I found this site in my search for information regarding my possible restoration of a Ford 8N, and what I have learned is valuable. But I am also considering (at a much higher cost) buying a (small) RK21H tractor from a nearby Rural King store. I have done some research on the tractor, but I have no background on RK products. Any available information would be appreciated. A 3-cylinder Yanmar diesel for power sounds good, but...not cheap.
SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE This is the third time Rural King has marketed a brand of tractors. That
in itself would make me run. What are you going to do when you get the new tractor take it home fuel
it up and drive off with the fuel cap laying on the fender. Well they MIGHT have a fuel cap but two
months down the road you jab a limb thru the radiator want to wait 6 weeks or more for a radiator to
get here. TO me the prices are not that much cheaper than brand name (with dealer service) that are
out there. I would strongly advise you to buy a used brand with service before jumping on that band
wagon.
in itself would make me run. What are you going to do when you get the new tractor take it home fuel
it up and drive off with the fuel cap laying on the fender. Well they MIGHT have a fuel cap but two
months down the road you jab a limb thru the radiator want to wait 6 weeks or more for a radiator to
get here. TO me the prices are not that much cheaper than brand name (with dealer service) that are
out there. I would strongly advise you to buy a used brand with service before jumping on that band
wagon.
J Hamilton
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern Illinois
I think the newer RK brand is made by TYM
grandpa Love
Well-known Member
I bit the bullet today and got a brand
new Massey Ferguson..... See post
below!
new Massey Ferguson..... See post
below!
Listen to JM. I learned the hard way in 1977 when I brought a new Yanmar. It was a good tractor, and it
did serve me well for 13 years. But the dealer abandoned me after a couple years and parts were hard to
get and luckily, I never needed service. When I traded it in nobody wanted it and I had a hard time
getting rid of it and it wasn't worth much to anyone. I was in Rual King yesterday and they had one
tractor in there. They tell me you can get parts and service 50 miles down the road at some dealer I
never heard of. Find yourself a local dealer that's been around a while and well established where you
will get the service afterwards. It may cost a little more but I found it to pay off on service and when
trading in and upgrading. Just my opinion.
did serve me well for 13 years. But the dealer abandoned me after a couple years and parts were hard to
get and luckily, I never needed service. When I traded it in nobody wanted it and I had a hard time
getting rid of it and it wasn't worth much to anyone. I was in Rual King yesterday and they had one
tractor in there. They tell me you can get parts and service 50 miles down the road at some dealer I
never heard of. Find yourself a local dealer that's been around a while and well established where you
will get the service afterwards. It may cost a little more but I found it to pay off on service and when
trading in and upgrading. Just my opinion.
the tractor vet
Well-known Member
The one day i was at Rual KING i was looking at there TONKA toys . Not a bad looking tractor sorta laided out well BUT like you said where are you going to get PARTS and WHO is going to service it when it does break down and does that person have the special tools , all tractors have special tools . Where ya going to get a service manual or parts book and how long will that brand be supported . Be a different ball game if RUAL KING had a PARTS DEPT and a small service dept at the store with a GOOD Wrench turner and the equipment to work with . Parts and service after the sale that is what counts not the price at the sale . I MIGHT have been interested IF they just had the PARTs on hand and the service manual that was in ENGLISH .
J Hamilton
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern Illinois
Run Forest Run!
RK tractors are made by TYM and I think it will have a Yanmar engine, not that this is bad, but I am seeing a huge lack of dealer support for a supposedly large manufacturer. If you have a TYM dealer close by, make sure it's a full service dealer not like RK.
I looked into TYM brand several years ago, I didn't see anything wrong with the tractors, the features, specs and price were all good. I stopped looking at them when the only local dealer around was dropping the brand, saying they were too difficult to work with on claims.
I looked into TYM brand several years ago, I didn't see anything wrong with the tractors, the features, specs and price were all good. I stopped looking at them when the only local dealer around was dropping the brand, saying they were too difficult to work with on claims.
Butch(OH)
Well-known Member
I don't disagree with any of the other
replys but our local RK has sold quite a
few, mainly that smaller size your looking
at. I was tractor shopping last spring
and checked with the owners of 4 of them,
all were entirely satisfied.
Buying a name brand doesn't mean parts are
on the shelf in this day and age. I work
for a neighbor that had a big green and
yellow one sit half of last fall waiting
on a part.
Another minus to that type is resale
value.
If your generally easy on equipment, do
your own maintanance and plan on keeping
it a long time then you will likely be OK
with a RK tractor. If you can't check all
of those boxes then Id be looking at
Orange or green ones.
replys but our local RK has sold quite a
few, mainly that smaller size your looking
at. I was tractor shopping last spring
and checked with the owners of 4 of them,
all were entirely satisfied.
Buying a name brand doesn't mean parts are
on the shelf in this day and age. I work
for a neighbor that had a big green and
yellow one sit half of last fall waiting
on a part.
Another minus to that type is resale
value.
If your generally easy on equipment, do
your own maintanance and plan on keeping
it a long time then you will likely be OK
with a RK tractor. If you can't check all
of those boxes then Id be looking at
Orange or green ones.
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
For about the same money or less you can buy a low hour JD 855 or 955 the two best compact tractors ever built,keep them 10 years and sell them for as much as you paid.Keep the
RK tractor 10 years and you might get 25% of what you paid for it if you are lucky.
