Trying to understand the issue with service

[dwomble1]

I looking at purchasing an RK24 and I see alot of concern over servicing the tractors. I understand the need for parts. I do most of the work on my vehicles and other equipment and in todays world I can almost always find the parts online cheaper, yes I might have to wait a few days but that can happen even going to the parts store if they don't have them in stock. Am I missing something about the need for servicing tractors that requires a dealer? Is it worth paying more to buy a orange or green tractor that is made down the road from the RK line just to have a dealer charge me more for what I can do myself?

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

For me, Service (the Parts & Servicing Department) is more than just somewhere you get parts from. I know that my own Dealership have the knowledge and experience to handle practically all of my problems... and that includes 'in the field' with their mobile service utes. I've never had either of my tractors in the shop and, truly, the only parts I've ever bought from them have been filters, oil and hydraulic fluid for regular maintenance. However, when I did have a problem (some-what self inflicted) they opened the shop up early :yes: to accommodate me. They provided me with a detailed schematic when I simply asked a question. A mechanic came out, listened to me and them physically showed me where I could plug a set of work-lights into a pre-wired 'socket'.

I know that, in my case, my Dealership has my back for the long term. Which means that my Manufacturer has their back for the long term. Peace of mind for me.

Enjoy the site.

 

[100 td]

My take would be to work out cost verses use, verses longevity, and regards to longevity, parts availability down the track. All manufacturers are keeping less inventory in warehouses, and manufacturing parts for less numbers of years. It's a case of weighing one up with the other, how much you can save up front, how much you can save along the way, what the resale will be when you want to get rid of it, or how much you'll lose when you can't get bits for it if you've kept it for many years. Only you can make the decision. One thing I believe that is worth chasing up which ever way you go, is full a parts layout/listing book or pdf, and full service manual right from the start. YMMV.

 

[thepumpguysc]

ITS A PERSONAL CHOICE REALLY.. "YOU" can do all/most of the work yourself.. while others cant figure out that the engine needs fuel..
Just take a look at how many threads there are about "ran out of fuel"..
& then theres the guys that WONT change a fuel filter until the motor dies.. "its been getting slower & slower for the last few years"..
In THOSE cases, its best to have a dealer close by..
IF you plan on buying NEW & THINK you might need the warranty.. go with the closest dealer of your liking.
Its really a Blonde vs Brunette issue..

 

[Diggin It]

Is it worth paying more to buy a orange or green tractor that is made down the road from the RK line just to have a dealer charge me more for what I can do myself?

The issue is the Warranty. Some things users can do without voiding the warranty. Others things they can't. If something comes up where there's a major repair cost involved, the manufacturer can whether or not to cover it based on other things the user may have done they may feel contributed to the failure. Normal user maintenance won't be an issue, but a backyard mechanic getting into engine or transmission problems could.

 

[widefat]

and time....and special equipment.

While I may be able to, and enjoy, doing many things on my tractor, I dont always have the time for complex work.
My day job consumes 60 hours a week of my time. I use my tractor almost every weekend.
So, I dont have time to tackle repair jobs that are going to have to be done across 3 saturdays.
In addition to needing the tractor, - I just have too many other chores.
So, my dealer can fix my tractor during the week while I am at work.

Also, I may not have some of the equipment needed to properly work on a heavy machine. I have not run across this yet, who knows.

That said, I have not actually needed to take my tractor to a dealer yet. Which may speak to the issue of Green,Orange, or "other".

 

[Diggin It]

My problem is more of transportation. I have green, orange, red and blue dealers within 50 miles or so but no truck or trailer to haul whatever i get to or from them. And I'm not sure any of them will come to me, free or otherwise.

That will be one of my main questions when I start making the rounds. If they won't, there is no advantage of one over another in my mind.

 

[Einthewoods]

I have a Green dealership about 5 miles away. I stopped in and met the owner. Total prick.

I went to the red dealer about 8 miles away. Walked all over the lot and in the store without any one ever saying hello.

I drove 50 miles away and got a couple hours worth of questions answered and they seemed like they actually wanted me as a customer. Bought orange that day.

I'll deal with the distance should I ever need to, but will never go to the red and green show again.

For me it was about service. Customer service.

 

[Diggin It]

I went to the red dealer about 8 miles away. Walked all over the lot and in the store without any one ever saying hello.

For me it was about service. Customer service.

That wouldn't bother me. I hate salespeople and greeter breathing down my neck when I'm browsing. I'd rather they leave me alone until I want somebody, then I'll go to them. One of the main reasons I stopped going to Best Buy for tech stuff was the vultures pouncing on people as soon as they walk in the door. Sometimes Customer Service is knowing when not to hound people. Now, if they're not available when I want them, or if they blow me off, that's another story.

 

[Einthewoods]

That wouldn't bother me. I hate salespeople and greeter breathing down my neck when I'm browsing. I'd rather they leave me alone until I want somebody, then I'll go to them. One of the main reasons I stopped going to Best Buy for tech stuff was the vultures pouncing on people as soon as they walk in the door. Sometimes Customer Service is knowing when not to hound people. Now, if they're not available when I want them, or if they blow me off, that's another story.

