One thing I forgot to mention in the video is that it has a hydraulic cooler ahead of the radiator instead of the driveshaft fan used on the RK24. Also, when talking about the RK24 seat I mention the platform for "loader". I should have said backhoe.
Worked with it a bit this morning. The only thing I'm using the throttle for is to speed up the hydraulics so I can shake dirt out of the bucket. The position isn't a problem. A 2" receiver instead of what's there would be a great idea. I've got one on order for the 3 point, which I'll probably use for everything. My spreader is a little Agri-Fab that I made a linkage so I could reach the on/off lever from the seat of my garden tractor. I fit it up to the tractor yesterday and it's obvious I need to update the linkage anyhow so might as well put it back on the 3 point.
Thanks for the video as I am seriously looking at one of these instead of an RK 24. I too am a mechanic (semi retired) so service isn't really an issue for me.
Hade to fix the light bracelet on mine too so I could get it in the back garage. Kinda had me freaking out at first thinking I'd just bought a tractor that didn't fit in the garage.
If it's anything like the 24 you'll like it. Just keep an eye on hoses and wires they will rub on spots. I had to wrap a couple spots with old firehose jacket.
One nice thing they did with this model was upgrade the loader valve so you can now lift and tilt at the same time. It also has a longer wheelbase than the previous models so it will ride better and be less tippy.
The manual (TYM T25), say not to do it... Doesn't say why, but I'm guessing it about safety as you wouldn't have as much hydraulic power, and load might fall down.
How have you been liking your RK25 I have some property in North Carolina and was thinking about getting this tractor. I have about 15 acres but only about one will be mowed and that is plateaued. I have not actually looked at any of them yet, so this may be too big. I do have a private driveway, going up the mountain that I will have to maintain. Thank you for the videos they have been informative.
I'm very happy with the tractor but I don't mow with it. With ROPS folded it's 7 feet tall so you need to think about whether you need to mow under anything. I mow about 1 1/2 acres with a zero turn. What you save by skipping the mower deck would go a long way to covering the price of a zero turn which will mow faster and not be in the way when you need to use your tractor as a tractor.
Nice video. I have the TYM but the problem they have is TYM doesn't offer R1 tires. Could you tell what your tire sizes are so I can match up my own. In your video u said the rear size but not the front.
I want this and have a lot of plans for this but im torn between this tractor which noticably larger then the rk24h but its only 1k more! The problem is i have an acer yard! I would feel silly in a yard that small with this tractor 😭
If you have a mid mount mower, can you lock it up and use the 3pt hitch independently so you don't have to remove the mower deck? Do those work lights on the rop rotate to the back if necessary?
I don't have the mid mount mower so I don't know how it functions. I have to say that I think a tractor like this is a poor choice for lawn mowing. It's not very maneuverable, you're going to give up a lot of ground clearance with the mower mounted and what you don't spend on a mid mount mower will go a long way toward a quality zero turn which is a better tool for mowing. I can see where if you had a lot to mow with no height problems or things to mow around a 3 point finish mower might be a good way to go. The wire enters the light from the back and is tight enough it would break off if you tried to rotate the light to the rear (assuming the mount will even allow that). It does appear that you could loosen the mount and rotate that so the light pointed rearward if you needed a rear work light.
Karl, Do you happen to know the pros and cons between the RK25 and the TYM T25. TYM builds RK, but wonder what the main difference is between them and is one better than the other. Have a good Fourth of July.
I believe they are the same tractor except the grill and the RK has some accessories that may not be standard on the TYM (BT speakers, tool box, slow vehicle placard).
What other brands did you shop before going with the RK? I'm kind of between this model and a Kubota. Massive price difference and no tractor dealers as close as the RK store. Feel like I'm shopping Harley vs Kawasaki.
I shopped primarily by looking at specs. Green paint is expensive, orange almost as much. I thought Yanmar was interesting (they are the nearest dealer) but it didn't appear they offered R1 tires on the subcompacts. I'm also put off by the tiny wheels on the name brand subcompacts. I do my own wrenching (retired mechanic) so dealer support isn't an issue for me. I liked that the RK tractors come pretty well equipped instead of an up charge for things like hydraulic remote, tool box, top link etc. The name brand tractors might be tougher (I don't know) but what I really need is a strong garden tractor with loader. The 25 fit that bill well. It is a bit larger than I'd prefer. As you've found the price is very attractive. One thing I didn't check until after I made the video: I took a magnet to the transaxle and axle housings. They seem to be steel rather than aluminum. Personally, I wouldn't let an aluminum housing put me off but I know that is a concern to some.
