New RK37 owner question

[Faboafarm]

Hi folks, I finally bought my first tractor, a RK37 with a cab. Yesterday was the first full day I owned it. I really like my new toy....er... tractor and all the work it is letting me get done. I had it built when I ordered it and it included the backhoe. I removed the backhoe yesterday afternoon and found it was not the major event I though it might be. I was also given the original draw bar mount and a frame cross over brace that were not installed due to the backhoe.

My question is this, do I need to install the draw bar mount and cross brace because I removed the backhoe. It appears there is a draw bar mount already in place and I wonder if the mounting brackets for the backhoe take the place of the crossover brace? Can anyone advise me on this?

 

[fried1765]

Hi folks, I finally bought my first tractor, a RK37 with a cab. Yesterday was the first full day I owned it. I really like my new toy....er... tractor and all the work it is letting me get done. I had it built when I ordered it and it included the backhoe. I removed the backhoe yesterday afternoon and found it was not the major event I though it might be. I was also given the original draw bar mount and a frame cross over brace that were not installed due to the backhoe.

My question is this, do I need to install the draw bar mount and cross brace because I removed the backhoe. It appears there is a draw bar mount already in place and I wonder if the mounting brackets for the backhoe take the place of the crossover brace? Can anyone advise me on this?

Please enter your general location in your profile.
Sometimes,...... it can make a difference to know if you are in Florida or Alaska

 

[markie61]

Hey Faboafarm! Welcome to the RK Tractors family. I have a RK55HC with the same issue: lots of "bits" that came with tractor due to the backhoe subframe. On the RK55, you do NOT need to swap them out when removing the backhoe. They also gave me a loose "toolbox" (an insult to tool boxes everywhere, BTW...) since the backhoe seat hits it and a loose drawbar since you cannot have it installed while the backhoe is mounted. If you study the parts diagrams, you can see the parts that were swapped out. I **think** one of the crossmembers actually came off the loader's subframe to accommodate the backhoe... For now, I am keeping them on the off chance I ever sell the backhoe or tractor separately (highly unlikely).

 

[Faboafarm]

Please enter your general location in your profile.
Sometimes,...... it can make a difference to know if you are in Florida or Alaska[/QUOTE
I just updated that. I am in SW VA

 

[Faboafarm]

Hey Faboafarm! Welcome to the RK Tractors family. I have a RK55HC with the same issue: lots of "bits" that came with tractor due to the backhoe subframe. On the RK55, you do NOT need to swap them out when removing the backhoe. They also gave me a loose "toolbox" (an insult to tool boxes everywhere, BTW...) since the backhoe seat hits it and a loose drawbar since you cannot have it installed while the backhoe is mounted. If you study the parts diagrams, you can see the parts that were swapped out. I **think** one of the crossmembers actually came off the loader's subframe to accommodate the backhoe... For now, I am keeping them on the off chance I ever sell the backhoe or tractor separately (highly unlikely).

Markie61, I thought that might be the case but I wasn't sure. I didn't want to break anything in my first week because I forgot to bolt something back on! The tool box on the 37 is a joke as well. It might hold a pair of gloves but that is about it I think. Although there is a pin in there that has a zerk fitting in one end so it is obviously a pivot pin for something. But so far I have not figured out where it should go or if it is just an extra. In the meantime I will just put the extra parts in my storage building so I have them if ever needed.

 

[markie61]

... I didn't want to break anything in my first week because I forgot to bolt something back on!

Please DO check the bolts everywhere! I found two big nuts on the backhoe that were barely touching the split lock washers...they missed them at the TAC.

 

[Faboafarm]

Please DO check the bolts everywhere! I found two big nuts on the backhoe that were barely touching the split lock washers...they missed them at the TAC.

I'll be checking that tomorrow!

 

[Faboafarm]

Does everyone have else have trouble shifting the range lever between low, med. and hig? Sometimes it moves easily. Other times I feel like I am going to brake the handle off in my hand.

