Recent content by markie61

Performance-wise, it's been a beast. Never has left me sitting, starts every time/first time. With the grapple and finish mower as counterweight, I've picked up many 16-foot oak logs, some a couple feet in diameter (carried in LOW range, close to the ground, in the center). Will the pallet...

This 550-hour post is made as an adjunct/follow-on to my 50-hour service post which you can find here RK55 Hydrostatic 50-hour Service: My first big RK post It should be noted that I performed the 300-hour service (engine oil/filter change, plus check and lube) at 300 hours EXACTLY on 9/12/2021...

Almost 550 hours on my RK55HC - preparing to do second hydro change plus full service. Problems: leaking tilt cylinder on loader (warranty), getting the filters off for the first change (see my 50-hour service thread), backhoe pin without a grease fitting (warranty), 3rd function gets...

I have the same as Gunny - the grapple is great. Has picked up and held onto just about everything I've asked of it. Reached it's "pucker factor" capacity with this oak round 7+ft across. Sorry for the sideways-ness...

I was at the Washington Capitals hockey game last night (2/8 vs. the Flyers) at the Capital One Arena and saw this: First time I have seen a tractor company sponsor an arena. Of course, they were pushing only the Roxor UTV but still pretty cool when your a "tractor guy"...

Shaped, painted, and added pinchwelt to it

I was welding expanded steel on my RK55HC's grill guard today and took a close look at the 3rd function valve. Not receiving documentation about it from RK and not having a 3rd function before, I was wondering what this adjustment knob does...anyone mess with it yet? Thanks in advance.

Ok: done! (still need to "pretty it up", but it will work for now...)

I removed the subframe backhoe RK BH85 from my RK55HC shortly after I received it. Played with it, dug a couple holes, removed a couple stumps first, but it was mowing season and the finish mower took priority. I have never had a backhoe before (let alone removed/remounted one), so watched a...

RK55HC - Automatic DPF Regeneration Experience From my reading of the owner's manual and my own experience, I have concluded that the RK55HC has two regeneration cycles: one automatic (done while operating the tractor with no operator intervention necessary) and one stationary (which requires...

I've posted these pictures of the sticker behind the dashboard and shop manual cover for my tractor in the past... Yes, it's "badge engineering" (like GM, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Deere, New Holland, Massey, IH, and many brands do).

I'm a fan of NASCAR driver Michael McDowell and started following him when my company sponsored the 95 car a couple years back at Leavine Racing. He now drives the 34 for Front Row Motorsports, who fields the 38 (Ragan) as well as the 36 (JHNemechek), which has a sponsorship from Yanmar...

This is a long post and took me about a week to do the service, take pictures, communicate with RK, and edit. Please let me know if anything should be corrected. With my comments below, I am assuming the person doing their own service has a level of comfort and familiarity with fluid changes...

Still very clean! I got mine a little dusty last week (we are having a minor drought here in the metro-DC area). After major tree work, here I am testing the limits of the grapple, loader, tractor, and pucker (16" thick live white oak over 6ft in some places). VERY slow and VERY deliberate...

First, somehow you started two identical threads - you may want to contact Muhammed, the Webmaster, and ask him if he can combine them. Second, I have experience in both - bought a used tractor and a new tractor. Twenty years ago I bought my NH TC40D used from a dealer. It was back from a...