RK service and warranty work.

[Snowman754]

So my biggest fear came true. After researching for a year I bought an RK55h tractor new. I wasnt worried about the quality of the tractor as it is made by TYM but about the service like everyone else. (Fears about the quality of the tractor are for another post). I was worried that the store may not have good mechanics, quick service, communication etc. I bought the tractor planning to do most recurring services myself and hoping I would never need to use any warranty work.

After about 5 hours on the tractor I noticed the steering wheel didnt come to a hard stop when turning the wheels all the way to the left. Instead it would very slowly continue to spin left. Again this was very slowly at first and I didnt think much about it. Over the course of the next 15 hours on the tractor i noticed the condition deteriorated significantly. I submitted my problem to "RK tractor guy" and the next day got a call from the rural king where I purchased it. They told me to bring it up there to look at it. The tractor manager came in on his day off to meet me to get the tractor in on a Sunday. The mechanic called me the next morn to tell me the problem. (The hydraulic steering control on the front end needed to be replaced). He called me two days later to let me know he got confirmation the parts were on the way. He called me middle of next week to tell me all was fixed. All under warranty, no charge. I contacted the tractor manager and we set up a time for him to come in Saturday for me to pick up the tractor. When I told him Saturday that I was running early he arranged with customer service for me to get it.

Bottom line, my heart almost stopped when the problem developed but I was extremely impressed with the people I worked with at the store and am much more comfortable with them. I hope they are able to continue to provide quality service.

The Rural King I purchased from is in Martinsville VA.

 

[DonRybak]

Thanks Snowman754 for the post. Very encouraging to hear everything went well. I have had my RK37HC for almost 2 years and have not had to use the RK service center. I did develop a crack in my fuel tank and when I went to the store to report it the service manager said I was the second one to have that issue. He showed me the talk he had replaced a couple weeks earlier and it was cracked in the same exact place. This was on a Sunday and on Wednesday he called me that the new tank was in and I could bring the tractor in for them to replace it or I could bring the old tank and swap it. I did the latter. Several weeks later I was at the store picking up horse feed and he told me that a third one had crack. He said that it was only the cab models because they are a different design. The new tank seemed to be a little beefier in the area where the mounting bolts go. Sure hope others have great experiences with their service centers.

 

[Snowman754]

Good to know they CAN do something with tractors. I know they have had a small engine shop but I am more secure knowing they do support tractors after the sale.

 

[fried1765]

So my biggest fear came true. After researching for a year I bought an RK55h tractor new. I wasnt worried about the quality of the tractor as it is made by TYM but about the service like everyone else. (Fears about the quality of the tractor are for another post). I was worried that the store may not have good mechanics, quick service, communication etc. I bought the tractor planning to do most recurring services myself and hoping I would never need to use any warranty work.

After about 5 hours on the tractor I noticed the steering wheel didnt come to a hard stop when turning the wheels all the way to the left. Instead it would very slowly continue to spin left. Again this was very slowly at first and I didnt think much about it. Over the course of the next 15 hours on the tractor i noticed the condition deteriorated significantly. I submitted my problem to "RK tractor guy" and the next day got a call from the rural king where I purchased it. They told me to bring it up there to look at it. The tractor manager came in on his day off to meet me to get the tractor in on a Sunday. The mechanic called me the next morn to tell me the problem. (The hydraulic steering control on the front end needed to be replaced). He called me two days later to let me know he got confirmation the parts were on the way. He called me middle of next week to tell me all was fixed. All under warranty, no charge. I contacted the tractor manager and we set up a time for him to come in Saturday for me to pick up the tractor. When I told him Saturday that I was running early he arranged with customer service for me to get it.

Bottom line, my heart almost stopped when the problem developed but I was extremely impressed with the people I worked with at the store and am much more comfortable with them. I hope they are able to continue to provide quality service.

The Rural King I purchased from is in Martinsville VA.

Nice to hear that sort of news!

 

[gunny0628]

Good to hear. I recently have had to have my tractor taken back to have a seal replaced that was leaking oil everywhere. I deal with Tracey at the store and she is phenomenal. She goes above and beyond every single time. I feel like I am truly important with her.

Shawn is the the guy at the Williston shop and they run him ragged. He’s got his work cut out for him. He’s a good guy.