Test drove a tym t25 and a kioti 2510 the tym t25 seemed under powered any thoughts ? Really like the extras on the rk. Great video thanks for making it.
Thanks for watching. The Kioti 2510 is rated at 24.5HP vs. the T25/RK25 at 24.7, so for all intents and purposes the same. You don't say whether the 2510 you drove was HST or manual. There is something I've observed with my RK25 which I think is an effect of the auto throttle and having the tractor in high range. Occasionally I need to move my tractor on the road in front of my house which has a 55MPH speed limit, so I want to get moving as quickly as possible. As it happens the direction I'm going is slightly uphill. If I tramp the pedal as I pull out of my lot the tractor will hesitate or even stumble. The way the auto throttle works is the pedal pulls the throttle open at the same time it's moving the transmission to a "higher" gear. Since there is a bit of lag in the engine spinning up the transmission gets ahead of the engine and it bogs down. If I go to half throttle before I get to the road I can stomp on the pedal and launch it like a rocket. I've also noticed it seems under powered going up grades on my property (high range) which is also eliminated if I give it some throttle before getting on the hill. Bottom line is high range is primarily for transport. If climbing a steep grade or working the tractor it needs to be in low range. I'd suggest you take the same test drive on the T25 again, except set the throttle to about half speed before you drive. Try again in low range. I think your perception of it's power relative to the Kioti will change.
@@carlgalloway2024 Hey thanks for the reply the kioti was hydro. Just wondering your opinion looking to purchase the rk25 but it's 4 hours away so the warranty would be kind of useless to me , thinking about biting the bullet and getting one has more features than some other brands for a lot less money. Just wondering your opinion. Have you had any issues with yours?
@@ocd7036 At about 30 hours I've had no problems. There are times I wish it was bigger and others I wish it was smaller so I guess it must be just the right size ;-). Theoretically RK has traveling technicians. I would want to get some assurances about that before I went RK that far away. You don't say where the TYM dealer is. The T25 is the same as the RK25 except RK throws in bluetooth speakers, the rear hydraulics and of course the decals. I have used the speakers only once when I was expecting a phone call and wanted to hear the ring. I doubt I'll ever use the rear remote. Personally I wouldn't drive an extra half hour to get them for free.
@@carlgalloway2024 tym dealer is 50 minutes from me but they want 5k more for the tractor and won’t budge on the price . Rk store is 4 hours away but to save 5k might be worth it
@@carlgalloway2024 Just had my new T25 delivered 3 days ago. It had the speakers, which I didn't want, so I had them swap them for another set of lights in the same location, but facing rearward. It also has the rear hydraulic ports, toolbox, and a steel hood.
I just received my RK25. Have you tested the right side phone charger and USB ports? My USB ports do not power anything and the wireless charger does not seem to work. You are also correct with the manual comments... It is terrible. Thanks
I have not tested those and doubt I ever will. My phone doesn't have wireless charging and I rarely even use the charger in my car, I easily get a full day just from charging on the nightstand over night. One of these days I'll probably try the speakers.......
I'll test the USB ports, don't think my I-Phone works with wireless charging so not sure I can test that yet. Putting out a video this week on the bluetooth speakers, which I have had issues with. And yes I agree in full the marketing material is lacking at best.
@@TryNewThings I had no problem with my BT speakers connecting to a Pixel 4a 5G Android Phone. I think I would rather have a set of BT hearing protection headphones.
An update for you: My wife ordered a new cell phone that did not come with a charger (what the heck??). But it is wireless charging capable so I gave it it's initial charge on the RK25 (Amazon charger came next day). The charger worked fine, but I did find it only worked with the phone screen facing the seat.
Hi Bob. It has a rear remote, the lever moves horizontally under the seat. It's very easy to kick the lever getting on and off the tractor. I understand some have shortened it to make that harder to do. The lever is pretty low to the floor so it might not be practical for something you want to operate frequently. The remote does not spring back to the neutral position, but stays where you put it, resulting in continuous flow. I've been told that it is done that way because the backhoe connects there and needs the continuous flow. Of course sometimes a backhoe operator will kick it off when dismounting the tractor and after climbing into the hoe seat has to go back and re-enable the hydraulics. In addition to the back hoe I think the continuous flow might be nice for a log splitter. Of course it could be piped up to the loader for something like a post hole digger, assuming it has enough flow. I can also see where it might be interesting to plumb it to a valve block mounted to the ROPS where you could add multiple remotes without digging into the tractor. I don't know what you see that indicates it might be partially rigged for the 3rd function. I haven't noticed anything that made me think that.
