My choices in red

[blacktruck]

I am wanting to buy a new tractor. I've done my share of lurking/research on all of the brands I could find. My choices have came down to either an RK24 or a MF1725MB. I cannot say that I read of any what I would call real issues with either other than a freak occurrence here or there. I cannot say that I am particularly leaning either way as yet. There is a MF dealer about 5 miles from home. RK is about 75 miles. What is the word from those who own those brands? Any non-published issues? Idiosyncrasies that nobody talks about? Just the good or bad with either brand if you know of something.

 

[JLH4]

I can't speak for the Massy but for the RK24 that I have. Couldn't be happier with the RK24 (150+ hrs.).
My dealer is only about 10 miles away and what little I have needed done (50 hr. checkup) was done quickly and well.
If you go to the Rural King forum, toward the end of this site, you will see both pros and cons about RK tractors. The only thing I needed to fix was the front drive shaft cover came loose so I wired it so it couldn't come loose anymore. I don't mow with mine but I do use a 5 ft. grader blade and 4 ft. box blade plus some firewood logging and it has done everything I asked it. I'll try to put a couple pictures up. I've added a few things like a bigger toolbox and grapple.
Good luck and post pictures.

 

[i7win7]

Own neither, tractors will need parts and maintenance. MF dealer probably been around for years, has respectable parts inventory, trained mechanics and cheaper pu/delivery rates if you can't haul tractor yourself. Use RK for spare parts (hoses, hydraulic connectors, tractor accessories and bling) implements may be cheaper than dealer - your call here.

 

[forestcreature1]

To help your research:
MF compacts are Iseke
RK are TYM

A while back, RK imported some tractors, dropped the idea, then picked it up with another maker/brand years later.
That is a risk with any retailer, they are in business to sell 'things'. They are not in business to service things.
A dealer is more likely to stick to something longer.

I am not knocking RK, I drive by mine 2x a day (usually only go in 1x/week) - but if you are wanting/needing support, repairs, options - they are not the best choice.
[not their fault, it's not their business model]

Also, go visit the service dept of all your local and not-so-local tractor dealers.
If they treat you and the other people in there decently, then buy their machine.
You are not going to find a ton of difference between one compact and another since there are only like 5 OEM's out there and they all copy each other.
(sort of like telling the difference between small SUV's. There may be some subtle differences, but none of them are going to win the Indy 500)

AGCO has several flavors, I don't recall if all of their labels are carrying compacts.
I have had nothing but stellar service from AGCO & Deere, I started with Deere because they were cheaper [yes] than the other choices back in the 90's for a 4100 sized machine. I was only visiting places that serviced their machines right there, and if it was a single guy working out of a former gas station, I passed him up.
Nothing against those guys personally, but a one man shop has limitations that a larger operation doesn't. (like if your machine needs something and the guy is on vacation - or died - or lost the shop in some other manner).

The dealers I use are both 3+ generation shops. I expect them to know tons more than I do, and they do. I have not had any serious issues with the machines [6 over the years], but the minor things they can talk me through a diag over the phone & have always had what I needed [information and/or parts] right there.

Good luck with your journey & keep us posted!

 

[jeff9366]

There is a MF dealer about 5 miles from home. RK is about 75 miles. What is the word from those who own those brands?

To deliver the tractor for repair, then to pick it up, requires two round trips, or total travel of either twenty miles or 300 miles. Even my competent local Kubota dealer occasionally requires a second shot at anomalies that I describe as 'intermittent'.

Unless you feel qualified to perform your own service competently, a full service dealer five miles from your land will be infinitely better than dealer seventy-five miles from your land, who will have to ship your machine to a impersonal regional repair facility if anything moderately serious goes wrong.

At age 73 I'll struggle with what seems like simple repairs for two hours before I call in the Kubota mechanic. He generally gets to me within two days and fixes what I have not been able to fix in twenty minutes.

 

[ptsg]

Since you're into red already, don't rule out Branson. There are lots of dealers in Texas and very happy owners using the forum.

Branson is made by Kukje, its parent company. Engines are build under Cummins license and it's a very robust and solid tractor overall. Very simple tractor, with little to no electronics, yet still retain the nice features of today's tractors.

All cast iron and sheet metal construction. No plastic hood or fenders. No aluminium housings.

