iMatch vs quick hitch

[rush389]

I am looking at 3 tractors for some gravel driveway maintenance, light bush hogging, and loader work:

CK2610
L2501
3025E

I expect to switch between the box blade and bush hog frequently. Is the JD iMatch that much better than a standard quick hitch you could get on the Kubota or Kioti?

 

[chevy]

I have only used iMatch.
iMatch is just another brand of quick hitch. It depends on the brand of the quick hitches from Kubota or Kioti. As long as they are not the cheep made in China versions, any of them would be fine.

 

[dusty3030]

I've got an older Imatch (before the adjustable top hook) and a Harbor Freight one.

I haven't broken either using them on 45 plus / minus HP tractors. They both work fine and in my case the Harbor Freight one is a little more versatile since it has the adjustable top hook. A moot point for you since the John Deere one has that now where older one doesn't.

 

[rush389]

Ok, maybe I can ask a more general question - is there a specific advantage to the Deere product here over the other two listed alternatives? I am aware of JD's reputation, resale, and expectation that parts will be available for a *long* time, but does the 3025E have any specific features that give it an edge over its competitors?

 

[Jonker87]

I just looked at the 3025E and it actually lacks a lot of features that the Kioti comes with. I think with that model the reason they are selling is because the green paint has a good reputation.

 

[rush389]

I just looked at the 3025E and it actually lacks a lot of features that the Kioti comes with. I think with that model the reason they are selling is because the green paint has a good reputation.

Thanks for the comment.

Are we all pretty confident Kioti is here to stay? It looks to me like they are. I probably sound stupid because I say it like "coyote" but maybe it's "keeyotee." Who knows.

 

[dusty3030]

Coyote.

And yes I'd say they are here to stay.

 

[chevy]

Thanks for the comment.

Are we all pretty confident Kioti is here to stay? It looks to me like they are.

I had the same concerns a year ago when I purchased my first Kioti. I had owned nothing but John Deere for twenty years. I discovered through research that I did not have anything to worry about. The better specs on the Kioti made the choice easy.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The trouble with the quick hitches is more about having or getting implements that don't fit. With Deere, it's a given that their hitch will fit their line of specified implements.

I bought a really junky hitch at a Richie auction, cheap, had to widen it to fit my Harley Rake, but have not managed to destroy it, despite it's light construction. It's CAT II and already heavy enough to move by hand.

IMO, the quick hitch is the best thing that ever happened to the horrible cumbersome (Really needs 3 people) 3PH!

 

[KennyG]

I have only used iMatch.
iMatch is just another brand of quick hitch. It depends on the brand of the quick hitches from Kubota or Kioti. As long as they are not the cheep made in China versions, any of them would be fine.

Actually, there's not a lot wrong with the cheap ones. Other than potentially doing a little grinding to make the fit a little smoother, they are very generic. I don't recall ever hearing of a QH that didn't work or broke.

 

[LouNY]

IMO, the quick hitch is the best thing that ever happened to the horrible cumbersome (Really needs 3 people) 3PH!

I much prefer the Euro hook and ball over the conventional quick hitches,
very forgiving on implement widths and heights.

 

[rademamj1]

Quick hitchs are fantastic. However, after using quick hitches for 3 years now, the only negative i see is grading seriously uneven ground with a box blade, it can pop off the QH. Then you got to backup an remount the box blade again. Once you get the road or ground fairly even or flat, it stays on the QH very well.

I use QH for:
Bush Hog rotary cutter
Woods Box Blade
Landscape rake
Woodmax wood chipper
Stump grinder
Spreader

I still use 3pt connections for Post Hole digging

 

[Industrial Toys]

How can the lower pins leave the hooks with the latches engaged?

YES, if I had to use a variety of implements a PATS or similar is certainly a compromise. But if you have a few implements and they fit or are made to fit your quick hitch, how is that not almost perfect?

Thetop link is often as difficult as the lower points. Sometimes worse if you have a hyd top link. You operate it half a dozen times always too long or short, and sometimes getting jammed up. No such hassle with the quick hitch.

 

[ptsg]

Thanks for the comment.

Are we all pretty confident Kioti is here to stay? It looks to me like they are. I probably sound stupid because I say it like "coyote" but maybe it's "keeyotee." Who knows.

