My Truth on RK Tractors

[aczlan]

Gosh, I love autocorrect.

It reads like the boss killed an inclinometer in the store back in the day. Pure gangster.

But seriously, I don't recall it off hand, but that does ring a bell. There's not one there now.

Here is a similar one on Amazon for $12: Amazon.com: Car Inclinometer, Waterproof Angle Slope Tilt Indicator Level Meter Gradient Balancer Finder Tool For Car Vehicle : Automotive

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks!

 

[MossRoad]

It's for a car vehicle...

Love the description.

Car Inclinometer, Waterproof Angle Slope Tilt Indicator Level Meter Gradient Balancer Finder Tool For Car Vehicle​

 

[ovrszd]

Back in the day there was a Sponsor here that sold them. I bought one from them to ease my wife's stress mowing while I was Deployed. I do not remember the name of the sponsor though....

 

[5030]

On Flea Bay for $7.99 each. Exactly the same a the pictured one.

 

[5030]

Back in the day there was a Sponsor here that sold them. I bought one from them to ease my wife's stress mowing while I was Deployed. I do not remember the name of the sponsor though....

If I remember correctly, was called a 'Clinometer'. Still have my TbyNet Tee shirt and hat somewhere. Those were the days. Much younger then, not sure about wiser however.

 

[ovrszd]

If I remember correctly, was called a 'Clinometer'. Still have my TbyNet Tee shirt and hat somewhere. Those were the days. Much younger then, not sure about wiser however.

I think you are right about the name. And the younger part. And the wiser part.

 

[hornett22]

Since they got bought out by Bass Pro, they are just another Wally world store. Not worth the time.

They were like that before BPS bought them.

 

[Ishkatan]

If I remember correctly, was called a 'Clinometer'. Still have my TbyNet Tee shirt and hat somewhere. Those were the days. Much younger then, not sure about wiser however.

I bought this one and I hate to say it but it is not very good. Amazon.com
It bounces too much when in motion - it's simply a weight on a string with no damping fluid. Also, it is really hard to get the lines aligned to read accurately if you don't have it at about eye level. Mine is on top of the RK37 dash and I am looking down so I see a smiley face. The base allows it to be tilted back and forth but weight arrangement means the indicator is always horizontal. I read that someone opened theirs up and adjusted thing and I may do the same.
I had low expectations so I also got the Lev-o-gage Inclinometer Amazon.com. That works nicely, pasted high on my windshield, and tells me that when I practice my Kegel exercises the tractor is approaching 15 degrees. I'm cautious but starting to accept 10-13 degrees. The rest of the time I go up and down the hill or diagonally.
Bora Spacers came but the bolt thread did not match my tractor. The company is responsive and seems willing to make it right. Sadly, they don't make cone (car hub) shape bolts in 16x2.0 pitch which is what my RK37HC seems to have. I'll be posting about that in the RK thread. I will have to wait for the snow to melt (or roads to get cleared) in the Sierra Nevada to get the replacements but they sound like they are eager to have a happy customer.

 

[aczlan]

2.0 MM thread pitch is pretty coarse, that's a thread every other MM.
Doesn't RK use fine pitch threads for their lugs?

Source: https://www.austain.com.au/useruplo...ical_information_sheet_metric_pitch_table.pdf

Aaron Z

 

[5030]

I know Kubota uses fine pitch threads on their lug nuts, at least the rear rims.

 

[Ishkatan]

2.0 MM thread pitch is pretty coarse, that's a thread every other MM.
Doesn't RK use fine pitch threads for their lugs?
Aaron Z

Motorsports said that in the past 16mm 1.5 thread is what RK had, and that is pretty much standard. However, they did not fit. I used a bolt measuring thingy ( Amazon.com ) and it showed my bolts were 16mm 2.0 thread (3rd picture in the Amazon description).
They are making me new spacers with flat landings since they can't get car style bolts in 2.0 so we are going with tractor bolts.