 

[ptsg]

Does everyone have else have trouble shifting the range lever between low, med. and hig? Sometimes it moves easily. Other times I feel like I am going to brake the handle off in my hand.

Well you don't really want to force that shifter, or you can brake/bend stuff outside and/or inside the transmission.

The range gears are not synchronized, which means the teeth have to be perfectly align for the gear to mesh properly.

Don't know if your tractor is a Shuttle shift or HST, but rocking the tractor back/forth slightly will the gears to go in. Just bumping the HST pedal or putting the shuttle shift forward or reverse helps.

 

[3gunr]

iT WILLGET EASIER WITH USE. I FOUND THAT IDLING DOWN AND RELAXING THE HYDRAULICS LETS IT SHIFT EASIER. THERE IS ALSO A LUBE POINT ON THE LINKAGE THAT WILL HELP.

 

[markie61]

...shifting the range lever between low, med. and high?...

Same thing on my RK55HC. This is a similar issue with most colors of tractor - it gets easier to go in between ranges after some seat time. Even on my older NH, it still takes a little balancing act between tractor movement, feathering the HST pedals, and moving the lever - after awhile you begin to "feel it". By "tractor movement", I mean low-throttle, low-speed, back-and-forth rocking - you are relieving drivetrain pressures and allowing the gears to align. As PTSG said, don't force it; just practice patiently and you'll get it.

 

[Hirascomo]

Does everyone have else have trouble shifting the range lever between low, med. and hig? Sometimes it moves easily. Other times I feel like I am going to brake the handle off in my hand.

I have the Hydrostatic RK37, and also fight with the H, M, L gear lever. When new, it was very difficult to change gears, I am at 200 hours on it and it still can be difficult, but overall it does shift somewhat better. I also find that it is very hard to shift when under load (when stopped), if I find a level spot and fidget with the For/Rev pedals, I can usually get it to shift without feeling like I am going to break something.

 

[oosik]

The range selector lever became "easier" on my Kubota M6040 at around 250 hours. Otherwise - DO NOT force it. Very gently rocking the tractor back/forth may help. Moving forward at about ZERO speed will sometimes help. It will loosen up with time/use.

Hey - the tool box behind my seat on my M6040 is just the right size to hold my most important "tool". A big 'ol roll of paper towels. Very handy when I'm out on the property. Actually - it holds a roll of paper towels and two band-aides, if you press real hard when closing the lid.

 

[Ishkatan]

Does everyone have else have trouble shifting the range lever between low, med. and hig? Sometimes it moves easily. Other times I feel like I am going to brake the handle off in my hand.

I was looking at an RK37 and the sales guy said this is a common issue and will wear in with time. (Maybe the gear teeth get pointy?)
I had the tractor running and gave it a tiny bit of HST pedal, just enough to rock it but not move it, and the gears popped right into low. Don't force it, just move the tractor 1/2 inch and it will slide in easy.

 

[Ishkatan]

Hi folks, I finally bought my first tractor, a RK37 with a cab. Yesterday was the first full day I owned it. I really like my new toy....er... tractor and all the work it is letting me get done. I had it built when I ordered it and it included the backhoe. I removed the backhoe yesterday afternoon and found it was not the major event I though it might be. I was also given the original draw bar mount and a frame cross over brace that were not installed due to the backhoe.

My question is this, do I need to install the draw bar mount and cross brace because I removed the backhoe. It appears there is a draw bar mount already in place and I wonder if the mounting brackets for the backhoe take the place of the crossover brace? Can anyone advise me on this?

When you have the tractor running at mowing speed, can you actually listen to the radio in the cab?
Seemed too noisy not to use hearing protection or listen to the radio in the cab when to me sitting in the store parking lot.

 

[agjones]

When you have the tractor running at mowing speed, can you actually listen to the radio in the cab?
Seemed too noisy not to use hearing protection or listen to the radio in the cab when to me sitting in the store parking lot.

The radio is fine, audible over tractor at work rpms... But I only use it when my noise cancelling earbuds are charging... Protect those ears.