I will say that I’m only disappointed that my tractor has been scratched up from the tie down chains from the trailer. I would think that after buying forty thousand dollars worth of stuff they could figure out a way not to scratch it.

 

[fried1765]

Good to hear. I recently have had to have my tractor taken back to have a seal replaced that was leaking oil everywhere. I deal with Tracey at the store and she is phenomenal. She goes above and beyond every single time. I feel like I am truly important with her.

Shawn is the the guy at the Williston shop and they run him ragged. He’s got his work cut out for him. He’s a good guy.

I will say that I’m only disappointed that my tractor has been scratched up from the tie down chains from the trailer. I would think that after buying forty thousand dollars worth of stuff they could figure out a way not to scratch it.

Nylon straps will not scratch!
Are they legal in Florida?
EVERYTHING is legal in Florida.
I live there too!

 

[DonRybak]

Gunny, it sounds like they trailered the tractor for you. I have never had to have any warranty work done but the impression I got was that it was my responsibility to bring the tractor to them. I paid someone to deliver my tractor to me when I bought it in 2018 because I couldn't see spending the $$$ to buy one that would very rarely be used. Be safe and have a great day......Don

 

[Qapla]

Nylon straps will not scratch!
Are they legal in Florida?
EVERYTHING is legal in Florida.
I live there too!

It depends on who you talk to. According to the FDOT people/officers I have talked to, cargo straps are NOT legal to tie down tractors and heavy equipment in Florida - only chains with binders.

Other law officers will say the straps are OK for farm tractors.

I have never been pulled over with straps or chains so I don't know "first hand"


BTW - I am also in Florida ... not far from Gunny

 

[shooterdon]

Good to hear they took care of you.

I had the same fears and I am 200 miles from a RK that sells tractors so I crossed them off my list last year. Shortly after buying the LS TYM opened a dealer 12 miles from me. They seem like decent machines.

 

[Robert Loblaw]

Thanks Snowman754 for the post. Very encouraging to hear everything went well. I have had my RK37HC for almost 2 years and have not had to use the RK service center. I did develop a crack in my fuel tank and when I went to the store to report it the service manager said I was the second one to have that issue. He showed me the talk he had replaced a couple weeks earlier and it was cracked in the same exact place. This was on a Sunday and on Wednesday he called me that the new tank was in and I could bring the tractor in for them to replace it or I could bring the old tank and swap it. I did the latter. Several weeks later I was at the store picking up horse feed and he told me that a third one had crack. He said that it was only the cab models because they are a different design. The new tank seemed to be a little beefier in the area where the mounting bolts go. Sure hope others have great experiences with their service centers.

I haven't used RK for service yet, but Chris at the Leesburg, FL store has been great. He is their tractor guy and has been helpful on a handful of things I've needed since buying my 37HC.

Don, where did your fuel tank crack? I got my tractor last fall & want to be on the lookout.

 

[gunny0628]

Sorry for the delay here. I originally paid for the pickup and delivery to fix the leak described in an earlier post. The tractor is still leaking after one visit to Williston and another attempt to fix it on site. Not sure what’s up. I called on Monday and still no callback on what they are gonna do. I was told the driveshaft might be egg shaped causing a wobble in the front seal. I can’t afford to be without the tractor to mow right now at the height of mowing season. We run a horse farm and my wife is teaching lessons during the summer. We run a business and depend on our place not looking overgrown. It’s why we bought a brand new tractor. Guess I’m glad I have the green zero turn as a back up.

The bucket is back to being not level. I’m frustrated. I just turned 100 hours on this tractor and I paid cash for it out of my retirement to make my life easier. And honestly, I’m regretting it. I love the tractor and Tracey at the local store - but Rural King has not impressed me with this. We still don’t know who is above the store level tractor folks and who is making decisions.

I really do like the tractor. Seems like a work horse. But leaking at 60 hours is unacceptable.

