biodtl
New member
After using a borrowed DK35SE for about a year and a half, the owner will finally be able to take the tractor back this spring. When I got the heads up he would be taking it back, I had to go searching for another tractor. I was living in the Cleveland area when I first received the DK35SE but have since purchased 75 acres in southern Indiana. The closest dealers to me now are Massey Ferguson and Kubota, with John Deere and TYM not much further. The Kubota's where nice, and I liked the MX5100, but it was going to run me $29k or so. The biggest turn off with the Kubota was the HST/brake pedal setup. Driving that around I kept fumbling with my feet on that HST rocker pedal. Having the brake on the same side as that pedal was also a problem for me. I worked with the Massey dealer for a long time trying to find a current model that would fit my needs. Unfortunately, he could no longer get any of the Tier III tractor's I was interested in. The closest he could get to something in the DK35SE weight/range would cost me around $30k, and still not match the weight and features of the Kioti DK. A 1648 (tier III) would have done the trick, and that was my target machine when I walked in the door. Even though it would have been a bit more than Kioti, I would have preferred the very local dealer for service. I did not go look at the Deere's. I considered TYM for a short while, but was not comfortable with the dealer. They looked like nice machines when I saw them at the machinery show in Louisville though.
So that brought me back to Kioti. I got very comfortable on the DK35 over the past year or so and knew what I would be getting into if I looked at another one. I didn't even have to drive them to know I would like it! I did want a bit more HP than the DK35 and since it is not offered anymore I was at least into the DK40. I have a good amount of hills, 75% of my property is wooded, and did not want to be needing more power. The DK35 certainly seemed to handle everything I have done with it. I knew I wanted as much power as I could afford though, and the differences between the DK40,45 and 50 in price were all within about $2000. So I sprung for the DK50SE. The closest dealers are 60-100 miles away. There are 5 of them in that range and I called them all to get a feel for servicing/delivery at that distance. In fact, the Massey dealer knew what I had and what I wanted and recommended I call one the the Kioti dealer's that he knew and had dealt with. With that recommendation and a few real comfortable conversations with that dealer, I was on my way to an order. He only had a gear-drive DK50SE on the lot, so I had him order me an HST model. About 2 weeks later, it pulled into my drive!
The only option beyond the "free loader" I went for was the second set of rear remotes. The second set was a no brainer since I would like to get top and tilt hydraulics at some point and potentially an add-on bucket grapple or full grapple. I opted for R1 Ag tires instead of the R4s I had been using on the DK35. I've had some trouble with the R4 traction in the mud, on wet hills, in snow, etc. I thought the trade-off in capacity and durability was worth it for the increased traction. I won't be using it for finish-mowing and am not concerned about the potential for more yard damage, so it made sense. I also purchased a 6ft box blade from the dealer than came delivered with the tractor. It is a Taylor Pittsburgh 233-BB-G that weighs about 500lbs. Looks to be of pretty good quality. I have 3 of Ken's bolt on grab hooks sitting here ready to put on as soon as I get some decent enough drill bits. I also plan to order a tooth bar this week as soon as I make up my mind which one. I am leaning towards the Piranha at this point. I am also considering Pat's easy change quick hitch. The other implements I already own are a 7ft Land Pride rear blade and a 6ft Bush Hog Squealer. I also have a set of Titan clamp on pallet forks.
It was delivered with 1 hour on it on Friday. I have 5 hours on it now after tilling a new garden plot and grading the driveway. That was my first experience with a box blade and I think I did pretty well considering. I had lots of wash-out from heavy rains and I was able to flatten out the drive and fill everything in nicely. I can see where a top and tilt setup would have made that a lot easier though, I was on and off adjusting the angle of that blade a dozen times. It was definitely a better tool for the job than the 7ft land pride rear scraper blade I had been using. I may make use of both next time around, using the rear blade to bring gravel back on to the drive first, then using the box to flatten and fill. I couldn't really bring the gravel back on very well with the box blade.
My original intro post to the forum is below:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/255634-new-member-cleveland-area-kioti.html
So that brought me back to Kioti. I got very comfortable on the DK35 over the past year or so and knew what I would be getting into if I looked at another one. I didn't even have to drive them to know I would like it! I did want a bit more HP than the DK35 and since it is not offered anymore I was at least into the DK40. I have a good amount of hills, 75% of my property is wooded, and did not want to be needing more power. The DK35 certainly seemed to handle everything I have done with it. I knew I wanted as much power as I could afford though, and the differences between the DK40,45 and 50 in price were all within about $2000. So I sprung for the DK50SE. The closest dealers are 60-100 miles away. There are 5 of them in that range and I called them all to get a feel for servicing/delivery at that distance. In fact, the Massey dealer knew what I had and what I wanted and recommended I call one the the Kioti dealer's that he knew and had dealt with. With that recommendation and a few real comfortable conversations with that dealer, I was on my way to an order. He only had a gear-drive DK50SE on the lot, so I had him order me an HST model. About 2 weeks later, it pulled into my drive!
The only option beyond the "free loader" I went for was the second set of rear remotes. The second set was a no brainer since I would like to get top and tilt hydraulics at some point and potentially an add-on bucket grapple or full grapple. I opted for R1 Ag tires instead of the R4s I had been using on the DK35. I've had some trouble with the R4 traction in the mud, on wet hills, in snow, etc. I thought the trade-off in capacity and durability was worth it for the increased traction. I won't be using it for finish-mowing and am not concerned about the potential for more yard damage, so it made sense. I also purchased a 6ft box blade from the dealer than came delivered with the tractor. It is a Taylor Pittsburgh 233-BB-G that weighs about 500lbs. Looks to be of pretty good quality. I have 3 of Ken's bolt on grab hooks sitting here ready to put on as soon as I get some decent enough drill bits. I also plan to order a tooth bar this week as soon as I make up my mind which one. I am leaning towards the Piranha at this point. I am also considering Pat's easy change quick hitch. The other implements I already own are a 7ft Land Pride rear blade and a 6ft Bush Hog Squealer. I also have a set of Titan clamp on pallet forks.
It was delivered with 1 hour on it on Friday. I have 5 hours on it now after tilling a new garden plot and grading the driveway. That was my first experience with a box blade and I think I did pretty well considering. I had lots of wash-out from heavy rains and I was able to flatten out the drive and fill everything in nicely. I can see where a top and tilt setup would have made that a lot easier though, I was on and off adjusting the angle of that blade a dozen times. It was definitely a better tool for the job than the 7ft land pride rear scraper blade I had been using. I may make use of both next time around, using the rear blade to bring gravel back on to the drive first, then using the box to flatten and fill. I couldn't really bring the gravel back on very well with the box blade.
My original intro post to the forum is below:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kioti-owning-operating/255634-new-member-cleveland-area-kioti.html
