Buying Advice What was your reason?

[gunny0628]

If you purchased an RK tractor what was the deciding factor?

I made my decision to go with RK because of value and service.

Bill

 

[fried1765]

If you purchased an RK tractor what was the deciding factor?

I made my decision to go with RK because of value and service.

Bill

Since RK is very new to the tractor business, it would seem that "service" is a factor yet to be determined..... for the years ahead.
For "value"......THAT definitely seems to be there.... right now!
If I were currently looking for a Tier IV tractor, the RK55 (or TYM 554) would warrant my serious consideration.
An RK deal killer for me though, would likely be.......no RK anywhere near New England!

 

[gunny0628]

Good stuff. Thanks.

 

[Tractorable]

My reasons would be: good value, good performance, Outdoors with the Morgan’s, and Yanmar engines.

 

[markie61]

If you purchased an RK tractor what was the deciding factor?

I made my decision to go with RK because of value and service.

Bill

Hey Bill,
The overarching reason is value - more bang for the buck.
As was mentioned by Fried, service is an unknown variable and makes me a bit uncomfortable - especially at my store. However, a tractor is a tractor is a tractor; if I have the parts and service manuals (plus the TBN forums), I can troubleshoot and fix most anything. In 20 years, I've only had the dealer fix one thing on my New Holland; the rest (both stuff I broke and some warranty items) I fixed myself (for warranty NH provided the parts n/c). In the worst case that RK won't honor the warranty, I can always have a TYM dealer fix it and sue for reimbursement in small claims court (or on "Judge Judy").
The main thing for me was similarity to my TC40D, especially the hydro pedal arrangement (separate forward and reverse pedals on the right, splittable brakes on the left) but wanted current comforts (cruise control, deluxe 3PH, rear remotes, fender mounted joystick, tilt wheel since I'm 6-03 and wife is 4-10, etc) and upgrades for my twilight years (a/c, heat, rear lift control, radio, etc.)
I really thought I was going to end up with a similar Kioti, but just couldn't justify the price difference.

 

[gunny0628]

My reasons would be: good value, good performance, Outdoors with the Morgan’s, and Yanmar engines.

Hate to admit it. But it’s an addicting show.

 

[snymat68]

My reasons would be: good value, good performance, Outdoors with the Morgan’s, and Yanmar engines.

DITTO.

I had been thinking about a SCUT for a few years. That's actually how I stumbled onto Mike's channel way back when he only had a couple dozen videos. I watched them all and subscribed. Been watching them ever since. I had never heard of RK tractors until he made the deal with them for his channel. That's about the time I was seriously starting to compare different makes and models. Being able to see them used so extensively on his channel was a plus, but at the end of the day, it was the price point that sealed the deal for me.

On a side note, Mike is pretty local to me. We actually shop at the same Rural King. I met him once. Cool, down-to-earth guy, just like in his videos.

I've had my RK24 since March of this year and, other than a couple minor issues, it's been a workhorse. Up to about 115 hrs so far. The response time and customer service regarding my couple issues was top notch.

 

[Scrambler82]

I just looked at the Site.

Manufacturer claims on FEL lift look good (2100 lbs.) but as I have found out the hard way, they are never what the Manufacturer claim them to be, RK's claims... we will see.

I do not like the fact they don't have "Shift on the Fly" HST, one of Yanmar's better features !
There doesn't appear to be any Dealers in the South West...; these are things that would put a BIG "NOT" in the works.

Too bad actually, IF the manufacturer can live up to the claimed specifications and expand the Dealership/Service Locations, then this could be a good Tractor.

snymat68,
Doe the RK24 have a Shift on the Fly HST ?
Thx

Ltr

 

[snymat68]

I just looked at the Site.

Manufacturer claims on FEL lift look good (2100 lbs.) but as I have found out the hard way, they are never what the Manufacturer claim them to be, RK's claims... we will see.

I do not like the fact they don't have "Shift on the Fly" HST, one of Yanmar's better features !
There doesn't appear to be any Dealers in the South West...; these are things that would put a BIG "NOT" in the works.

Too bad actually, IF the manufacturer can live up to the claimed specifications and expand the Dealership/Service Locations, then this could be a good Tractor.

snymat68,
Doe the RK24 have a Shift on the Fly HST ?
Thx

Ltr

No it doesn't. To change H/L range and 4WD you must be stopped.

As for the lift capacity, at least for the RK24, the mfg spec is pretty much spot on. I have another thread on here (with graphs) where I did a bunch of independent testing to verify it.

 

[BoneStock]

My deciding factor. Price and warranty. They have taken care of me on warranty so far, having had my differential rebuilt already.
Price was unbeatable, and they are the same SCUT as everyone else.
I looked at Massey, Mahindra, and New Holland....and my RK19. Besides from accessories, and minor things, they were the same baseline tractor.

