deputyrpa
Gold Member
This is an excrutiating decision!! Today I wrote an impact analysis and issued a public notice suppporting the permit issuance of a major expansion of a 307 acre hard rock quarry in the middle of a major city, but I can't decide between a DK45S of DK45SE HST!!! I suppose the difference is the amount of information at hand, and every day I read more and more of the posts on this site. I can't say enough to thank you all for "letting it all hang out" on this site!!
I told Rick Wallace I was going to put the order in today, but work became absolutely crazy. Earlier, I was hot for the HST, but I still felt uneasy. I took a deep breath when I got home, and went fishing at my pond with the dogs. Then, the answer became clear. It boiled down to the ability to handle ground engagement tasks, and the geared DK45S clearly wins. That's going to be where I need to get the most out of a tractor that might be on the small side for serious farming, but what's all that I can afford. After reading a lot of posts and articles about hydros earlier, it appears even the most advanced systems have power-to-the-ground limitations compared to geared tractors. Also, I will be able to perform lighter duty moving tasks as lower rpms, as needed, than I would be able to do with a hydro. Not to mention, gears last forever.
The following are all additional advantages, albeit some subtle, that pointed me to the DK45S. The 45S is less expensive (Ding-Ding!), has more PTO HP, it weighs a bit more, lifts a bit more on both ends, it can go Cat. 2, holds more diesel, and has slightly larger tires.
Also, I'll lose the loader speed of the 45SE/401 with it's increased hydraulic output, but then I gain a wee bit of structural strength and will enjoy the self-leveling of the 451. I was surprised - but after putting numbers down, I use my loader no more than 20% of operating time since I've had it (it goes for a lot of rides). I used my Jinma for the first 5 years without one. I suppose the BH90X will be a bit slower too - but with that much power, I don't really care! Kinda' like watching a Six Million Dollar Man action scene.....na-na-na-na-na-naaaa...
If I have misunderstood specs eggregiously, please let me know. Specs and all of you folks are all I have to work with. Some specs are not exactly.... uh....self-evident, but I'm sure I have it figured out. Phew!!
I'm sure this thread will give Rick some relief....I've been on him like a hobo on a ham sandwich lately!! I admire his patience!!
I told Rick Wallace I was going to put the order in today, but work became absolutely crazy. Earlier, I was hot for the HST, but I still felt uneasy. I took a deep breath when I got home, and went fishing at my pond with the dogs. Then, the answer became clear. It boiled down to the ability to handle ground engagement tasks, and the geared DK45S clearly wins. That's going to be where I need to get the most out of a tractor that might be on the small side for serious farming, but what's all that I can afford. After reading a lot of posts and articles about hydros earlier, it appears even the most advanced systems have power-to-the-ground limitations compared to geared tractors. Also, I will be able to perform lighter duty moving tasks as lower rpms, as needed, than I would be able to do with a hydro. Not to mention, gears last forever.
The following are all additional advantages, albeit some subtle, that pointed me to the DK45S. The 45S is less expensive (Ding-Ding!), has more PTO HP, it weighs a bit more, lifts a bit more on both ends, it can go Cat. 2, holds more diesel, and has slightly larger tires.
Also, I'll lose the loader speed of the 45SE/401 with it's increased hydraulic output, but then I gain a wee bit of structural strength and will enjoy the self-leveling of the 451. I was surprised - but after putting numbers down, I use my loader no more than 20% of operating time since I've had it (it goes for a lot of rides). I used my Jinma for the first 5 years without one. I suppose the BH90X will be a bit slower too - but with that much power, I don't really care! Kinda' like watching a Six Million Dollar Man action scene.....na-na-na-na-na-naaaa...
If I have misunderstood specs eggregiously, please let me know. Specs and all of you folks are all I have to work with. Some specs are not exactly.... uh....self-evident, but I'm sure I have it figured out. Phew!!
I'm sure this thread will give Rick some relief....I've been on him like a hobo on a ham sandwich lately!! I admire his patience!!
