK30/35 is that the increase in loader capacity was not much at all.

Yes but my present loader capacity is about 55 lbs.... about all this old back can handle nowadays!! So ANY increase over that is good. I have a lead on a CK30HST that came from a dealer that went out of business, reportedly available at a good price. IF I can get enough done on the 'Honey DO' list and SWMBO gives me the go ahead... I am going to go look at it tomorrow. Although she has already said that I can't take the check book with me.
Hmmm.. I believe I 'neglected' to tell her that Kioti does have no down financing available.

 

[IslandTractor]

Yes but my present loader capacity is about 55 lbs.... about all this old back can handle nowadays!! So ANY increase over that is good. I have a lead on a CK30HST that came from a dealer that went out of business, reportedly available at a good price. IF I can get enough done on the 'Honey DO' list and SWMBO gives me the go ahead... I am going to go look at it tomorrow. Although she has already said that I can't take the check book with me.
Hmmm.. I believe I 'neglected' to tell her that Kioti does have no down financing available.

I wasn't trying to knock the CK30, just pointing out that the CK20 is almost as capable in the loader department. If you get a good deal on a CK30HST that would be a great tractor. I presume that the loader is the old type, the KL130, not the KL130B, if the dealer has had it sitting around for a while. You might want to catch up on the status of the infamous "loader cracking" threads before you buy as Kioti still has not released a fix for that loader. I'm starting to wonder if they ever will. Best of all worlds would be to get the CK30 without a loader and then add a Woods loader or the KL130B.

 

[IXLR8]

wasn't trying to knock the CK30, just pointing out that the CK20 is almost as capable in the loader department.

IT- I didn't think you were dissing the CK30, I was just pointing out that anything would be better than what I had. I did think seriously about the CK20, but there were a few niceties that I wanted to have that the CK20 didn't have so I am looking in the CK25-35 series. I suspect that the 20 would do most all that I need to do.

If you get a good deal on a CK30HST that would be a great tractor. I presume that the loader is the old type, the KL130, not the KL130B, if the dealer has had it sitting around for a while. You might want to catch up on the status of the infamous "loader cracking" threads before you buy as Kioti still has not released a fix for that loader. I'm starting to wonder if they ever will. Best of all worlds would be to get the CK30 without a loader and then add a Woods loader or the KL130B.

OOHHHH I didn't realize that the KL130's had the same cracking issue as the KL120's... will check that out... thank you for the heads-up.

 

[IslandTractor]

OOHHHH I didn't realize that the KL130's had the same cracking issue as the KL120's... will check that out... thank you for the heads-up.

Actually, the KL120 problem is pretty much solved...there is a kit. The KL130 came in so many slightly different varients that Kioti has not been able to roll out the repair program yet. It is now 18 months since they started to work on the problem now so it's anyone's guess whether they will ever fix it.

 

[oldernwiser]

Yes but my present loader capacity is about 55 lbs.... about all this old back can handle nowadays!! So ANY increase over that is good. I have a lead on a CK30HST that came from a dealer that went out of business, reportedly available at a good price. IF I can get enough done on the 'Honey DO' list and SWMBO gives me the go ahead... I am going to go look at it tomorrow. Although she has already said that I can't take the check book with me.
Hmmm.. I believe I 'neglected' to tell her that Kioti does have no down financing available.

Jim ... if you pass on the CK30, let me know. I am interested in upgrading from my CK20.

Thanks ... John

 

[IslandTractor]

Jim ... if you pass on the CK30, let me know. I am interested in upgrading from my CK20.

Thanks ... John

There's a potential "kill two birds with one stone" solution. Oldernwiser makes a good deal on a CK20 to IXLR8 and then goes off to buy a DK40se. Everyone's happy as the CK20 loader fix kit is available and probably already installed.

 

[IXLR8]

There's a potential "kill two birds with one stone" solution. Oldernwiser makes a good deal on a CK20 to IXLR8 and then goes off to buy a DK40se. Everyone's happy as the CK20 loader fix kit is available and probably already installed.

I did actually think of that. But after looking at the cracking pictures on the KL130, knowing what the KL120 fix is... I think it is a bandaid, not a fix. Calling dealer now to see just what loader is on this tractor.

