Montana Tractor Roll Call

[JDeerekid]

I figured that we can give everyone and update on all of our tractors
And of course pictures would be appreciated

Model tractor owned - 4340C
Date tractor purchased - 2/27/08
How many hours on tractor - 180+
Reason you bought - Wanted larger tractor for snow removal, bush hogging, and property maintainance.
Projects done with tractor - Snow moved, bush hogged land for neighbor and self, plowed, tilled, and planted 5 acres sweet corn and put in a large garden. Moved logs and firewood for winter. And many on going projects moving dirt and such.
What implements you are using - Loader, Horst 48" Front Forks, 6' bush hog, 7' Woods rear blade, 6' KK Tiller, Ferguson 2-bottom plow, KK 6 1/2' 3pt. discs, 3pt. cultivator, 2 JD 4-row planters, Ford post hole digger, 5' york rake, 78" AgorTrend rear snowblower
Future Attachments/Implements - Front Grapple, Backhoe, Front Blade, Finish Mower
Problems with tractor - Day after they dropped it off I noticed left rear hinge on the rear window was broke and the flasher for the 4-ways was bad. Replaced under warrenty 2 days later. About a month later and injector line was loose, just had to tighten.
Would you buy another Montana - Yes

 

[Sackett2]

Model tractor owned - 4344HST
Date tractor purchased - 8/27/08
How many hours on tractor - 60+
Reason you bought - Wanted a tractor for driveway repair, bush hogging, and playing---errrr working!.
Projects done with tractor - Brush hogged some roads on a friends property, cleaned up metal from slew, mowed the pasture, hogged and cleaned out the slew od blackberry's.
What implements you are using - Loader, 4' bush hog, 6' rear blade with tines, new 72" box blade (as of today)
Future Attachments/Implements - Front Grapple, Backhoe, tiller,
Problems with tractor - switch mislabeled, couldn't start it. brush hog gearbox had no oil
Would you buy another Montana - Yes!

 

[mwb]

Sackett2,
Interesting blade! What is it? Are the teeth mounted upside down - shouldn't they point toward the tractor when they are swung down?



My machine: 3940HST
Dec 2007
113 hours
Bought it because my old machine did not have a loader; snow removal... general homeowner stuff.
Implements: snowblower, hog, homemade rear blade, PHD, FEL forks, homemade grill guard
Future: Homemade cab, homemade conversion from Montana quick attach to skid steer, homemade grapple
Problems: 2wd to 4wd sticker is upside down, recent problems with cold starting (unresolved). Busted plastic grill with snowball - no grill guard and only 4 hours on machine.

I modified the fender mounts to extend them out one inch on each side (widen operator platform).

Would i buy again? Definitely! Maybe go a little bigger (just because, no good reason)

 

[Tim C.]

"recent problems with cold starting (unresolved). Busted plastic grill with snowball"

Tell me about the cold start problem. Glow plug light working?

Snowball? I am guessing you are talking about snow coming over the loader bucket/blade. There is a grill guard available.

Tim

 

[Sackett2]

Sackett2,
Interesting blade! What is it? Are the teeth mounted upside down - shouldn't they point toward the tractor when they are swung down?

This blade has several features that drew me to it.
1-The ability to offset it left or right to the tractor.
2- the rippers- loosen the BIG WINGNUT and spin the blade 180 degrees, pop the rippers down. I haven't tried much driveway ripping but it worked great as a sub-soiler in the garden. I'm thinking of using it if I till peoples garden plot for the first time.
3- In the future, other attachments such as a box blade and landscape rake are to become available for it, so unbolt the blade and put other attachments on.
I think I paid 500 for the blade

 

[ScottFarm]

Sorry no pictures yet.. I'll work on some.

Purchased : Fall 2006 5740C with FEL
Hrs: 200+
Small Hereford Cattle Farm
Equipment: Krone 125 round baler (bale 200-300 round bales), Krone disk mower 8', junky howse bush hog, two bottom plows and misc. small pieces of equipment.

So far I really love my Montana. Getting ready to subsoil in next few weeks, just because I need a reason to ride...

Problems: cab shutter, (missing washer) dealer fixed under warranty. No other problems.

Would I purchase again... Most definatly

 

[mwb]

"recent problems with cold starting (unresolved). Busted plastic grill with snowball"

Tell me about the cold start problem. Glow plug light working?

Snowball? I am guessing you are talking about snow coming over the loader bucket/blade. There is a grill guard available.

Tim

I was lifting a big snowball for the kids to make a snowman and the damned thing rolled back under the loader and took the grill out. I replaced the plastic parts and made my own grill (see pic with forks on). I asked dealer if it should have had a grill guard with the loader but they said no - recommended I make one rather than spend $.

Cold starting problem: Fuel lines bled, filter clean, no fuel leaks. Glow plugs work, voltage drop measured from 8.5V initial, rising to 10.5 when timer shuts them off (appears ok). GP timer on for about 8-10 seconds. At 5 degrees C I have to crank for about 6 or more seconds to start. Engine runs perfectly, no visible exhaust, lots of power and very smooth. No problems hogging at rated rpm (i.e. not starving).

