Stupid Questions: 1 to ....

[Lloyd_E]

As I prepare to purchase my new tractor I have a number of questions and thought I would find impartial answers here.

Looking at DK45 shuttle with cab and attachments.

Attachments:
Loader
kb 2485 BH
Auger 6" and 9"
landscape Rake
7' blade
5' rotary cutter
7' box blade with rippers
6' snow blower

Question(s):
How much time is needed to take off and reinstall BH?
Is it really difficult?

I use 4&6" fence posts, should I actually look at 9&12" auger?

Rotary cutter, how thick of branch can I cut?

I have an area of rock in pasture, will the box blade deal with most surface rocks with progressive passes?

Snow Blower: time to install and reinstall and will a set of 12-18" wings help? With wings I can do a better job at driveway(about 1200 feet) with two passes.

How big of a rock(granite) can I move with the loader - bucket size?

Thanks in advance.

Will be meeting with dealer next week - hopefully reach a deal.

 

[Highbeam]

You will not want to use a 6" auger for 4x6 posts. I would go for a 12" auger with 4x6 posts.

Your rotary cutter will easily cut anything smaller than your wrist. It will cut thicker things as well but that is hard on eqipment. I have actually used mine as a stump grinder to chew off stumps at ground level by setting the deck on the ground and slowly mowing the stump. It worked great on semi rotten stumps, not so good on hard stumps.

Your boxblade will not bury or collect rocks very well. Rocks are very difficult to deal with. If the rocks are small you can till them into the dirt but it will just mix them in and not bury them.

Why such a small rotary cutter? You can run a much bigger one. The rule is 5 HP per foot. I run a 5' cutter with my 30HP machine. At least buy one wide enough to cover your tracks so that you can mow along a fence.

 

[IXLR8]

Question(s):
How much time is needed to take off and reinstall BH?
Is it really difficult?

On my CK30, the first time I did it, it took max 15 min to remove, probably less. Reinstall took a bit longer, 20 min maybe, a bit of backing, moving BH, more backing, more moving of BH until everything lines up. You back up to the BH, close enough to hook up the hydraulic lines so you can move the BH, then just work the two together. It would have been less time to reinstall if I had done a better job blocking the BH in position when I took it off. I didn't do a very good job and it settled some and made the reinstall a little more difficult. HTH

 

[DK35vince]

A 5' rotary cutter is small for a DK 45. I recommend bigger.
I run a 6' cutter on a DK 35.

 

[DK35vince]

How much time is needed to take off and reinstall BH?
Is it really difficult?

I have a Rhino backhoe, but I think the subframe setup is similar to Kioti backhoes.
My backhoe goes on/off relitively easy.
I can remove it in under 5 minutes. Takes me around 5 to 10 minutes to install.

 

[Dodgeram]

Like Vince- 5-10 minutes to install and less than 5 to take off.
Not really that bad.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Thank you.

You guys are great. As for the bush hog - see that's why I asked. I will look at a larger one - at least as wide as wheels. I guess I had budget as a criteria, but it doesn't make sense especially dealing with fence lines.

HB - larger auger gives me some wiggle room plus area for tamping earth or stone in. Bush hog up to 2.5 inches, I am excited now.

Best of all is the limited time - after you gain experience - for install and reinstall of BH. I thought I would be 1/2 hour or longer, if not hours!

This is great info - many thanks!!!

Lloyd

 

[lunbrjck]

Welcome to the pack and hope you have as much fun on your tractor as I do mine. Take care and be safe.

 

[LBrown59]

You will not want to use a 6" auger for 4x6 posts. I would go for a 12" auger with 4x6 posts.

I think he uses 2 different sizes of post one being 4'' diameter and the other being 6'' diameter, not just one size of post thats 4 inches by 6 inches.

He said 4 and 6 inch post.
He did not say 4 by 6 inch post.

 

[Lloyd_E]

LB59 is correct.

I use 4" for the runs and 6" for gates and corners.

So, 9 & 12 is still appropriate correct?

I rented a two person auger (did about 150 holes - 6") but found it a challenge to get soil or crushed rock around posts. I am thinking a larger hole will allow for better installation.

lloyd

PS: meeting is booked with dealer next Monday

 

[kentrodngun]

I use a 9" auger to put in 6" posts. Many a time when I hit rocks I wish I had a 12" auger. So, I think your choice of 9" & 12" is right on.

