ok Kioti buffs sell me

Western · Apr 22, 2006

I just looked at my first one and had been under the impression they where Gray market in the past. I have since been reformed.

Scenerio- 15+ acres 7/8 wooded (for now) 2100' gravel drive 4degree incline/decline crosses creek, shredding, small stumps ( more to come) some discing to level rough spots, and occasional field trips to commercial jobs where drilling holes in ashpalt will be the order for the day the rest of the time it will live in a shed where the old tractor (horse) should be, and me probably when the "boss" finds out how much this toy cost.

Consideration- 1. DK35 2 quotes 1 Listed as new w/ 30hrs????
$17264 2nd just made $18,000 both w/fel

2.Montana, wondering now but if ya know something please add it, 3040, or 4540 in mind

3.Branson 3510i w/fel $17350 ( dont like the headlight placement, was told you need 6' attachments to cover tire width???)

I was generally looking for 30hp class, I have had a JD 950 and Case 2390 150hp but was" back in the day" so if I have missed any good prospects or you own/sell Kioti ,good or bad please pipe in, thx

ToadHill · Apr 22, 2006

I don't know about the Montana, last year when I was in the market we had no dealer in the area. I looked at the Branson, New Holland, Cub, Deere, and Kioti. Liked the Kioti best and bought it in August. Mine is a DK35 and it cost $16,800 new with FEL. Same tractor this year is going for $18,700, so the new price is very good, and I'd see if I could get the used price down anouther $1000. The only problems I've had with mine have been very monro and it has done all the work I've needed it to do.

I now have 115 hours on mine and I've used it to bush hog, plow & disk fields, haul logs from the woods, plow and blow snow, and more FEL work than I care to remember.

The only thing I found is that with loaded tires, I make some awful ruts in some of my wet fields, so in the spring I use my old 8N since it's a lot lighter.

Western · Apr 22, 2006

Thanks for the response Toadhill, I just test drove the DK35 and the Branson 3820i both 05 models w/fel, same dealer.

The Kioti had better/smoother steering response, better seat and was more adjustable for operator leg lenght (adjustable back piece) nice layout, extra hyd. remote in rear, good speed on fel. the Hyd pump is almost 5 gpms higher than branson head lights mounted high where they should be.

3820i seat a tad short, excellent finish w/paint and metal, like the quick disconnect bucket, better light layout in rear. I liked the foot throttle location better. like the engine .

Dealer said the Branson was not designed with a loader in mind, as much as rear implements, which is appearant by the low location of headlamps and the smaller gpm pump. and the added weight for dragging, it is roughly 800lbs more. Yhe pump differance I felt right off the bat in driving response while turning. plus the the width of the tractor requires a 6' implement to "cut the wheels" cause its a wider machine, Big plus is the motor is a family member cummins diesel. over all I think it was a prettier tractor, (Branson)

CK35 is deadong and I know nothing about it or parts finding so a little leary right now.

Dealer said that the Kioti was the "cadillac" and Branson was the "workhorse" and they read the hr meter wrong it has 3.6 hrs so she's new.

DK35 $17764 w/fel, 3820i $17600 w/fel
Any thoughts or new ideas/opinions/ please point them out.

Dealer, superb customer relations, stayed after close on Sat. 2 hrs to help me. Smittys Equipment, Weatherford,TX That is the Owner and crew, was impressed.

AutoUnionTypeC · Apr 22, 2006

( CK35 is deadong and I know nothing about it or parts finding so a little leary right now.)

Daedong is a Korean firm that markets its tractors here in North America as Kioti. They are also one of the few makes that manufacture all the components on most of its tractor line, they and Kubota, which does indeed make everything in their line. Up to sixty hp Daedong use their own engines, after that they seem to be using Perkins engines. Daedong engines are very well regarded, well enough to be featured on other tractor makes such as Mahindra and Montana. Finding parts will not be an issue.

