Opinions on Kioti 45hp: DK-4510 or DK45

corleone · Aug 21, 2015

I'm on the fence between two very similar tractors. I've been reading loads of posts on here about all sorts of tractors. I started out looking at 35hp machines from Mahindra, Kubota, LS, and Kioti. The more I read, the more I started looking at larger tractors. I really liked the local Kioti Dealer, although all dealers have been nice. Some are sorts like tractor dealers 'on the side' of other businesses. The Kubota were the most costly.

I have 31ac to tend: 28 acres of timber and 3 acres of 'non-timber' that will be home for some food plots, a couple small ponds, and some roads. I'll be using the bucket and various implements for all kinds of stuff around this place. I wanted a shuttle shift machine (I'm not a fan of hydro-drive) with 4-wheel drive and a loader. I'll be working timber, bush-hogging, rotary tilling, digging, dragging roads and moving soil. I don't want to bring the tractor home realize I needed more horses...hence the 45hp machines. Didn't want a cab or backhoe yet.

I settle on 45hp machines and was looking to buy the DK4510 new ($20800) when I found an older (2013) tier 3 DK45SE for about the same price ($20500). The DK45 has 95 hours on it and has two years of warranty left. Both have about the same lift capabilities (loader and 3pt), give or take +/-100lbs. Dimensions are similar, with the exception of the motor. Originally I was looking for a Tier 3 machine, but most seemed to be gone by the time I started looking. Wondering about opinions from those that know more about tractors than I...what would you do and what are some reasons that you would pick one of these over the other.

Thank you for any opinions that you are willing to share.

murphy1244 · Aug 21, 2015

The older DK will have more features like cruise control adjustable links and remote set of hydraulics plus rubber deck mat.

Poopdeck Pappy · Aug 21, 2015

As Murph said, the DK45SE will have some useful goodies on it that the DK4510 doesn't. One of them is the rear 3 point lift lever that is really handy to have. Another is the extendable lower lift link ends that Murph mentioned, and I find them indispensable. At 95 hours, the DK45SE is barely broken in. I'd definitely go with that one if it's in good shape and shows no signs of having been abused or neglected. The DK45SE is a great tractor, and there is no DPF or regeneration to worry about.

BethelHntr · Aug 22, 2015

I'll second the above, With 95 hours there is tons of good life left. The DK's are a really nice tractor with plenty of lift capability and power. I have the shuttle machine and have not found any disability's what so ever, In fact I prefer it.

Check into a set of quick attach forks for your machine, They are the handiest attachment I own so far.

Good luck and welcome.

paulfun9 · Aug 22, 2015

My choice would also be the old DK. I took a quick look at the DK10 series this past weekend and wasn't impressed near as much as I have been with the DK. Fenders felt flimsy, didn't like not having the remote as standard, the extendable links as standard, no floor matt, didn't like the throttle control (yes it was easy to adjust but I still like the old one better even being as stiff as it is), the fuel tank on the side is both a blessing and a curse on the new one as I can dream of how much better fueling is with it BUT it would end up being a nightmare as its made of plastic and very easy to be damaged with my uses. I like the rops on the old one better also I am also a fan of the lever out back to work the 3 point, its been a joy to have and makes changing attachments a breeze.

Take a good close look at both tractors, sit on them push and pull at the fenders and such, take them for a test ride and hook up an attachment or two then decide.

95 hours wouldn't make a difference to me but the warranty might..

Question I have is what are the gears on the new one as I think they offer a power shuttle with the new dk10 and the DKSE is just basic manual shuttle only but I am fairly certain it has better gear choices. (12x12 -vs-8x8)

k0ua · Aug 22, 2015

paulfun9 said:
My choice would also be the old DK. I took a quick look at the DK10 series this past weekend and wasn't impressed near as much as I have been with the DK. Fenders felt flimsy, didn't like not having the remote as standard, the extendable links as standard, no floor matt, didn't like the throttle control (yes it was easy to adjust but I still like the old one better even being as stiff as it is), the fuel tank on the side is both a blessing and a curse on the new one as I can dream of how much better fueling is with it BUT it would end up being a nightmare as its made of plastic and very easy to be damaged with my uses. I like the rops on the old one better also I am also a fan of the lever out back to work the 3 point, its been a joy to have and makes changing attachments a breeze.