 

[IslandTractor]

I did actually think of that. But after looking at the cracking pictures on the KL130, knowing what the KL120 fix is... I think it is a bandaid, not a fix. Calling dealer now to see just what loader is on this tractor.

In some ways you are correct about the "bandaid" but to be fair, there are absolutely no reports of actual loader failure, just the cracking. The "bandaid" does not repair the cracks but it does redistribute the load and reinforces the torque tube so that additional cracking or progression is unlikely. Again, the key point is that with all the reports on TBN (mine included) there was no loader failure. I used mine aggressively for over 100hrs after the cracking was first identified.

A used CK20 is a great tractor.

 

[davitk]

I need to be very careful of that 'slippery slope', the uphill kind.

Let me tell you about that "slippery slope".....

This is a story about the other orange, but still applicable. Started 3 years ago looking at a used BX for 9,000.00. Waited patiently. Two months ago looked at another used BX2350 for 11,000.00. Considered new for 13,000.00. Re-examined my needs, looked at new B7800 for 15,400.00. Then a B3030 for 17,200.00. Then a L3400 for the same money. Thursday I ordered a L3240 for 19,800.00.

Took me three years, but managed to spend 2X as much as I had planned. At least I didn't lose money trading up. Yet.

 

[IXLR8]

I did actually think of that. But after looking at the cracking pictures on the KL130, knowing what the KL120 fix is... I think it is a bandaid, not a fix. Calling dealer now to see just what loader is on this tractor.

Well... the tractor I was told about was a HST and was sold by one of their other shops. All the CK's they have now have the KL130B loader on them. The least expensive CK30 they have is a CK30 gear w/FEL w/Backhoe for a bit under $23K, the original list was $24.6K, that is out of my price range. Going to look at a CK25 gear at another place and see what kind of price they have for that.

 

[IslandTractor]

The least expensive CK30 they have is a CK30 gear w/FEL w/Backhoe for a bit under $23K, the original list was $24.6K, that is out of my price range. .

I think that price is high. A CK20HST TLB can be had for just over 18K. The CK30 would obviously be more but shouldn't be more than about $3k extra I'd think. (I haven't checked recently but the CK30 used to be about that much more and a larger BH is not usually a lot extra than the one for the CK20). Those comparisons are for the HST version so the gear TLB should be less.

 

[Oleozz]

I found that the DK45se was a MONSTER! It is way bigger than I thought it was and felt that I really would loose out in maneuverability in a few areas around my farm. Chances are that it is too big for me. At about 50 hours per year, I'm not looking to get things done quicker!. I think the loader specs are

.

It does feel like a monster until you get on a big tractor than it almost feels small. I find mine quite manuverable, hasn't failed me yet on anything I've wanted to use it for and that includes plowing snow, ground, disc work, mowing, loader work, spraying, etc.

 

[IXLR8]

I think that price is high. A CK20HST TLB can be had for just over 18K. The CK30 would obviously be more but shouldn't be more than about $3k extra I'd think. (I haven't checked recently but the CK30 used to be about that much more and a larger BH is not usually a lot extra than the one for the CK20). Those comparisons are for the HST version so the gear TLB should be less.

Hmmm... I have made a few phone calls, what do you think about $19,000 for CK25, gear, 130B loader, 7.5ft BH?

 

[gravel13]

I think that is a very good deal. I bought a CK25 gear with KL130 and KB2375 new Nov. 2005 for around $19,200 delivered after tax. Yours would be a couple years newer with the new loader for 19K. Seems like a good deal. Which backhoe is the curved boom or the KB2375?

 

[art]

Jim, wait till spring, the other orange guys will have the new three range transmissions out which will far out perform any two range.

 

[IslandTractor]

Jim, wait till spring, the other orange guys will have the new three range transmissions out which will far out perform any two range.

If I am not mistaken, the CK25/30 already have three range transmissions. The CK20 is two range though and I agree it could use a three range transmission.

The Kubota B series (excepting the 2630 and 3030) is in serious need of updating just to catch up with Kioti's CK range. Position control, suspension seat, telescopic lower link and stabilizers are all features missing on the B's. It would be trivial for Kubota to add those but for marketing reasons (eg their desire to sell the pricier 2630, 3030 etc) they don't.

 

[IslandTractor]

Hmmm... I have made a few phone calls, what do you think about $19,000 for CK25, gear, 130B loader, 7.5ft BH?

Very good deal.