Regards, Jamie

Western · Apr 22, 2006

Thanks for the reply, I looked for more references on here about daedong and didnt really find any.."yahoo" reviews or negitive for that matter. It would seem then that less outsourcing could be better hold on parts line?? thanks agian
any thoughts on the 2 machines?

KiotiJohn · Apr 23, 2006

Just so you know, Daedong made their first water-cooled diesel in the late 40's. They have made engines for the large ship industry and go into tractors in 1965, the US in 1985.

You've already experienced the better layout of the DK35, but did you notice that most everything seemed a bit sturdier, more heft in the rear and other components? That was my observation between the two of those. The Bransons seem a little flimsier to me.
John

Western · Apr 23, 2006

well honestly I noticed the DK had fiberglass r/ wheel covers I need to recheck if 3810 had fiber or metal, The dealer pointed out to me that the DK rearend was "more" refined versus the heavier rearend of the branson, branson ending up around 800lbs more. I do like the "worky" look of the DK I do have questions on the pump sizes (posted on main discussion page) if the way I see the pump differance, as, tech sheets say, then it will be the DK35 for me for higher gpm, but getting conflicting reports, that include steering pump ect tra. any thoughts about that.

DK35 shows 12.1gpm
3820i shows 8.4 gpm
any thoughts???

KiotiJohn · Apr 23, 2006

( if the way I see the pump differance, as, tech sheets say, then it will be the DK35 for me for higher gpm, but getting conflicting reports, that include steering pump ect tra. any thoughts about that.)

The Kioti has two pumps, one for the main valve at 7.8 gpm, and one just for the steering at 4.7 gpm.

The 3820i is apparently one pump for all systems at 8.4gpm, which means that if you're using your loader and steering at the same time, you will probably have a slower loader operation than with the Kioti. The loader function on the Kioti won't be robbed of hydro power by the steering.

If you've done any loading, you know that while you're moving the tractor to your dump site, you're usually already moving the bucket into a position to dump so that you can move the fastest throught the operation, steering will be a part of that.

Of course, all of this depends on other things as well such as the pressure settings, and the cylinder sizes. I believe they are both similar in this respect.

Fiberglass, plastic and metal have all been used in tractors for years. Fiberglass is almost a nice compromise between metal and plastic as it can be repaired fairly easily.

Plastic can avoid a lot of the damage that metal and glass can suffer, but plastic that is actually broken is not repairable, but replaceable. Metal, while repairable, may take more work than some glass.

Of course, it depends on the type and amount of damage, but as you know, even autos have completely been made of fiberglass with good results. I think this is probably a minor consideration in the overall picture.

I know a few people with DK35s, all doing business with their tractors, and they all state satisfaction with the product.

I don't personally know anyone who is using Branson's so I can't comment on satisfaction reports other than from this forum where I've read some good reports.

John

Western · Apr 23, 2006

Thanks John,
Now that was some of the info I was looking for. Thats the first time anyone has told me the DK had 2 pumps, dealer did'nt mention it. As far as fiber glass. I realy dont mind it, especially when the color is blended throught the product so a nick here and ther doesnt show white, and I have never damaged the r/fenders on a tractor and dont know how you would really have that problem I have seen Kiotis around, honestly I always thought they where a Kabota model, color I guess, The Branson ,I'm like you ,I dont know anyone who has one, I have never seen one anywhere but at dealers or the web. I think either tractor is good, The prices quoted me seem to be fair?? It has come down for me to almost a pump thing since that is the key to a tractors potential. thanks agian
Dennis

Highbeam · Apr 23, 2006

So what do you use for drilling holes in asphalt? If you want to transport frequently and are looking at the 35 HP DK then you may look at the CK30 model whik is smaller and lighter at 3500 lbs including the loader and about 12 gpm of flow for hyd implements. If the CK30 is not enough for the job then I would look up the DK45s, a very attractive machine.

Daedong engines have been around a long time just like the yanmar engines on the John Deeres.