Update - They sent new spacers and bolts before asking me to return the old ones - perfect fit and have held for over a year and a half. They make driving on the 15 degree hill much much better. (Still keep the implements low.)

 

[MikeH-OH]

Here is a similar one on Amazon for $12: Amazon.com: Car Inclinometer, Waterproof Angle Slope Tilt Indicator Level Meter Gradient Balancer Finder Tool For Car Vehicle : Automotive

Aaron Z

Thank you for that link.

 

[MikeH-OH]

Just a little update. Both the local Mahindra and TYM dealers would not help until given a model number. Once "RK" came out of the mouth, "sorry can't help you. You need to call Rural King"... so abruptly that it was surprising.

Finally got a Mahindra dealer to at least talk by going in but still didn't get any help. "Part is at least 8 months away"

My tractor is missing an entire spacer and o ring. Packed the top hub and gear assembly with grease, hoping it will keep the 90 weight gear oil bath from leaking out. At least it's usable.

Frustrating. I loved rural king till now. I was extremely patient. For 2 months. I volunteered a month helping after hurricane Michael and my local RK donated a full pallet of water for me to take with me. I was a loyal and good customer. But everyone has a breaking point. I reached mine. It was more about the rudeness and lack of care shown by the tech than about the time.

I've been through 240 applicants in 2021 and hired only 4 that lasted. Times are hard, but rudeness has no excuse.

I wish better luck to anyone else that buys one.

 

[dodge man]

At some point you have to cut and run. Get rid of it and get something else.

 

[Code54]

Have to agree with Dodge man - get rid of it and get something that works and you like. I personally looked at the RK tractors and once I compared it to Kubota I didn't hesitate to pay the extra money. Too me the quality was not there and I cant say I trust Rural King to be around to fix it in 10 years should I have a problem. Sorry it didnt work out better but hope you get the situation corrected soon.

 

[paulfun9]

Just a little update. Both the local Mahindra and TYM dealers would not help until given a model number. Once "RK" came out of the mouth, "sorry can't help you. You need to call Rural King"... so abruptly that it was surprising.

Finally got a Mahindra dealer to at least talk by going in but still didn't get any help. "Part is at least 8 months away"

My tractor is missing an entire spacer and o ring. Packed the top hub and gear assembly with grease, hoping it will keep the 90 weight gear oil bath from leaking out. At least it's usable.

Frustrating. I loved rural king till now. I was extremely patient. For 2 months. I volunteered a month helping after hurricane Michael and my local RK donated a full pallet of water for me to take with me. I was a loyal and good customer. But everyone has a breaking point. I reached mine. It was more about the rudeness and lack of care shown by the tech than about the time.

I've been through 240 applicants in 2021 and hired only 4 that lasted. Times are hard, but rudeness has no excuse.

I wish better luck to anyone else that buys one.

Why didn’t you just give the TYM model number?

 

[aczlan]

Why didn’t you just give the TYM model number?

To make it easier, the RK part numbers listed at: https://www.rktractors.com/pdf/parts/RK55H RK55HC.pdf appear to be TYM part numbers, so look up the part numbers, call your TYM dealer and order the parts by part number.

Aaron Z

 

[JLH4]

From what I have read here and on the RK thread the problem seems to be with the individual RK store. I've had a RK 24 since 2019 with 300+ hrs. and I have had good service and the one part I needed came in a reasonable amount of time so I'm happy with the service at the E'town/Radcliff Ky store. See my page on the RK op thread. I had a Kubota before this and the service was sloooow.
Joe

 

[Jchonline]

From what I have read here and on the RK thread the problem seems to be with the individual RK store. I've had a RK 24 since 2019 with 300+ hrs. and I have had good service and the one part I needed came in a reasonable amount of time so I'm happy with the service at the E'town/Radcliff Ky store. See my page on the RK op thread. I had a Kubota before this and the service was sloooow.
Joe

Good points…just reinforces the need for a good dealer. Even if you can turn a wrench…you still need parts sometimes.