Considering trading in my RK55SC

[RKTractorFan]

I am considering trading in my RK55SC (Shuttle) on a RK55HC (Hydrostatic). I am finding myself doing alot more loader work forward/reverse work etc than I originally thought and I am concerned I am going to wear something out (clutch or something else).

Does anyone have any experience with trading with RK or if RKTractorGuy is around maybe he can point me in the right direction? I 100% want to stay with RK.


Thanks in advance.

 

[RK Tractor Guy]

I am considering trading in my RK55SC (Shuttle) on a RK55HC (Hydrostatic). I am finding myself doing alot more loader work forward/reverse work etc than I originally thought and I am concerned I am going to wear something out (clutch or something else).

Does anyone have any experience with trading with RK or if RKTractorGuy is around maybe he can point me in the right direction? I 100% want to stay with RK.


Thanks in advance.

The choice of shuttle shift or hydro for loader work is one of personal preference. Both transmissions can handle to work well, the shuttle-shirt was designed for that back and forth operation. Both are reliable and will hold up. If you are happy with the productivity using the shuttle, I'd say keep it. The hydro costs $2k more, and you may have other uses for that money.

 

[ovrszd]

A hydro additionally eats HP. You will immediately notice that. It eats HP all the time.

You aren't going to wear out anything using the shuttle if it's properly built.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Don't slip the clutch and you won't wear it out!

I have never had to replace a clutch on a loader tractor, my neighbor goes through AT LEAST one a year!

He was bragging to me, just how fast he is able to replace his... That's what happens when you use the clutch to adjust your speed, instead of the throttle or transmission!!

SR

 

[s219]

The main advantage of HST for loader work is productivity going in/out of material piles frequently. Having done it with several types of equipment I have no doubt HST will help you get more material moved during a day, maybe as much as 20% more. But I wouldn't be concerned about wear and tear, especially with a shuttle, as they are designed for it. Won't be as productive as HST but it's certainly up to the task. If it was a pure gear tractor I might be concerned about wear and tear on the gears and clutch, but not a shuttle.

Also be sure to consider the pros/cons for all the other work you do with a tractor. As others have said, HST robs some power and that is a waste for PTO operations and/or row-crop farming, mowing, etc, where you are going in one direction for a long time. For stuff like that, I'd skip HST.

 

[s219]

BTW, does RK even take trades? That is an important consideration for many tractor buyers.

 

[cdb2]

BTW, does RK even take trades? That is an important consideration for many tractor buyers.

Yep, they take trade-ins but only RK tractors. It's been mentioned a few times in previous discussions with the RK rep here.

 

[RKTractorFan]

Yep, they take trade-ins but only RK tractors. It's been mentioned a few times in previous discussions with the RK rep here.

I have contacted my local RK and have been told that the DO NOT take trade ins whatsoever. I too assumed that they did, but unfortunately have not had any luck hearing back from RKTractorGuy on the forums or their website when I requested trade in info after my local store manager told me that they dont take trades.

 

[Diggin It]

Thanks for your nice comment. Unfortunately, we are not set up to take trades on other than RK Tractors. We are not licensed as a retailer to sell used equipment other than products in our brand, and we believe that when it comes to the under 60HP segment, people are much better off by selling privately via places like Craigslist rather than take what dealers offer. We hope that you will check out our tractors during your next visit to an RK. We are adding several IN stores to our tractor store lineup in early 2019.

Thank you very much for your interest in rk tractors. With respect to the RK37 trade at our Parkersburg WV location, it is a trade, not a return. The customer had the hydro and decided that the shuttle was a better match to his land, which is hilly, but the trade had nothing to do with his concern about the tractor being tippy. He traded it for the same tractor, just a different transmission, and you can apply more power when needed in hilly operations. If he was concerned about it being tippy, he would not have done that. As for the R1 Ag tires being wider, they have flip-center wheels, so they can be mounted conventionally or flipped to widen the stance. If you decide to purchase that RK37 that was traded in, we are happy to provide and mount the R1s for you. Hope this info is helpful, and again, thank you for your interest.

Unfortunately, a few of us have discovered he isn't always 100% accurate in his statements, he does not like to be criticized and their policies seem to change quite often. He hasn't answered a direct question here in months.

 

[Ford850]

I'm sure the trade in policy varies by location. My nearest RK doesn't sell tractors yet, and if they do I wouldn't trust the current management enough to buy or trade anything of that size. It's a nice place to shop but you'd better know what you're looking for and be prepared to dig for inventory, correct pricing at checkout, and load anything yourself (including implements). Some other locations are managed much better.