Take a good close look at both tractors, sit on them push and pull at the fenders and such, take them for a test ride and hook up an attachment or two then decide.

95 hours wouldn't make a difference to me but the warranty might..

Question I have is what are the gears on the new one as I think they offer a power shuttle with the new dk10 and the DKSE is just basic manual shuttle only but I am fairly certain it has better gear choices. (12x12 -vs-8x8)

You do know there is a fix for that throttle lever?

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ottle-lubrication-pix.html?highlight=throttle

paulfun9 · Aug 22, 2015

k0ua said:
You do know there is a fix for that throttle lever?

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ottle-lubrication-pix.html?highlight=throttle

Yes I do. It really doesn't bother me much at all.

My friend sent me an e-mail about my post and said that the fenders are not flimsy on the new DK10, but rather he thinks the hole body has a better mounting system with more shock dampening than the old DK does and that he thinks that is what makes me feel movement as I mount and dismount it. Has anyone else taken a real close look? We only stopped for a quick look while out on the bikes so my post is just my first quick impressions .

corleone · Aug 22, 2015

Thanks for the information. I found out that my price quoted for the DK-4510 was wrong. He apparently quoted the price with rebate ($23500 with $2500 rebate) and I took that as meaning that the price was $2500 less than $23500. Not the case. I asked him about the 2013 DK45 and he said those machines sold for $21900 new so that the price of $20500 seemed high to him for a machine with 95hrs. The kicker was that he told me that if I were to get my used machine (purchased from someone else) serviced at his shop, they would be in no hurry to get the work done (as it would not be priority or completed by order received). He said he doesn't make money with the shop and it's more or less a loss leader for servicing people that buy from him directly. That whole idea makes me mad, but it's his business. Needless to say, my original good vibes about this dealer have cooled off some. I don't know where else I'd go for service on a Kioti. Might have to do it myself or use some other generic tractor shop. Anyone else ever run into this issue?

I did test drive a DK4510 and it's a nice machine. There is a 3-pt level accessible from the rear of the machine. All fenders were metal and the shuttle shift is a nice feature for someone who doesn't like hydro drives but does a lot of loader work.

What credibility should I give to his statement that $20500 is too high a price for a 2013 DK45SE shuttle shift with 95 hrs on it? There's another DK45SE for sale in the Cleveland area for $18900 with only 200hrs on it. (If anyone's looking up that way.) It's too far away fro me to visit and it's a private sale so I don't have the confidence in honest that I would have (to an extent) from a dealer who's job it is to sell/service machines and who would care about potential 'bad press'. The machine I'm looking at already had the price dropped from $21900 (original listing). I don't know if he'd come down anymore as it sounded like he was just above the cost he had in the machine.

Thank you all again for your comments - anything contributed helps me sort out fact/details in my head. All infor is much appreciated.

Poopdeck Pappy · Aug 22, 2015

Based on your conversation with that dealer, I would do two things.

1. Find another dealer; and
2. Call the Kioti corporate office and let them know what this dealer said.

Please understand that this dealer is a liar. They may not make a lot of money on warranty work, but they do make money on their repair shop. No dealer could survive only on the profit they make from selling tractors. Their big profit centers are their parts counter and repair shop.

corleone · Aug 22, 2015

The challenge with that is that he is the Middle and Eastern North Carolina Kioti dealer. If I burn this bridge, I'll have to travel several hours more to reach another Kioti Dealer. Which comes back to your first recommendation - another Kioti dealers is pretty far away. But I'll look into it and make a couple calls to talk with some other dealers. If I can find even 3-4hours away, that would be a good use of time.

Thanks for your comments.