RC-50 track problems

[queen of spades]

So I've heard more and more about the RC-30's reliability issues with tracks, drive motors, torsion bars locking up, ect. I'm hesitant to buy another in the future.

Does the RC-50 have the same drive train issues as the RC-30? How many grease fittings are on the torsion links? Do the 50's have the same drive motor as the 30 and if not are the 50's drive motors just as unreliable?

[Digdeep]

So I've heard more and more about the RC-30's reliability issues with tracks, drive motors, torsion bars locking up, ect. I'm hesitant to buy another in the future.

Does the RC-50 have the same drive train issues as the RC-30? How many grease fittings are on the torsion links? Do the 50's have the same drive motor as the 30 and if not are the 50's drive motors just as unreliable?

I own a RC50 and I've never had a problem with the drive train. It has the exact same Rexroth drive motors as the CAT 247 and pretty much the same as all the other OEMs using Rexroth drive motors, Bobcat, Case, NH, etc. You'll find that most OEMs use either Rexroth or Sauer-Danfoss. Takeuchi is built in Japan and uses a Sauer/Danin (sp) final drive.

By the way, I'm sorry to hear about your siezed up undercarriage. I see quite a few RC30s up here and the great majority of people are very happy with them. I have even rented them a couple times for real tight jobs. i will tell you that based on what I've seen and heard that machine will run like a swiss clock if its properly maintained and greased at normal intervals...just like most other machines. It sounds as if the guy you bought it from didn't take care of it.

[Digdeep]

So I've heard more and more about the RC-30's reliability issues with tracks, drive motors, torsion bars locking up, ect. I'm hesitant to buy another in the future.

Does the RC-50 have the same drive train issues as the RC-30? How many grease fittings are on the torsion links? Do the 50's have the same drive motor as the 30 and if not are the 50's drive motors just as unreliable?

Didn't you buy this machine from a guy that sells RC30s in bulk after he buys them from rentals stores? If I remember correctly your machine had around 1000 hours on it and it was a 2001 machine. Thats 8 years old and who knows what was or wasn't done to it. I know ASV had a rental program with Home Depot down in your neck of the woods some time ago. Maybe its just me, and the machine may not have come from one of the Home Depot's but I sure wouldn't view Home Depot as probably being on top of the preventive maintenance/maintenance list like a United or Hertz.

[queen of spades]

Didn't you buy this machine from a guy that sells RC30s in bulk after he buys them from rentals stores? If I remember correctly your machine had around 1000 hours on it and it was a 2001 machine. Thats 8 years old and who knows what was or wasn't done to it.

I bought it from a builder in Georgia. He was coy.. didn't say much except point out the obvious drooling cylinder.. It is a great machine, motor is tight and hydraulics work great. I just don't have tools or know-how to work on the tracks, and investing another 4k in a new undercarriage was just too much (not to mention I don't have tools / jacks to install tracks and dealers are $$$$).

I rented a RC-50 a few months ago for sinkhole work and aside from the machine being beat to hell (Home Depot rental) it had nice power and was light enough to pull without a commercial license. I liked the RC-85 I rented last winter even more, though it is a bit large for smaller backyard jobs (and too heavy for me to legally pull on the roads).

[queen of spades]

I own a RC50 and I've never had a problem with the drive train.

how many grease fittings are in the undercarriage of your 50?

[Digdeep]

I bought it from a builder in Georgia. He was coy.. didn't say much except point out the obvious drooling cylinder.. It is a great machine, motor is tight and hydraulics work great. I just don't have tools or know-how to work on the tracks, and investing another 4k in a new undercarriage was just too much (not to mention I don't have tools / jacks to install tracks and dealers are $$$$).

I rented a RC-50 a few months ago for sinkhole work and aside from the machine being beat to hell (Home Depot rental) it had nice power and was light enough to pull without a commercial license. I liked the RC-85 I rented last winter even more, though it is a bit large for smaller backyard jobs (and too heavy for me to legally pull on the roads).

It may be too rich for your blood but I would call your local ASV dealer to see about buying one of their undercarriage packages. It's a complete undercarriage already fully assembled tracks, wheels, sprockets and all. I think the RC30 package was just over $4k. If you paid $10k and get an undercarriage package you be into the machine for $14k with an entirely new undercarriage.

I've been extremely happy with the RC50 other than the fact that its a little loud. plenty of power, light, nimble and easy to tow. I would really like to get a PT80 but I'm a full time math teacher and "as much as I can landscaper" (ex Bobcat salesman too).

[Digdeep]

how many grease fittings are in the undercarriage of your 50?

Two on each torsion axle on each side- 8 total. I grease them every time I use the machine just like my pins. Grease is cheap.

[J. Peterson Grading]

I have both a RC50 and a PT80. I have had little problems with both. Nothing out of the norm, for any brand of machine.

To be honest, I couldn't tell you how many grease zerks or on eith one of them. I will tell you I didn't know my 50 even had them untill last winter. And I have had it for 4 seasons now. Its pretty safe to say my torsion bar wont take grease, even if we try to make it happen.

I also think you bought a high hour machine, paid a low price, and expecting to have a "Perfect" machine is quite nieve. Most 30s, no matter how they were used, are a low end (Quality wise) machine. Face it, the machine more than likely wasn't maintained all that well, was beat on, and is going to have problems.

J.

[queen of spades]

I've been extremely happy with the RC50 other than the fact that its a little loud.

I remember that about the rental too. My ears rang the rest of the day. There must be a way to quieten these things down a little?

I'm a full time math teacher and "as much as I can landscaper" (ex Bobcat salesman too).