I also do not like being hovered over or pestered by sales people. Though I came into the showroom because I wanted to talk to someone, after walking on their lot for a half hour. Not even a "hello, let me know if you have questions". Not a place I am going to leave $20k-$30k.

 

[dwomble1]

The warranty issues I completely understand and yes if it is something of that magnitude I do have the capabilities to haul the tractor to a dealer/service tech. If the company were to go out of business wouldn't the warranty become a moot point? I'm thinking (could be dangerous) but with a Yanmar engine parts are easy to find and if RK no longer supports a tractor divison and a major overhaul was needed could this be accomplished by a dealer/service tech of TYM being that RK are just rebranded?

Thanks for all the feedback.

 

[Diggin It]

if RK no longer supports a tractor divison and a major overhaul was needed could this be accomplished by a dealer/service tech of TYM being that RK are just rebranded?

That's a question that has been posed a few times but hasn't been answered yet. I would imagine only a TYM official would be able to do so, but probably wouldn't want to as long as RK was viable.

 

[Diggin It]

Found out something today that may not apply to other areas. At least in my case the TYM dealer is also a Stihl service center and does some other brands too. As a result, they are the local warranty service center for Lowes, HD, RK and a few other stores. Based on that, they figure they will be servicing RK machines also. Nothing certain yet since our RK won't be getting tractors for a while.

 

[3gunr]

Found out something today that may not apply to other areas. At least in my case the TYM dealer is also a Stihl service center and does some other brands too. As a result, they are the local warranty service center for Lowes, HD, RK and a few other stores. Based on that, they figure they will be servicing RK machines also. Nothing certain yet since our RK won't be getting tractors for a while.

where are you located

 

[Tennsawdust]

The warranty issues I completely understand and yes if it is something of that magnitude I do have the capabilities to haul the tractor to a dealer/service tech. If the company were to go out of business wouldn't the warranty become a moot point? I'm thinking (could be dangerous) but with a Yanmar engine parts are easy to find and if RK no longer supports a tractor divison and a major overhaul was needed could this be accomplished by a dealer/service tech of TYM being that RK are just rebranded?

Thanks for all the feedback.

If for some reason RK collapsed and warranty was no longer available a TYM dealer could certainly work on it for you. I'm not sure how they do the engine warranty. I've seen some where the engine was warrantied by Yanmar itself. In any case, anyone who can work on Yanmar engines (which many brands use...) should be able to get parts and repair the engine. I'm sure one of the reasons RK specified the Yanmar engines is that they are basically the industry standard and parts are widely available. That should take a great deal of worry out of the buying decision.

 

[RustyT]

Dealer? What are these dealers you speak of? You mean the places that toss a few tractors out front for a while and then drop them to sell something else?.

Or the long established business that was shut down by corporate consolidations?

Seen both happen around here many times with tractors of many colors. As well as cars for that matter.

 

[RK Tractor Guy]

We will do the best we can to support our customers. We put our name on the tractors, no dealer has or can do that, they are selling someone else’s tractor. When we decided to launch RK Tractors in April 2017, we did so after we determined that when we do this, we do it for the long haul. The only thing that matters to us is meeting the expectations of our customers. No other way to put it.

 

[RustyT]

God I hate those bean counter dealerships! All gloss and show, no parts of substance. Give me an oil covered good ol boy everyday. At least they usually knew the tractor models and most common problems.

 

[rngrrymd]

I've busted on RK and RK Tractor Guy for specs/lack of specs/inflated abilities provided or promoted on their tractors in other threads but long term I don't think warranty is going to be an issue with Rural King. The company has been in business since 1960 and I don't think they are going away anytime soon. They are also legally obligated to provide the warranty they advertise whether they provide it or they have to go thru 3rd parties to do so. Now if something happened to TYM who manufactures the tractor and TYM went out of business then that would be bad because it would create a parts availability issue on the tractor side but not the engine side (Yanmar). I don't think TYM is going away anytime soon, either. They make tons of tractors for other brands and they purchased Kukje/Branson just 2 years ago which gave them access to engine building as well as increasing their footprint.

Rural King's biggest challenge at this point is getting qualified service techs for their tractor stocking stores and having dedicated sales people with knowledge of the industry and the equipment and keeping those people long term in a retail sales environment vs a wholesale tractor/equipment environment to sustain long term tractor sales. Most likely they are head-hunting service guys from the wholesale side (have to offer sufficient pay and benefits to bring experienced techs in) but are they paying enough to keep sales people in place on the retail side? The margin on these tractors is low so that limits what RK can pay out as well. Working hours in the range of 7-5 M-F and 8-2 on Saturdays with no Sundays and higher pay is a very tempting draw for the now trained retail person to jump ship and go to the wholesale side of the tractor/equipment business. If you do some research online RK does not have a good reputation for what they pay their employees or for giving proper training. Only time will tell. The smartest thing RK is doing right now is slowly rolling out the line which gives them time to fill all those positions as needed and adjust their program/procedures/training if they need to.

Disclosure: I have no stock in RK or TYM