Opinion on Kioti 2004 CK20J

[TRETECH]

I've been reading through hundreds of posts on Kubotas and Kiotis. I really like the Kioti CK20, especially the heavier weight and the stronger loader. I'm going to look at a 2004 CK20J w/ FEL tomorrow (private sale). It has 275 hours on it and is a gear drive model. Not sure if it has loader cracking or the repair kit installed (I'll find out tomorrow).

I live on a very hilly 4.5 acres in north central Massachusetts. I have about 1.5 acres cleared and plan on using the tractor to move rocks, brush and general loader work. If everything works out i'll buy a grapple for it as well. I have no plans on using it for mowing since I have so many obstacles that a small mower would be better.

Any pointers on what I should look for, and what a good price would be?

Thanks

Tom

 

[Kiotikarl]

The CK20 in 2004 is a 21hp tractor. I wouldn`t buy the gear model for loader work it does not have a shuttle and not fully syncronized transmission (shift gears like a car) like on the other CK models. The pto is also tranny driven compared to being independant on the HST. I have a CK30 gear and DK45SEC HST and love them. The CK20 is an awsome tractor, waiting for mine to come in, 2011 CK20S HST TLB:thumbsup:

 

[Gittyup]

It most likely will have the old style loader. I presume you've read the threads on what to look for/how to inspect? Take along a set of metric wrenches and sockets so you can remove the cover. The new style loader has a round tube cross member rather than the more rectangular shape of older style.

Other than that, it should be a good tractor. I wouldn't shy away from it even if it is a manual tranny. I helped my FIL find one, about the same age. It's a manual tranny TLB. He likes it just fine. In some ways I like the manual on the 20 better than the shuttle on my CK25. It's less tiring to shift. The big difference is that you only have 2 reverse speeds as opposed to 8 on the shuttle, which makes low range very slow going backwards.

The stopping to shift thing isn't really an issue, as you are best to stop on the shuttles as well (F-R-F). And, I didn't see it as a big deal when I used my FIL 20. In any case, HST is best.

Price? Don't know. Would guess $9K or so. (My FIL got his TLB for $8K, but the man was in a bind and he got him to come off his asking price by $2200).

 

[TRETECH]

Thanks for the info. I've read the many threads on the older kl120 loaders cracking, and this one definitely has the older loader without the cross tube that penetrates both sides of the loader arms. I'm pretty handy with the welder and own a mig, and have access to oxy/act, so I think I could fab a brace up if needed.

This tractor does not have a backhoe, only a FEL and they are asking 9k which seems high to me. I'm definitely going to offer less, but not 100% sure what a fair price is. I'd be all over it if it had a backhoe for 9K.

 

[Dmace]

The CK20 is a great tractor, mine is a 2006 with not a single problem yet at over 450 hours. You know about the loader cracking but I believe that the "fix" which is a bracket that covers the entire cross member really works to add strength. My loader has yet to crack any more than the little 1 inch cracks at the bolt holes for the access panel. If it doesn't have that bracket, then any Kioti dealer can get the parts and install it for you for free but you might have to bring the tractor to them for the install.

I have an HST so cannot comment on the gear pros/cons but I test drove a gear model when looking and found the shifter in a great position and very easy to use. $9k is definitely high considering the age and 275 hours is nothing on that tractor which means it spent most of it's life sitting which is worse than working. I would rather have a 2 year old tractor with 500 hours than a 5 year old tractor with 100. Kind of like those 10 year old cars with only 50k miles that are rotted to pieces from sitting. I would offer $7k max.

 

[TRETECH]

Well, I went to see it this evening. It was in overall good condition. No leaks from anywhere I could see. It was missing the front pushbar and of course the grill was dented up pretty good. I took the front inspection plate off of the loader crossbar and only found one small 3/8" long crack at one of the holes, didn't seem like a big deal as long as it's reinforced before it goes any further.

On thing that bothered me was that in any gear the clutch was very grabby. It was like a light switch, either engaged or disengaged. Not really sure if that is normal for these tractors. Most of my vehicles have been standard, and i've driven a lot of manual shift equipment from very large fork lifts to 13 speed trucks and this thing was hard to engage smoothly.

I was thinking the same as you Dmace, and wanted to offer 7K and though they were really nice people, it didn't sound like they would come down much on the price. I guess I'll keep looking. If anyone knows of one up for sale in the northeast, please drop me a line. I'm checking craigslist, ebay, tractorhouse and of course this sight daily.

 

[RoMad]

I have a 2003 CK20 gear that I bought in November of last year. It did not have the mod on the loader when I got it. I called my local dealer and they got the stiffener for me for free and put it on for $65, which was fine with me.
Mine had not been well maintained and the linkage to the 4wd and low range was frozen on the shaft. It was stuck in 4wd / high range. I was so green I didn't even notice, so I was very lucky when I figured out it was just a rusty linkage arm. Anyway, I got the tractor, loader, 5' kioti bush hog and 4' kioti finish mower for $5k. For one with everything working I would think $7k would be plenty.
You might want to go back and drive the one you looked at a little more and see if the clutch feels better after a little use.

 

[IslandTractor]

FYI, I bought my 2004 CK20 HST with about 20hrs on it from a dealer in MA for $10k in 2005. Good you passed as the $9k asking price is way high as others have noted. Given price increases I'd still think something around $8k for HST would be reasonable for a good one. Also, be aware that the much better suspension seat did not come until ?2005 or 2006.

I used mine for much the same work you are describing. Loved the tractor. Loved it even more with grapple and BH along with bush hog for land clearing. I would hold out for HST as land clearing involves a lot of FEL work.

Craigslist is the route I would take but I'd suggest using SearchTempest or similar program to search a wider area. A CK20 isn't hard to trailer so expanding your search a few hundred miles might be worth it. Some guys even put them into the back of Uhaul trucks.

 

[TRETECH]

Thanks for all the advice guys. 8800 is as low as they would go, so I'm definitely passing on it. I've been using search tempest to search a 250 mile radius, but there's not much out there. Prices seem to be really high. There's one the next town over, a 2008 CK20HST with only 119 hours but they want 11,900, heck I can get a brand new one for 1K more.

I'll keep looking... :confused2:

 

[Sabretooth]

Thanks for all the advice guys. 8800 is as low as they would go, so I'm definitely passing on it. I've been using search tempest to search a 250 mile radius, but there's not much out there. Prices seem to be really high. There's one the next town over, a 2008 CK20HST with only 119 hours but they want 11,900, heck I can get a brand new one for 1K more.

I'll keep looking... :confused2:

Prices arent high people are! they do not realize that cheap money brings prices down on their used CK they brought with 4 or 5% interest a few years ago
Just say these are hypothetical numbers now
Same tractor 4-5yrs difference
10.5k+ then 13.5 +now
PLUS TAX
11.5K estimate 14.5
4-5% interest 0%
Estimate around 4K interest loan term 5yr

Totals
15-16K 14.5K



People that want to sell things just need to wait till nobody can afford or to qualify for cheap money or wait for inflation to wham us and the cost of the CK is over 15K then the asking price doesnt look bad