Debating on 2620 cab or a zero turn

[MesaAZguy]

The deal is done on the 2620. I have 6 acres total divided into two lots. Both are fairly flat with a few trees. Grass is nothing special appearance wise. HOA is not controlled by Karen’s since we live in a 12 house community. HOA is there for a shared well membership.
Tractor has much work to do moving dirt, pulling deep rooted woody shrubs and small saplings.
Cab was my requirement for comfort. Cutting grass at fast speeds was not on my criteria. I actually enjoy yardwork!
I was given the green light by the boss for one or the other. I know both are fun to use but the tractor will be more versatile even if it’s slower like me

 

[MesaAZguy]

My new toy arrived today. I ordered it with a forklift attachment and a stump bucket. Working on installing a new stereo and subwoofer. Heat works amazing in the 11º cold!

 

[Kioti Sal]

Very nice!
You're gonna love that thing!

 

[MesaAZguy]

Thank you! I've already removed the roof to get some wiring in for a subwoofer. yeah, I know, its a tractor... I still enjoy a good sounding music while I work. I'm not one to put earbuds in or use headphones. Just my odd personality regarding things in my ears. So far it's coming out nice and factory like. Ran out of supplies and wife wanted to go out for lunch so my day got cut short

 

[jyoutz]

The mid-PTO is an option, but at least when I purchased my CK2610, the only available option for it was the front-mounted snowblower. Oddly enough, Bobcat makes a mid-mount mower for their CK clone, and I've always wondered how easy it would be to adapt it to a Kioti.

If I had the mid-PTO I might have looked into it, but since I don't it'll just be thought.

OP, congratulations on the new CK2620; don't let the two week wait get you down, lol, it'll go by before you know it. No, that's a lie, it's going to feel like forever- but it's worth it.

Do you know which loader it's coming with? KL4030 or KL4030C?

I kick myself for not getting the backhoe too; I didn't need it, and it's expensive- but it would never have been cheaper than to have it included from the start.

You did well by not getting a mid mount mower. On a tractor I hate them. Attaching and detaching every time you want to do real tractor work is a chore and if you mow dry grass the mid mount will throw chaff into your radiator and cause overheating.

 

[MesaAZguy]

I would not have thought of using a mid mount mower but the mid PTO for a future snow thrower would be intriguing. That said, I hear it's a pain in the ass to get the snow thrower mounted and removed. If we get more snow I may look into one of those reverse units.

 

[tacticalturnip]

You did well by not getting a mid mount mower. On a tractor I hate them. Attaching and detaching every time you want to do real tractor work is a chore and if you mow dry grass the mid mount will throw chaff into your radiator and cause overheating.

You're absolutely right, it was a pain even with my old Deere SCUT; there is just part of me that wants to enjoy a ridiculously large lawn tractor. It's almost opulent if it wasn't so ridiculous.

It would be fun, if I had more money than sense.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I would not have thought of using a mid mount mower but the mid PTO for a future snow thrower would be intriguing. That said, I hear it's a pain in the ass to get the snow thrower mounted and removed. If we get more snow I may look into one of those reverse units.

I'm under the impression the CK front-mount blower is indeed a pain to install and remove, that may have even come from my dealer.

 

[KennyG]

I see no one has responded about removing small trees and bushes. First thing to try is a chain and tire. You can also make a tripod - anything to allow to pull and turn it into a vertical pull. Fasten to the drawbar to keep the pulling point as low as possible. You can pull small stuff with the bucket but pulling anything significant will probably end up bending something unless you are very careful.

I'm guessing those who complain about mid mount mowers haven't had a good drive over deck. Mine goes on and off as quickly as a rear finish mower would without a quick hitch.

 

[KennyG]

Also, I don't know how much snow you get but I find a front blade is better than a blower. I adapted a used ATV blade to my tractor, so I only have a few hundred $$ in it.

 

[jyoutz]

Also, I don't know how much snow you get but I find a front blade is better than a blower. I adapted a used ATV blade to my tractor, so I only have a few hundred $$ in it.

A front blade is great for plowing snow on pavement. For gravel a reversed rear blade is the best solution.

 

[Kioti Sal]

My setup is a KS66 blower and a back blade.
This is only my 2nd winter with this rig and I really didn't need the blower last year. My area used to get around 115" a year. We have been well below that the last couple of years. But we do occasionally get walloped. This year has much more snow then last, I think we are currently at 50 inches or so.

My experience so far is that a front blower of this size isn't really needed below 8 inches. It works fine, but its overkill unless you get ALOT of snow. Most of my use has been back blading snow to the end of the driveway, then turning around and blowing the pile. Something I could easily do with the bucket.

I do have snow fences setup for the length of the driveways I plow as the wind is really bad here. Without those, I would likely need the blower more.

My primary snow removal is the back blade. I have gravel, so I keep the feet down all the way so that the blade is up about 2 inches. This seems to work well unless the ground is really soft, but then its still not awful. I then drag the back blade behind me in the normal gravel/dirt position and when I get to the end; I lift, pull forward, drop, and push back the pile into the lawn. A lot of guys use the back blade 'backwards' as it doesn't mess up the lawn/gravel when driving forward. But since I don't have a bucket (cause the snowblower is mounted) I found backing into the pile at the end of the driveway with the blade backwards was messing up my gravel and lawn.
Another thing I like about the blade facing the regular way is I can really scrap down heavy blown-in snow. But as said above, i am really still learning to 'use' my new equipment. Winter has changed and I previously had a plow truck.

But anyway, to the blower.

If you use dollies, I dont think the front blower isn't too difficult to unhook or attach. I have a pole barn with concrete I work on cars in, so having the blower mobile when it isn't being used was important to me. What I found best was two sets of furniture dollies. Two larger ones for the blower and two small ones for the frame.

For the blower, I place the outside edge of the dollies on the edges of the snow blower, just inside the shoes, and then slide a 1x4 on the back of the dollies under the square box portions of the blower unit (just in front of the round support tubes). I do not use the retractable foot. I find this is balanced really well and i can move the unit around with ease. This thing weighs like 700 pounds, you ain't moving it with our wheel or equipment.

Then I slide the two smaller dollies under the frame/cradle. Remove the rear shaft, then use one of those smaller jacks to lift the front by the 'hump', pull the pins and lower onto the dolly. Then, use the jack on the side of the cradle to take the weight off the pins and drop down to the dolly.

You don't need to use the dollies for the cradle, but I find its easier to get the jack under there if you do. I think it takes maybe 10 mins to hook up if the loader is already off. I am still young and strong enough to do this without the dollies under the cradle, but I try to work smarter, not harder.

Hopefully something above is useful.

 

[MesaAZguy]

Thank you, that is very useful information. Having moved from the desert to MO, tractor operations there were/will be different with the need to learn snow removal/relocation.