 

[DonRybak]

Robert, the tank is held on by 5 or 6 bolts that go through the back wall behind the seat into threaded nut plates molded into the plastic of the tank. The crack formed between two of the nut plates. I had filled my tank prior to heading out to mow my pastures. I noticed that the fuel level was low and thought it was odd I would go through most of a tank in that short of a time. Drove back to the house to fill the tank again and when I walked to the back of the tractor I saw the whole back end of the tractor was wet. At first I though it wa hydraulic fluid but when I rubbed my hand through it and smelled it you could tell it was diesel. I got down and looked and the fuel was running down the back wall of the tractor and dripping on the rear end area. I thought maybe the hose had came loose but the clamp was tight. I called the min tractor guy at the store and he said he had another buyer that had that problem and he asked me to pull the tank for him to look at. I took the tank in and he said the other tank was cracked in the same exact place. He took several pictures of the tank and said he'd get one ordered that afternoon. I asked him if I could take the tank back to mount and use until the new tank came in since the crack was high enough up the back that it would still hold about 2 gallons. I took the tank home, remounted it and was able to use the tractor but the new tank came in about 3 days. If I would've known it would be that quick I would have just let him keep it since I had to take it back to the store when I picked up the new one. He told me several weeks later that another 37HC had a cracked tank also. The new tank was harder to mount that the original so I'm thinking that maybe the new ones are beefier.

 

[DonRybak]

Thanks for the clarification Gunny. I feel your frustration with the bucket issue. I was sure that the realignment of the loader they did on your machine was going to be the fix and I was going to try doing mine at home with my neighbor once it cools down enough to even be outside much less lying on the concrete driveway. But evidently that would be a waste of time........Don

 

[gunny0628]

Hey Don. Yeah. I’m just frustrated. At least my gas tank didn’t crack and pour diesel all over my fields. Not sure I would’ve been very pleased over that.

I guess it could always be worse. And the heat has been horrible for sure. We’ve had feels-like temps of 107. Same for you guys I’m sure.

 

[fried1765]

Hey Don. Yeah. I知 just frustrated. At least my gas tank didn稚 crack and pour diesel all over my fields. Not sure I would致e been very pleased over that.

I guess it could always be worse. And the heat has been horrible for sure. We致e had feels-like temps of 107. Same for you guys I知 sure.

Florida Heat ??
People sometimes ask me why I live in Florida, but spend every Summer on the coast of New England!
I spent the Summers of '62, and '63, in Florida,... at NAS Pensacola.
We were issued salt tablets each day!
I was a quick learner....58 years ago!
No Florida in Summer for me!

 

[Yallwatchthis]

Hey gang! I wanted to stop by and add to this thread. I had my RK24 serviced at the Wytheville, VA store this past week and have nothing but great things to say. As a new tractor owner with little experience under a hood, short of servicing a riding mower, I was allowed to stay and watch the service being performed. With this being the tractor's first service, I wanted to make sure that it was completed properly. Mr. Dave was extremely patient with me while answering all of my questions. He even went over the little intricate details that one might learn in frustration the first time doing it solo. I honestly feel that, if I had to perform a service on the tractor next week, I could do so without hesitation.

With that being said, the only negative thing I have to say about the experience is when the Stihl (small engine) Manager decided to show his 'hind end. The way he talked to my new friend was unacceptable. This is not the first "run in" that I have had with this "manager." I witnessed the same individual "dress down" an employee in front of myself and several other patrons in the store on a previous shopping experience. In my profession, I manage 20-25 employees each week and would not tolerate an employee, much less a manager, speak to other employees with that much disrespect. We have a motto in the station of "you are free to resolve any issue with another employee, so long as it is done with respect and without emotion." Sorry...rant over!

Rural King has evidently opened another store in Bristol, VA and in doing so has taken one of the Wytheville stores greatest assets. Chuck sold me, as well as one of my good friends, our RK24's. He is extremely knowledgeable and talented. I wish him the best but hope that he finds his way back to Wytheville. Every time that I shopped at the store and Chuck saw me, he always made a point to walk up and say "hey man! How is the tractor doing? Do you need anything? Let me know when you want to schedule the service and I will set it up for you." He always went above and beyond in the customer service department.

Enough rambling. Just wanted to share my experience and how thoroughly pleased I was with service after the sale. Hope this helps!
Steve

 

[gunny0628]

Yeah Florida. The heats been bad. I try really hard to worry about what’s important and not to sweat the small stuff - but right now my tractor is important.