Remember to go slow (idle speed) clear often and have a big pipe wrench (36") to back out the drill when (not if) it gets stuck. Don't let anyone stand near it either. Happy boring!

 

[deputyrpa]

Congrats! You'll be satisfied with that setup. As recommended, get a bigger rotary cutter. The frame mount backhoes are surprisingly easy to remove and mount.

With rock removal, the box blade may work depending on what type of soils you have. For sand and loam, you could tilt it forward and use the ripper teeth to loosen/dislodge them and then collect them in the box with another pass. Iffen it's clay, you may want to try a different approach. I use the backhoe!

The loader will lift about any rock you can get into it. I suggest a rock tooth bar to strenthen the bucket edge, as I have already bent my naked bucket edge by jockeying rocks over one ton. Be sure the rear tires are loaded, and that you have plenty of counterweight on the rear (such as the backhoe).

With the augers, I use a 6" for 4x4s, which offers a more snug fit. Then I give it a nice press with the loader. No backfilling with gravel. In heavy clay soils, one backfills all holes with clay or you wind up with a swimming holes. With permeable soils, it's a different story, of course.

 

[Dmace]

You did not mention which type of tires you want to go with. I have Industrials and highly recommend them, they have great grip like AG's and are easy on your lawn like turfs. If ground engaging work is your main task, you may also want to look into having the tires "filled".



Another great addition I am glad users here mentioned when I bought my tractor was hooks welded to the bucket. Just a few hooks welded to the top lip of the bucket, they are so useful and great to have.

I have a 60" rear mount snowblower and it is just as easy to put on/take off as any three point attachment with the addition of a slide-on driveshaft. You will love the cab in the winter, don't forget the heater.


With the rake, box blade and blade you may want to look into a hydraulic top link. For a couple hundred bucks more you will have infinite control of the vertical angle of the attachment from inside your cab. It even helps with the adjustments of the snowblower. Good luck and Happy shopping!

 

[Highbeam]

Not sure if they come standard with the DK45 but the two rear hydraulic remotes are not standard on my CK30 and I wish that I had paid the extra price for them. Also, a grille guard was not standard and I ended up buying one from Kioti after a few front end mishaps.

 

[IslandTractor]

Not sure if they come standard with the DK45 but the two rear hydraulic remotes are not standard on my CK30 and I wish that I had paid the extra price for them. Also, a grille guard was not standard and I ended up buying one from Kioti after a few front end mishaps.

I believe the DK series come with one set of rear remotes. Adding a second is trivial during set up and cost only about $300-350 at last years prices. I agree that it is well worth getting them installed but I also think it is not that difficult to do it outside the dealership so long as you can take a rear wheel off safely.

 

[Lloyd_E]

IT, HB, Dmace,

I am going with ag tires for a couple of reasons: limited supply options up here, will not be on lawn, mostly working in woods, pasture and moving manure around as well as snowblowing on gravel lane.

It comes with one set of rear remotes. Will look at second set, but my budget is getting tight.

We live in a beautiful part of the world - unfortunately at times, it seems we are in the middle of no-where and at the end of the supply routes....

I can weld the hooks on - please not another set of how-to photos!!!!
It comes with a brush guard but no grill guard - that I can fab myself.

For weight on the back I built a concrete block with 2" receiver hitch in place as well as receiver tubes for tool carriage - I will post this item - neat design.


Thanks...

to quote my 3 year old son - "4 more sleeps" before I meet with the dealer.

 

[Cyberroc]

I can weld the hooks on

Make sure you reinforce the bucket if your welding hooks on!

.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Will reinforce loader...

Ordered today. Will arrive in two weeks.

DK45 shuttle with cab and attachments.

Attachments:
Loader kl 451
kb 2485 BH
Post hole & Auger 9" and 14"
7' landscape Rake
7' blade
6' rotary cutter
7' box blade with rippers
6' snow blower
4" chipper
4'x8' harrow
sand spreader

She has the list started - not in the yard yet.

Other than tooth bar & thumb, this should get me through the next 15 years hopefully. Tractor and implements will be housed - that's on the list too.

Lots happening in the next little while.

Pics to follow...stay tuned.

Lloyd

 

[JoelD]

congrats and welcome to the pack.

I just put hook on my loader and posted pics, used c-channel to reinforce top of bucket. Super strong and will last indefinately.

Good luck with you new machine and attachments. Lots of nice stuff their and welcome to the pack!!

And to quote my little one "wear your seatbelt for safety".



Sincerely,
Joel