 

[aspg4]

I am wanting to buy a new tractor. I've done my share of lurking/research on all of the brands I could find. My choices have came down to either an RK24 or a MF1725MB. I cannot say that I read of any what I would call real issues with either other than a freak occurrence here or there. I cannot say that I am particularly leaning either way as yet. There is a MF dealer about 5 miles from home. RK is about 75 miles. What is the word from those who own those brands? Any non-published issues? Idiosyncrasies that nobody talks about? Just the good or bad with either brand if you know of something.

If you are still located in the city your profile shows the nearest MF dealer is located 63 miles from you, and the nearest RK dealer is located hundreds of miles away in KY.....

 

[blacktruck]

If you are still located in the city your profile shows the nearest MF dealer is located 63 miles from you, and the nearest RK dealer is located hundreds of miles away in KY.....

The city shown is my work location. As much as it is embarrassing to admit, I live in Illinois. Love the state, hate the politics going on. I shopped at local RK stores for many years before I moved away as a much younger man. In my current home the closest RK dealer is Mattoon Illinois. It's about an hour and half away. If I really lived in Texas, I would not even consider the brand. I'm teleworking now for a few weeks so doing some searching and deciding what I want to buy from my home.

 

[blacktruck]

Since you're into red already, don't rule out Branson. There are lots of dealers in Texas and very happy owners using the forum.

Branson is made by Kukje, its parent company. Engines are build under Cummins license and it's a very robust and solid tractor overall. Very simple tractor, with little to no electronics, yet still retain the nice features of today's tractors.

All cast iron and sheet metal construction. No plastic hood or fenders. No aluminium housings.

I will look at those. I cannot honestly say I have ever ran across a Branson dealer in the areas I frequent but that isn't a deal breaker.

 

[cdaigle430]

The new MF Subcompacts are so much better in many ways other than the BH. The BH is a little lighter than my GC2410 but that hasnt been an issue, users have been complaining about the joysticks breaking-hopefully they fixed that by now. MF has been great for me, mine is 10 years old now and so fa the only thing I had to repair was the front axle pivot seals which i did myself.

Cant speak for the RK but having a dealer near you will save a lot of hassle when you need parts, or service or accessories. I am thinking about trading my GC2410 for the MF1725MB because the ergonomics and SSQA option are better. I dont have SSQA on mine.

 

[dodge man]

I would go for MF for sure. Closer, a name brand, etc. I assume you looked at JD and Kubota. There are lots of used JD 1 series and Kubota BX tractors out there.

I live in Illinois also, do not be embarrassed that you live here, be embarrassed for the people that run the state. Not you fault.

 

[blacktruck]

The new MF Subcompacts are so much better in many ways other than the BH. The BH is a little lighter than my GC2410 but that hasnt been an issue, users have been complaining about the joysticks breaking-hopefully they fixed that by now. MF has been great for me, mine is 10 years old now and so fa the only thing I had to repair was the front axle pivot seals which i did myself.

Cant speak for the RK but having a dealer near you will save a lot of hassle when you need parts, or service or accessories. I am thinking about trading my GC2410 for the MF1725MB because the ergonomics and SSQA option are better. I dont have SSQA on mine.

Yea, I have seen a few posts about the joysticks coming loose. I was hoping that was an issue that is resolved or replaced by an improved product. Having a local dealer is an issue to be sure. The local MF dealer is a family owned store and been in business for two generations that I know of. My use of the BH would be limited at the present time but it is a nice tool to have when you do need it. My experience tells me that I would use it more if I were home all of the time. I would find reasons to dig some dirt on occasion. Having a thumb and QD for the BH bucket (from an aftermarket supplier) is a plus too. I have considered a compact tractor instead of a subcompact but as I get older, the need to do bigger jobs and more work is becoming far less important. The typical subcompacts of today are pretty capable machines within their limitations. On the rare occasion I would need to do more work, I would rent a bigger machine if I could not tackle it with my little tractor.

 

[GeneV]

I got the GC1710 last year, it's been nothing short of great, zero problems so far. I got it gently used with 60 hrs on it, I have around 200 on it now.

 

[blacktruck]

I got the GC1710 last year, it's been nothing short of great, zero problems so far. I got it gently used with 60 hrs on it, I have around 200 on it now.

I have seen a few of the GC1710's for sale online. Is there a substantial difference between those and the 1725MB?

 

[fried1765]

I have seen a few of the GC1710's for sale online. Is there a substantial difference between those and the 1725MB?