To give a perspective from another country, where Kioti is still a small but growing brand, Kioti and Ascendum (importer for Kioti here) made the decision this month of bumping the warranty from 2 years to 5 years.

They are doing very well over here and are constantly taking the the lead on tractors sold per trimester between 25 and 50HP. Defeating brands like Kubota, Landini, Deutz-Fahr, New Holland and LS (which is also doing very well).

The owners are happy with the tractors and the support from the dealers. And I have to say, the compact tractors over here are used hard in land clearing with heavy duty bush hogs and in ground engagements tasks. As well as dairy farms.

So I say: Yes they are here to stay.

 

[rush389]

To give a perspective from another country, where Kioti is still a small but growing brand, Kioti and Ascendum (importer for Kioti here) made the decision this month of bumping the warranty from 2 years to 5 years.

They are doing very well over here and are constantly taking the the lead on tractors sold per trimester between 25 and 50HP. Defeating brands like Kubota, Landini, Deutz-Fahr, New Holland and LS (which is also doing very well).

The owners are happy with the tractors and the support from the dealers. And I have to say, the compact tractors over here are used hard in land clearing with heavy duty bush hogs and in ground engagements tasks. As well as dairy farms.

So I say: Yes they are here to stay.

Thank you. If the L2501 or 3025E have an advantage over the CK2610, I don't know what that advantage is. Some of the other brands (LS, Yanmar, TYM, Branson) seem to have less market penetration but also have a lot of happy owners. The Kioti seems like the best of both worlds - more tractor for the money, like the smaller brands, but also with enough of a track record to feel confident about the tractor over the long haul

 

[the old grind]

Among the three considered, buy the Kioti* and see how well a decent 30hp tractor can work while falling into the sub-25hp category. Market penetration and happy ownership are diluted by model selection and you haven't mentioned a brand that won't be around for a long time. * There's like ONE tractor that compares to CK2610, a Mitsubishi. (btw, 2-range HST must die!! My 26hp Case/IH might as well be 18hp)

I use Pat's when extendable links aren't an option. The 'Euro' front QA is ~OK, but the 3PH stuff is rather attractive. My HFT QA languishes because I can't park enough attachments in an attitude where I can just back up to 'em, raise the 'position', and drive off. PTO shaft gets 'inspected' every time I connect or put one away.

I have 2 ea top links and drive shafts of different lengths, as whichever implement goes on which tractor for the day varies just enough to. (flail, tiller, disc, LR, blade ..)

btw, I added a crank-gear leveling box to one tractor, but when there are 3 holes at the bottom of one side I level up to the middle one and just use the others vs count turns of the handle for a quick tilt and return. Happens a lot when grading. I'll be 70 in two days and won't get either knee or the hip replaced this year either from the looks of things, but hooking up implements isn't beyond me yet.

Get the right tractor and the rest will be easy. You have three choices so far and only the E on one of them scares me.

 

[TractorGuy]

Meh!

I have a cheap made in China (I assume) quick hitch from Agri Supply. It came with the extended top hook you hear of people adding to the HF unit. Been in use for 5 or 6 years with no problems.

BTW I think the imatch has the same flush top hook you see on the HF unit.

 

[FTG-05]

Meh!

I have a cheap made in China (I assume) quick hitch from Agri Supply. It came with the extended top hook you hear of people adding to the HF unit. Been in use for 5 or 6 years with no problems.

BTW I think the imatch has the same flush top hook you see on the HF unit.

I have the same from Agri Supply. I've never had any problem hooking up any implement. I love my QH!

 

[BRMyers]

I have a Land Pride QH15. It has been wonderful. My dad has been so impressed by how easy it has made for me to switch from mower to box blade to subsoiler and back to whatever I would like. The hardest part is the rotary mower and the PTO hook up. Beyond that, everything else is extremely easy. Plus, I have hooked up to the old Massey Ferguson disc we have and even it fit the QH just fine. I was surprised, dad was wondering if it fit the QH, I told him I doubt it, but backed right up, hooked right up, and harrowed about 100 yard area along a field ditch we had been working on.

I'm a firm believer in the QH (the model is up to you, I would just recommend getting one with an adjustable top hook).

 

[rush389]

Ok, thanks everyone. Sounds like the tractor is going to be orange, that's what my kids wanted anyway!