It has the third function button built into the loader lever. When you add the valve kit for the third function the button is already there to plug the wiring into.
It was almost a year ago I ordered mine, so my time won't be remotely related to what today's waits are like. Also if you're ordering with an option (tires, back hoe etc.) that has a long lead time that can make your wait longer than someone else. My understanding is that back hoes might currently be scarce. In my case it was about 4 weeks.
@@carlgalloway2024 Thanks for the reply. Didn't order any of the option except for r14 tires, which I don't think it a wait of those. I hope RK does better with thier order tracking. It is a hurry up and wait type feel after 6 weeks now.
Only two issues (18 hours so far). First is the rear tires were slipping in the rims on a hard pull, which I may have mentioned in a later video. Tires had 12 PSI from the factory but Goodyear recommends 18. Inflated to 18 and slipping seems to have stopped. Second is I keep hitting my head on the folded ROPS when working behind the tractor. I really wish they'd done it differently but suspect it needs to be like that for the backhoe. So far I have not regretted going to the larger tractor.
Literally the only video I’ve found with someone showing the tractor really working clearing brush and moving logs. Well done!!
Great machine. Thank you for the information. Very helpful.
Right now a great deal too for tractor and loader 16k + taxes.I got my eye on one too! Trying to decide between it and a EC Used JD 1025r 240Hr.
One thing I forgot to mention in the video is that it has a hydraulic cooler ahead of the radiator instead of the driveshaft fan used on the RK24.
Also, when talking about the RK24 seat I mention the platform for "loader". I should have said backhoe.
Carl, great video!!! I like the throttle position, you will get used to it quickly. I wish it had a real receiver for a trailer hitch.
Worked with it a bit this morning. The only thing I'm using the throttle for is to speed up the hydraulics so I can shake dirt out of the bucket. The position isn't a problem.
A 2" receiver instead of what's there would be a great idea. I've got one on order for the 3 point, which I'll probably use for everything. My spreader is a little Agri-Fab that I made a linkage so I could reach the on/off lever from the seat of my garden tractor. I fit it up to the tractor yesterday and it's obvious I need to update the linkage anyhow so might as well put it back on the 3 point.
I bought the RK25 last year only 1 thing i dont like is where the fuel cap is its unhandy to get to , Very happy with it just at 100 hours !
Thanks for the video as I am seriously looking at one of these instead of an RK 24. I too am a mechanic (semi retired) so service isn't really an issue for me.
Hade to fix the light bracelet on mine too so I could get it in the back garage. Kinda had me freaking out at first thinking I'd just bought a tractor that didn't fit in the garage.
If it's anything like the 24 you'll like it. Just keep an eye on hoses and wires they will rub on spots. I had to wrap a couple spots with old firehose jacket.
One nice thing they did with this model was upgrade the loader valve so you can now lift and tilt at the same time. It also has a longer wheelbase than the previous models so it will ride better and be less tippy.
Does it have a float function?
@@SpartacusSF1 Yes
The manual (TYM T25), say not to do it... Doesn't say why, but I'm guessing it about safety as you wouldn't have as much hydraulic power, and load might fall down.
Super filmik
How have you been liking your RK25 I have some property in North Carolina and was thinking about getting this tractor. I have about 15 acres but only about one will be mowed and that is plateaued. I have not actually looked at any of them yet, so this may be too big. I do have a private driveway, going up the mountain that I will have to maintain. Thank you for the videos they have been informative.
I'm very happy with the tractor but I don't mow with it. With ROPS folded it's 7 feet tall so you need to think about whether you need to mow under anything. I mow about 1 1/2 acres with a zero turn. What you save by skipping the mower deck would go a long way to covering the price of a zero turn which will mow faster and not be in the way when you need to use your tractor as a tractor.
Love my new rk 21, almost bought the 25 it's a nice tractor for the $$. The 25 just a bit big for my needs!!!
Nice video. I have the TYM but the problem they have is TYM doesn't offer R1 tires. Could you tell what your tire sizes are so I can match up my own. In your video u said the rear size but not the front.