RK tractor 10 years and you might get 25% of what you paid for it if you are lucky.
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
Another option is the Yanmar tractors TSC sells,there is a Yanmar at the local TSC with a loader,24 HP 4WD,hydro for $14,000 don't know how that compares to RK.A friend that owns a Yanmar dealership says they service and do warranty work on the ones TSC sells.still I'd buy the JD 955 on FB MP,33 HP, with loader,4WD,backhoe,500 hrs for $14,000 first.
M-MAN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bostic, NC
If you're in need of a ten year tractor I
think you'll be fine. Won't be much value
or support after that. Not enough volume
for aftermarket vendors to get involved
either.
Massey Ferguson isn't much better but
they have volume on their side.
Aftermarket vendors will supply a good
bit for them due to the volume. My MF
dealer says 10 years is their limit on
support now a day's. Guarantee you he
didn't tell my brother that when he
dropped sixty grand on a new one last
summer.
think you'll be fine. Won't be much value
or support after that. Not enough volume
for aftermarket vendors to get involved
either.
Massey Ferguson isn't much better but
they have volume on their side.
Aftermarket vendors will supply a good
bit for them due to the volume. My MF
dealer says 10 years is their limit on
support now a day's. Guarantee you he
didn't tell my brother that when he
dropped sixty grand on a new one last
summer.
BarnyardEngineering
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rochester, NY
These guys have outdated notions about "dealer service."
You're gonna wait 6 weeks for a radiator from a Kubota, CaseIH or Deere dealer.
You think anyone there knows what's going on, or how to fix your tractor? Pfft.
You'll get a much warmer friendlier reception from the people at RK. At the dealer you get the cigar-munching old walking heart attack of a grouch who gets out of breath reaching for a pen. Acts like its such an inconvenience to work up a price. Just give him your money and save him the trouble.
Like any other "big box" store they have an agreement with local dealers to service the equipment. IF these tractors are indeed TYM, then the local TYM dealer will service it if it breaks down, and provide parts.
You're gonna wait 6 weeks for a radiator from a Kubota, CaseIH or Deere dealer.
You think anyone there knows what's going on, or how to fix your tractor? Pfft.
You'll get a much warmer friendlier reception from the people at RK. At the dealer you get the cigar-munching old walking heart attack of a grouch who gets out of breath reaching for a pen. Acts like its such an inconvenience to work up a price. Just give him your money and save him the trouble.
Like any other "big box" store they have an agreement with local dealers to service the equipment. IF these tractors are indeed TYM, then the local TYM dealer will service it if it breaks down, and provide parts.
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
TSC has been selling Yanmar tractors in my area for about 2 years.
Dave BN
Member
- Location
- Ravenna, Mi.
On the other hand, 100 years from now you may end up with a rare and
valuable tractor lol. If only we could have known what to buy in 1922.
Dave
valuable tractor lol. If only we could have known what to buy in 1922.
Dave
Russ from MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bemidji MN
We have a 2001 JD 4600 with a Yanmar engine, it's been absolutely bulletproof, have never needed any dealer support, but I'm a retired
mechanic. I have always done the recommended service myself, and you can buy any parts online, but I haven't needed anything except fluids
and filters. 1300 hours on it, I need to check the valve clearance this spring.
mechanic. I have always done the recommended service myself, and you can buy any parts online, but I haven't needed anything except fluids
and filters. 1300 hours on it, I need to check the valve clearance this spring.
I am kind of surprised you had so much trouble with a Yanmar - your local John Deere dealership should have been able to set you up for parts - but back then they were probably still pretending Yanmar had nothing to do with them.
But in 1990 the internet wasn't a thing yet and finding parts was probably 100 times harder than it is now. Back then you got on the phone and started calling dealers you didn't know in towns far far away. Now you punch in Yanmar tractor parts into Duck Duck GO and you have a listing of thousands to start looking through. You could get parts for you Yanmar delivered to your door faster than John Deere can get parts for their 2025 delivered to a dealership.
But in 1990 the internet wasn't a thing yet and finding parts was probably 100 times harder than it is now. Back then you got on the phone and started calling dealers you didn't know in towns far far away. Now you punch in Yanmar tractor parts into Duck Duck GO and you have a listing of thousands to start looking through. You could get parts for you Yanmar delivered to your door faster than John Deere can get parts for their 2025 delivered to a dealership.
Russ, thanks for your response. My boss also had a Yanmar-powered JD, and it did the job for us for years at a rural Alabama airport. With that as my primary Yanmar experience, I might soon go with a new Yanmar 3-cylinder diesel, either in a Rural King tractor or a TYM from Ocala Tractor. Or I might buy an older Yanmar-powered tractor. I've read on this site that Yanmar has a factory in Georgia, although I have also read that parts availability for older Yanmars is sketchy. I would hope that problem is solved for the newer Yanmars. Any advice would be appreciated.
Geo-TH, thanks for the response. Because of good experience with an older Yanmar-powered JD tractor, I am thinking Yanmar power is the way to go in my next tractor, either new or used. But cash is tight and financing is easy, so I might end up with a new Rural King RK21 or a TYM from Ocala Tractor -- the smallest option available, but both powered by the same 3-cylinder Yanmar diesel. A PTO and a 3-point hitch are required. Although RK service is traditionally suspect, I have heard good about Ocala Tractor and their service department. Time will tell. Thanks again
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