I'm part-timing now as well.. I know many hear frown on anyone new taking up this line of work.. seems half the guys I talk to down here "encourage" other lines of work, say how "awful" running iron is, no work, very competitive, cut-throat pricing, monotonous, ect. I laugh and say well you've described computer work to a T! Only with IT you have millions of people on the other side of the world competing for jobs... people with a fraction of the living expenses we have in America. I don't mean to start a political discussion, but everyone is so touchy about wealth redistribution except when it comes to our jobs heading overseas.. that is a-OK.. as long as it ain't them they just turn the other way.. winners and losers. Have to have our cheap prices at Wally World.. nevermind that Wal-Mart has put thousands of small businesses out of business.. and forces its suppliers to offshore. Snapper stood up to them and still has a plant in Millidgeville, GA. But that is rare nowdays. Our country just seems to be falling apart, we don't make much of anything anymore. Import so much cheap junk from overseas, import scab work from south of the border.. i really feel for young people growing up here today. but enough of the politics!

I grew up on a farm and enjoy working outside, and love running equipment. My clients are usually surprised to see a woman doing this kind of work, especially for having done this part time for such a short time. An engineer hired me to move a pile of dirt a few weeks ago, but then had me regrade his entire backyard after he saw me run the ASV for an hour. He said I ran it well, asked how long I'd done it. First time I touched a bobcat for a pay job was just 2 years ago. Anyway.. thankful to have a full time gig now and am using that to help fund equipment for down the road. just in case!

[queen of spades]

Two on each torsion axle on each side- 8 total. I grease them every time I use the machine just like my pins. Grease is cheap.

After this experience I will grease before & after jobs.. even the bucket hinge pins were frozen up on the thirty. I pounded them out, had to drill out the hole because the dirt was like cement. Put it back in and greased just fine. I just can't imagine someone paying 20,000 for a machine and just letting it go.. they act like money grows on trees.

[AWJ Services]

There is really nothing wrong with this buisness that is not wrong with any buisness and that is as you mentioned the unstable pricing structure.

Even though your machine has a few issues think of it this way.

At 200 a day rental it is only 50 days of rental to buy it.
So if the machine will do you 50 jobs you will be at the break even point.

Find a mechanic that will work resonable and get as many of the grease fittings usable as possible if you cannot do them yourself and enjoy.

[stuvecorp]

Our Polaris(RC 30) is invaluable, it does have some issues but overall it has been excellent. We have just under 1100 hours on it and have had it since 50 hours and the tracks are still fine. I would never be without it and every where you go it gets a lot of attention and questions.

The best thing is to find someone you trust to work on it. I wouldn't listen to the people that discourage you but this is a brutal industry, good luck.

[DiyDave]

After this experience I will grease before & after jobs.. even the bucket hinge pins were frozen up on the thirty. I pounded them out, had to drill out the hole because the dirt was like cement. Put it back in and greased just fine. I just can't imagine someone paying 20,000 for a machine and just letting it go.. they act like money grows on trees.
The suspension fittings are particularly bad for freezing up. I just had the lower left rear one stop taking grease on my 30. I just pulled the fitting out, installed my 1/8" pipe nipple, coupling, and plug, I keep filling the little reservoir with spray Kroil, I'll let you know how it takes for it to eat through the clog, this time. I think what happened this time was that I was drilling an emergency drywell job, this spring, got the damn thing so muddy, that i went out on the farm, being the lazy loafer that I am, let it sit in a fast flowing waterway, to wash the mud out, then didn't get to greasing it promptly thereafter. Last time I had the undercarriage under water, a front fitting locked up on me. That one took about 6 weeks of the treatment!:waving:

[Ausman]

The Rc50 has no problems with torsion bar bushes at all. If you dont grease them they will wear away, you need to replace them at 1000hrs approx.

I just came in from using my Rc50 on a steep hill leveling for turf, it has 3882hrs and still has all original undercarriage. (never even replaced a wheel) It has cost me nearly nothing except for servicing and enlarging the pin size on the lower loader, this stops the pins breaking!

I got to say it has been a champion machine. Still very tough and the light weight is very handy working on steep hillsides. Though it runs out of fuel at half a tank now i must look at the pick up hose i think.

[stuvecorp]

The Rc50 has no problems with torsion bar bushes at all. If you dont grease them they will wear away, you need to replace them at 1000hrs approx.

I just came in from using my Rc50 on a steep hill leveling for turf, it has 3882hrs and still has all original undercarriage. (never even replaced a wheel) It has cost me nearly nothing except for servicing and enlarging the pin size on the lower loader, this stops the pins breaking!

I got to say it has been a champion machine. Still very tough and the light weight is very handy working on steep hillsides. Though it runs out of fuel at half a tank now i must look at the pick up hose i think.

If the dealers did the stuff you guys do to the machines, people would look at ASV differently. I would love to have a Yanmar or Isuzu instead of the Perkins though.

[Ausman]

Maybe now it is Terex they might look at Cummins you can only hope!

[dnltractor]

I've had my asv rc30 for about 8 months now and it has been the best tool I ever owned thus far , and it has opened up doors for me w/ alot of new builders because of its small size yet ability to do so much work , my zerks were plugged up also , but I cleaned em out and kep em greased daily and no problems since , have over 920 hrs now and bought it at 720 , haven't had any trouble as of yet and plan on buying either the 50 or 60 as soon as I find a good second hand one , I do all my own maintenance externally , belts, hoses rollers etc , but any engine internal work will be for the dealer only , I absolutely love mine ...