Hey that was a good video. Thanks.
I want this and have a lot of plans for this but im torn between this tractor which noticably larger then the rk24h but its only 1k more! The problem is i have an acer yard! I would feel silly in a yard that small with this tractor 😭
Don't concern yourself with what the neighbors think. They'll be jealous anyhow!
Get the RK 21 it's justa right!!!
It seems like nobody on the video tails the price I pay for it
If you have a mid mount mower, can you lock it up and use the 3pt hitch independently so you don't have to remove the mower deck? Do those work lights on the rop rotate to the back if necessary?
I don't have the mid mount mower so I don't know how it functions. I have to say that I think a tractor like this is a poor choice for lawn mowing. It's not very maneuverable, you're going to give up a lot of ground clearance with the mower mounted and what you don't spend on a mid mount mower will go a long way toward a quality zero turn which is a better tool for mowing. I can see where if you had a lot to mow with no height problems or things to mow around a 3 point finish mower might be a good way to go.
The wire enters the light from the back and is tight enough it would break off if you tried to rotate the light to the rear (assuming the mount will even allow that). It does appear that you could loosen the mount and rotate that so the light pointed rearward if you needed a rear work light.
Great video
I may have missed it, but does this have a DPF filter or require DEF?
thanks
It has neither. While I haven't looked up the regulations I suspect from what tractors have them it only applies at 25HP and up.
Karl, Do you happen to know the pros and cons between the RK25 and the TYM T25. TYM builds RK, but wonder what the main difference is between them and is one better than the other. Have a good Fourth of July.
I believe they are the same tractor except the grill and the RK has some accessories that may not be standard on the TYM (BT speakers, tool box, slow vehicle placard).
What other brands did you shop before going with the RK? I'm kind of between this model and a Kubota. Massive price difference and no tractor dealers as close as the RK store. Feel like I'm shopping Harley vs Kawasaki.
I shopped primarily by looking at specs. Green paint is expensive, orange almost as much. I thought Yanmar was interesting (they are the nearest dealer) but it didn't appear they offered R1 tires on the subcompacts. I'm also put off by the tiny wheels on the name brand subcompacts.
I do my own wrenching (retired mechanic) so dealer support isn't an issue for me.
I liked that the RK tractors come pretty well equipped instead of an up charge for things like hydraulic remote, tool box, top link etc.
The name brand tractors might be tougher (I don't know) but what I really need is a strong garden tractor with loader. The 25 fit that bill well. It is a bit larger than I'd prefer. As you've found the price is very attractive.
One thing I didn't check until after I made the video: I took a magnet to the transaxle and axle housings. They seem to be steel rather than aluminum. Personally, I wouldn't let an aluminum housing put me off but I know that is a concern to some.
Test drove a tym t25 and a kioti 2510 the tym t25 seemed under powered any thoughts ? Really like the extras on the rk. Great video thanks for making it.
Thanks for watching.
The Kioti 2510 is rated at 24.5HP vs. the T25/RK25 at 24.7, so for all intents and purposes the same.
You don't say whether the 2510 you drove was HST or manual.
There is something I've observed with my RK25 which I think is an effect of the auto throttle and having the tractor in high range. Occasionally I need to move my tractor on the road in front of my house which has a 55MPH speed limit, so I want to get moving as quickly as possible. As it happens the direction I'm going is slightly uphill. If I tramp the pedal as I pull out of my lot the tractor will hesitate or even stumble. The way the auto throttle works is the pedal pulls the throttle open at the same time it's moving the transmission to a "higher" gear. Since there is a bit of lag in the engine spinning up the transmission gets ahead of the engine and it bogs down. If I go to half throttle before I get to the road I can stomp on the pedal and launch it like a rocket. I've also noticed it seems under powered going up grades on my property (high range) which is also eliminated if I give it some throttle before getting on the hill.
Bottom line is high range is primarily for transport. If climbing a steep grade or working the tractor it needs to be in low range.
I'd suggest you take the same test drive on the T25 again, except set the throttle to about half speed before you drive. Try again in low range. I think your perception of it's power relative to the Kioti will change.
@@carlgalloway2024 Hey thanks for the reply the kioti was hydro. Just wondering your opinion looking to purchase the rk25 but it's 4 hours away so the warranty would be kind of useless to me , thinking about biting the bullet and getting one has more features than some other brands for a lot less money. Just wondering your opinion. Have you had any issues with yours?