Go for the Massey!
The long term RK story?
Remember the Cabela's tractors? They were built by TYM also.
I think it quite likely that history will repeat.
Massey has been around for MANY years!

 

[GeneV]

I have seen a few of the GC1710's for sale online. Is there a substantial difference between those and the 1725MB?

Oh I didn't even notice that you're in IL! That's 3 of us now on this thread...watch out, Illinoisans be takin over!

Ok, so the new GC's have the loader joystick on the fender and tilt steering, those are the biggest changes. I would love to have both, but I heard complaints on that as well. Tractor Time with Tim on Youtube had a review on the new models, says the tilt steering just ended up in his lap when he tilted it. Another thing he said was MF relocating the joystick to the fender meant they also moved the 3ph lever a bit, so now it's hitting the back of your right calf...at least that's what he was complaining about, but he's a fairly tall dude. I'm 5'7", I didn't notice those issue when I tried out the 1725 at a dealership one time.

My biggest concern with the new models is all the reports of the backhoe valve problems. Evidently MF opted to save a couple bux on mfg, and it shows. So that kinda sux, but I'm sure they'll have a fix out for it once too many people start b1tching...squeaky wheel and all.

Oh yeh, a few other upgrades with the new models, I believe the floor is now fully flat, and has a 1-peace rubber mat. I think that's pretty nice. Also, supposedly the seat is a little better, but I wouldn't care about that...first thing I did on mine was tear that turntable seat/mechanism out and install a seat with a flip-down seat back.

And lastly, you'll probably get a better deal on a GC1710.

But whatever you decide as far as gc model, I'd go Massey over RK in your case coz of the dealer distance and also who knows where RK will end up...maybe they'll be around for the long haul, maybe they won't. Massey at least has a record of staying power.

Oh yeh, one other thing. From what I saw, the RK24 is a real nice tractor, I'm not gonna slam it at all. But, not for sure but I think you gotta take off all the 3ph stuff from the back to mount the backhoe. I may be wrong about that, apologies if I am. Not that I would care personally, I don't use the 3ph. But on the MF, it all folds up, you don't have to remove anything when mounting the backhoe.

 

[blacktruck]

Go for the Massey!
The long term RK story?
Remember the Cabela's tractors? They were built by TYM also.
I think it quite likely that history will repeat.
Massey has been around for MANY years!

Yea, the Cabela tractors never made any sense to me. The tractors didn't align with their core products in any way. It was a short sighted venture in my opinion.

Oh I didn't even notice that you're in IL! That's 3 of us now on this thread...watch out, Illinoisans be takin over!

My biggest concern with the new models is all the reports of the backhoe valve problems. Evidently MF opted to save a couple bux on mfg, and it shows. So that kinda sux, but I'm sure they'll have a fix out for it once too many people start b1tching...squeaky wheel and all.

And lastly, you'll probably get a better deal on a GC1710.

But whatever you decide as far as gc model, I'd go Massey over RK in your case coz of the dealer distance and also who knows where RK will end up...maybe they'll be around for the long haul, maybe they won't. Massey at least has a record of staying power.

Oh yeh, one other thing. From what I saw, the RK24 is a real nice tractor, I'm not gonna slam it at all. But, not for sure but I think you gotta take off all the 3ph stuff from the back to mount the backhoe. I may be wrong about that, apologies if I am. Not that I would care personally, I don't use the 3ph. But on the MF, it all folds up, you don't have to remove anything when mounting the backhoe.

I agree, I would use the BH and 3PH hitch fairly often and I did notice that feature. I appreciate your input.

 

[snowfarmer73]

if you want to see how the RK 24 works go on you tube and check out Outdoors with the Morgans as Mike had one and a RK 37 and RK 55

 

[blacktruck]

if you want to see how the RK 24 works go on you tube and check out Outdoors with the Morgans as Mike had one and a RK 37 and RK 55

That was one of the reasons I started looking at the RK tractors. He did use them well and made some good videos on it. I wouldn't pick on his videos but most of us only have one tractor so we probably use and overuse our tractors for things that are probably outside of what they were designed for. I am pretty sure I have been guilty of way overworking the present tractor too often.

 

[MoMower]

I’ve had two MF GCs. A 2014 GC1710, and now a 2019 GC1723e. Sold the 1710 @550 hrs or so to buy the 1723, now at 190 hours. I use them on our farmette and commercially, zero issues with either.