 

[k0ua]

Hm... what brands of HST tractor have "shift on the fly" ranges. Even the Kubota HST+ is not exactly shift on the fly. It is a variable displacement motor in the hydro, the range gears are non synchronized gears just like my Kioti and all other HST tractors I have owned. I am not saying they don't exist, it is just I have not seen a shift on the fly hydrostatic drive tractor. A Kubota Glideshift is a complicated transmission you can shift on the fly, but it is NOT a hydro.

 

[Scrambler82]

Hm... what brands of HST tractor have "shift on the fly" ranges. Even the Kubota HST+ is not exactly shift on the fly. It is a variable displacement motor in the hydro, the range gears are non synchronized gears just like my Kioti and all other HST tractors I have owned. I am not saying they don't exist, it is just I have not seen a shift on the fly hydrostatic drive tractor. A Kubota Glideshift is a complicated transmission you can shift on the fly, but it is NOT a hydro.

The main one I know of is the Yanmar, they claim it and it works.
I hit a pile in low, pickup a load and pull back, start to go forward and think I need high speed, so I reach down push the shift lever too high... bing bam boom, that easy. No stopping, like my Mahindra, no worrying about jamming gears together, just smooth easy shift... up or down. Coming to the pile shift from high to low for power loading.

The two things I find a problem with the Mahindra, one is the lack of power and no on the Shift on the Fly.

I believe the newer Yanmar's say they have it too, sweet thing to have.

I am going out to the web and see what Yanmar offering are now.

Ltr

p.s. Looked on the Yanmar Site, looked at all of the models, new and older, not one mention of the Shift on the Fly !
I do remember the statement in the Brochures but will have to look on my Desk Top to get the old data back.
I am wondering whether or not it is still available.

 

[Qapla]

Not sure I would call it a shift on the fly ... but the NH TC40D has a "turtle/rabbit" mode that allows you to go from a slower, more power drive to a faster less power drive in a given range without stopping.

I can be in a given range, hit the button on the bucket control handle and I will be in turtle mode, allowing me to push into the pile of dirt and lift it. Then, as I pull away, I jut hit the button and I will speed up and travel at a higher rate of speed without having to stop. I can do this in the lower range and the higher range. Now, if I want to go from the lower range to the higher range, I do have to stop.

With a full payload in the FEL and in the upper range, I find I do need to start off in turtle mode and shift to rabbit after I get going or the tractor may stall.

 

[Scrambler82]

Not sure I would call it a shift on the fly ... but the NH TC40D has a "turtle/rabbit" mode that allows you to go from a slower, more power drive to a faster less power drive in a given range without stopping.

I can be in a given range, hit the button on the bucket control handle and I will be in turtle mode, allowing me to push into the pile of dirt and lift it. Then, as I pull away, I jut hit the button and I will speed up and travel at a higher rate of speed without having to stop. I can do this in the lower range and the higher range. Now, if I want to go from the lower range to the higher range, I do have to stop.

With a full payload in the FEL and in the upper range, I find I do need to start off in turtle mode and shift to rabbit after I get going or the tractor may stall.

I was talking about the actual shift lever being moved, but I like that "turtle/rabbit" button mode idea even better.

 

[k0ua]

Not sure I would call it a shift on the fly ... but the NH TC40D has a "turtle/rabbit" mode that allows you to go from a slower, more power drive to a faster less power drive in a given range without stopping.

I can be in a given range, hit the button on the bucket control handle and I will be in turtle mode, allowing me to push into the pile of dirt and lift it. Then, as I pull away, I jut hit the button and I will speed up and travel at a higher rate of speed without having to stop. I can do this in the lower range and the higher range. Now, if I want to go from the lower range to the higher range, I do have to stop.

With a full payload in the FEL and in the upper range, I find I do need to start off in turtle mode and shift to rabbit after I get going or the tractor may stall.

yeah, that is a variable displacement hydraulic motor like the Kubota. Not "shift on the fly range gears.

 

[k0ua]

I was talking about the actual shift lever being moved, but I like that "turtle/rabbit" button mode idea even better.

you would like Kubota HST+ transmission. Essentially 6 ranges with 3 range gears and a hi/low variable displacement motor so you can get a high and low out of each range. Pretty handy. I wish my Kioti had it,

 

[Qapla]

Actually, I do like Kubota but would probably not buy one ...

I do not like the rocker pedal on the HST ... I would rather have the two pedals.

 

[BigMark]

Price Price and Price, I guess I'm getting cheap in my old age.

 

[Tennsawdust]

Price Price and Price, I guess I'm getting cheap in my old age.

Nothing wrong with that!

 

[sengli]

Looked at a lot of options and brands, and the bang for the buck was here. The grand experiment begins on monday when my RK55 is delivered. Looked at the bobcat (CT5550) version and it was a solid $6K more for the same sized unit, with fewer options.