@@ocd7036 At about 30 hours I've had no problems. There are times I wish it was bigger and others I wish it was smaller so I guess it must be just the right size ;-).
Theoretically RK has traveling technicians. I would want to get some assurances about that before I went RK that far away.
You don't say where the TYM dealer is. The T25 is the same as the RK25 except RK throws in bluetooth speakers, the rear hydraulics and of course the decals. I have used the speakers only once when I was expecting a phone call and wanted to hear the ring. I doubt I'll ever use the rear remote. Personally I wouldn't drive an extra half hour to get them for free.
@@carlgalloway2024 tym dealer is 50 minutes from me but they want 5k more for the tractor and won’t budge on the price . Rk store is 4 hours away but to save 5k might be worth it
@@carlgalloway2024 Just had my new T25 delivered 3 days ago. It had the speakers, which I didn't want, so I had them swap them for another set of lights in the same location, but facing rearward. It also has the rear hydraulic ports, toolbox, and a steel hood.
I just received my RK25. Have you tested the right side phone charger and USB ports? My USB ports do not power anything and the wireless charger does not seem to work. You are also correct with the manual comments... It is terrible. Thanks
I have not tested those and doubt I ever will. My phone doesn't have wireless charging and I rarely even use the charger in my car, I easily get a full day just from charging on the nightstand over night. One of these days I'll probably try the speakers.......
I'll test the USB ports, don't think my I-Phone works with wireless charging so not sure I can test that yet. Putting out a video this week on the bluetooth speakers, which I have had issues with. And yes I agree in full the marketing material is lacking at best.
@@TryNewThings I had no problem with my BT speakers connecting to a Pixel 4a 5G Android Phone. I think I would rather have a set of BT hearing protection headphones.
An update for you: My wife ordered a new cell phone that did not come with a charger (what the heck??). But it is wireless charging capable so I gave it it's initial charge on the RK25 (Amazon charger came next day). The charger worked fine, but I did find it only worked with the phone screen facing the seat.
Hi Karl, does this tractor have rear remote and it looks like it is partially rigged for a 3rd function set. Up. Is that true. Thanks alot.
Hi Bob. It has a rear remote, the lever moves horizontally under the seat. It's very easy to kick the lever getting on and off the tractor. I understand some have shortened it to make that harder to do. The lever is pretty low to the floor so it might not be practical for something you want to operate frequently.
The remote does not spring back to the neutral position, but stays where you put it, resulting in continuous flow. I've been told that it is done that way because the backhoe connects there and needs the continuous flow. Of course sometimes a backhoe operator will kick it off when dismounting the tractor and after climbing into the hoe seat has to go back and re-enable the hydraulics.
In addition to the back hoe I think the continuous flow might be nice for a log splitter. Of course it could be piped up to the loader for something like a post hole digger, assuming it has enough flow.
I can also see where it might be interesting to plumb it to a valve block mounted to the ROPS where you could add multiple remotes without digging into the tractor.
I don't know what you see that indicates it might be partially rigged for the 3rd function. I haven't noticed anything that made me think that.
Thanks for your reply. I noticed quick connects up on the loader area and down by the floor board on right side of tractor. What are they for? Thanks
It has the third function button built into the loader lever. When you add the valve kit for the third function the button is already there to plug the wiring into.
@@1guyin10 I don't seem to have that button on my lever.
Hopefully if I get a 3rd function it'll include the appropriate lever.
How long did you have to wait to get the RK25?
It was almost a year ago I ordered mine, so my time won't be remotely related to what today's waits are like. Also if you're ordering with an option (tires, back hoe etc.) that has a long lead time that can make your wait longer than someone else. My understanding is that back hoes might currently be scarce.
In my case it was about 4 weeks.
@@carlgalloway2024 Thanks for the reply. Didn't order any of the option except for r14 tires, which I don't think it a wait of those. I hope RK does better with thier order tracking. It is a hurry up and wait type feel after 6 weeks now.
Any issues so far?
Only two issues (18 hours so far). First is the rear tires were slipping in the rims on a hard pull, which I may have mentioned in a later video. Tires had 12 PSI from the factory but Goodyear recommends 18. Inflated to 18 and slipping seems to have stopped.
Second is I keep hitting my head on the folded ROPS when working behind the tractor. I really wish they'd done it differently but suspect it needs to be like that for the backhoe.
So far I have not regretted going to the larger tractor.