New member with CK20S on the way

[jlsanborn]

Well, I finally ditched the ol' 8N and await delivery of my new CK20S gear with FEL tomorrow afternoon. I've researched a TON, but still want to know more. Maybe some of you you owners can help me out?

How's the clutch going to hold up with extensive FEL usage? Do I need to baby the thing or can I work hard with it?

I know Kioti addressed loader structural strength issues with the FEL, but what is the next weakest link with the new KL120?

I recall reading a post where a guy welded chain hooks to his bucket. The top portion is boxed out of thin material. What's the trick way to make something stout? How is the bucket goint to hold up? It seems a little light weight to me. Are there areas that need beefed up?

What should I be looking for in the first hours of use? What bolts come loose, what adjustments need made, etc...?

How good is the service manual? Should I get one now or wait until I need one? I'm a pretty handy guy and have rebuilt a bunch of engines and a few transmissions. I've got a shop and plenty of tools / fab gear.

Is it worthwhile to add ballast to the rears? I'll be packin a blade or box scraper all the time, but what I got seems pretty light.

I know the "S" version has had cold start issues, but all the posts I read were pretty old. Is this still an issue with the 2009 model? What's the consensus on oil pan heaters vs. coolant heaters? I'd lean towards the coolant heater.

I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read this over and offeres any input!

John

 

[Mousefield]

Welcome and congratulations on moving up to your new CK20. I have the CK35, now 2 years old and have found it to be a great well built tractor. Suggest you learn how to use it safely the first couple of hours as it will handle differently from your 8N and of course have somewhat different controls. Enjoy you seat time and be safe.

 

[Dano5509]

Did you pick it up at Specialty tractor or the dealer up in Chewelah? I live in Colbert just north of Spokane and am looking hard at a CK30HST when we get our property.

How was your experience with the dealer you chose?

 

[jlsanborn]

Safety was a primary reason for getting a new tractor (according to my wife). I have a sloped piece of land and have had far more than one life / death experiences on the 8N with oil soaked brakes (I only hit the wife's car once and there was minimal damage!). I appreciate the heads-up, but I can tell you that I've done more off-camber wheelies than any man should ever do. A back blade also serves as a wheelie bar. Keep a full bucket low to the ground. A FEL also functions as an emergency brake.

I'm getting my tractor from Specialty. Steve showed me around on a Saturday and was awesome. He let us drive all their tractors around and has a pile of dirt in the back if you want to dig a little. He really seemed honest and was not trying to blow smoke up my rear. I had done a ton of research and was ready to call B.S. but he never even tried. I think he knows that Kioti is the best deal going in our area and therefore just lets the tractor speak for itself. I never even contacted the Chewelah dealer because I already knew what I wanted and Specialty was right down the road (sorta). I looked at the Branson and Mahindra on Trent and could tell from several steps back that they were not built like the Kioti. Just look at the FEL, the hydraulic plumbing and the overall quality of the little bits and pieces. Open the fuel tank cover on the Branson. It's cheesier than the cheapest toy you find at the Wal-Mart! I have not completed the transaction, but so far they have been terrific. I have one other contact who's purchased from them and they had nothing but good to say. The price was right-on too. I compared them nationally and they are on par. I'm certain that I'll be happy with the whole deal, but I'll report here when it's said and done.

 

[jlsanborn]

Only pay 6% tax in Idaho too.

 

[Dano5509]

Thanks for the info on Specialty.. I liked the guys at Cascade Tractor but they do seem to push those Branson's pretty hard. The Mahindra 2816's with the Woods loaders look nice but I just keep going back to Kioti. Visited with Adams Tractor yesterday and they were super friendly and helpful. Looked at the B series 2920s, a 3200 and I was shown the B3300 which looked good. I just don't like the reports of vibration on the 4 cylinders, jerky three point hitch and the fact that the B2920 weighs 1500+ pounds vs 3100+ with the Kioti CK30. The CK is just a lot more tractor. If I remember correctly, your CK20 loader should lift 1000 pounds which is amazing....

Glad to hear the guys at Specialty are so good to work with. Once we get closed on our place, I will be headed out there! Looking forward to seeing pics of your CK20. I have looked at several Youtube videos of the 20 in action and it looks like a little workhorse.

 

[Dano5509]

Our 8.7% tax hits pretty hard.... Worth the trip to Idaho.:thumbsup:

 

[jlsanborn]

I looked at them all, but after driving the Kioti then going back to Cascade I was sold. Look close at the build quality and size of components.
In my frame size, Kubota just didn't have an equal. I want a little tractor, not a big lawn mower.
Have you looked at Bobcat? I never did, but they are Kioti twins (same factory, same machine). Their online "build your tractor" list price seemed high and I would expect that with the brand name. It might be worth looking though. I drive by the dealer every day on the way to work but never stopped.

 

[Josh61513]

With sloped property I think loading your rear tires would be a great idea. It lowers your center of gravity, making the tractor more stable. If I didn't finish mow with mine I would certainly load them up.

The cold start problem has been fixed on the CK20S. They moved the position of the glow plugs in the head. I've started mine down around 15'F and it started quickly, but it does spit and sputter for 30 seconds or so.

If you want to add hooks to your bucket I'd recommend contacting Michigan Iron & Equipment - 517-625-4590. They manufacture steel gussets (a web) that you weld inside of your bucket to carry the load from the hooks directly to where the loader frame attaches so you don't bend your bucket.

Although I will say, now that I have pallet forks I haven't used the hooks since.

Check the loader frame bolts at the 50 hr. service. The service manual is good, doesn't have broken english like the owners manual does.

Enjoy! I've put 130 hrs. on mine in the last year. Probably 30-40 hours finish mowing, and most of the rest using the FEL. No problems to report with the tractor/FEL, my only issues have been with attachments.

 

[jlsanborn]

It looks like the hooks are bolted through the boxed section. The gussets make sense, but how do you tighten the bolts without squashing the top of the bucket?