I have the Mitsubishi service manual. The only thinks I can think of is possible IP problems? I had scheduled it to go to the dealer for service but it has been averaging 17 degrees C here this week and it starts relatively quick.

The starting problem has been getting increasingly worse over the summer; this almost sounds like the glow plugs are done? I now have 113 hours on the machine.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Unclebuck257]

I've got a 5740C w/FEL that I bought in Feb 2005. Right now, it's got 300 plus hours on it. I use my tractor for mowing our pastures, my neighbors pastures, moving large round bales, doing dirt work around our place, and generally whatever else is needed.

 

[simonsben]

Model tractor owned - R4344
Date tractor purchased - not sure... a year and half or two ago?
How many hours on tractor - 299+
Reason you bought - wanted a good tractor for bush hawgin', pasture mowing, light grading, and FEL work. also plan on new fence for a new 3 acre pasture.
Projects done with tractor - rocks moved, pasture mowed, new pasture graded and debris cleared, road grading, misc FEL work, road pen dug out, filled with proper footing and graded, dressage ring graded, and many other thing i can't remember...
What implements you are using - Loader, Howse 6' hawg, 6' box blade and have a fiberglass sun shade over the platform.
Future Attachments/Implements - forks for FEL, 3 pt post hole auger.
Problems with tractor - rear axle makes noise when i "throw the anchor" with one of the rear brakes applied (still unresolved), way more tractor than i need (i love it).
Would you buy another Montana - YES!

 

[JackMentink]

Model tractor owned - R3644

Date tractor purchased - May 2008
How many hours on tractor - 75

Reason you bought - Wanted larger tractor for tree removal, bush hogging, tilling and property maintanance.

Projects done with tractor - removed 60 trees with tractor and grapple on bucket. Tilled 1 acres and put in some lawn, leveled many areas on my property, moved 4 loads of topsoil and many on going projects.

What implements you are using - Loader, 5' Howse bush hog, 6' Box blade, 5' JD rear blade, 6' KK Tiller, and put on a grapple on the front bucket.

Future Attachments/Implements - Backhoe ?

Problems with tractor - Broke a casting wher the front tie rod attatches to the right front wheel, and broke both stabilizers for the 3 point hitch. Both were replaced under warrenty

Would you buy another Montana - Yes, most definitely

 

[JDeerekid]

I know there are alot more montana owners out there, so come one lets see some pictures of them and tell us what you have done with them.

I have just over 225 hours on mine now. Lots of snow has been moved in the last few months. Had a minor problem with the key switch which was replaced under warrenty. Can't wait for the snow to melt so I can get out in the field and start turning soil.

 

[crankshaft21]

I have a montana 4320. I purchased the tractor September 08. Its a new 2006 and only had 3hrs. on it. I haven`t used it much, its only got 10.7 hrs on it now. I traded my Ford 2600 in. My dealer offered me such a good deal, it was to hard to walk away from. I have a question, Has anyone seen or used those quick hitches that go on the ends of the lift arms?

 

[JDeerekid]

I have a montana 4320. I purchased the tractor September 08. Its a new 2006 and only had 3hrs. on it. I haven`t used it much, its only got 10.7 hrs on it now. I traded my Ford 2600 in. My dealer offered me such a good deal, it was to hard to walk away from. I have a question, Has anyone seen or used those quick hitches that go on the ends of the lift arms?

You need to get out there and get some hours on that thing.

Not sure what quick hitches you are talking about, but I am guessing you are talking about Pats quick hitch. They connect on to the end of your lift arms. I personally don't have them but have heard nothing but good things about them from people on this site. There are others that have a 3pt quick hitch that connects to all 3 points of the 3pt hitch. Some people like them and some don't. Most people that don't like them have purchased the one at Harbor Freight and they have to modify them to fit different equipment. I have one that I purchased from Harbor frieght that fits most of my equipment but the top part fits very loose, but there is another part that can be purchase to fix that. Also Harbor freight sells a couple different ones so make sure you get the right size. Do a search on here and you will get lots of information on them.

 

[blueriver]

4340C ... I work the snot out of it. case IH 8430 Round baler, Frontier DM 1160 disc mower, Vermeer 8 wheel rake, 2 bottom plow, Case IH disc, TSC disc, JD Cornplanter, JD 12 grain drill and all sorts of misc attatchments ... Blade, brush hog, PHD, cultivator ....

I bought this because of the price, the quality and I LIKED IT!! Am saving some $ each month ... my next tractor will be the Montana 50 something HP with a cab.

The biggest problem I have is overheating, the dust and trash build up cloggs the radiator more often then I like ... I use furnace filters during hay season that I can simply replace in the field. Wish there was a simpler solution to keep her cool.

 

[blueriver]

but I am guessing you are talking about Pats quick hitch. They connect on to the end of your lift arms. personally don't have them but have heard nothing but good things about them from people on this site.

I have the Pats Quick Hitch ... Love them with the exception that the added length made my brush hog PTO to short ... other than that should have bought them years and years ago!!

 

[Texasgreen]

Model tractor owned - 4490C
Date tractor purchased - 6-26-06
How many hours on tractor - 289
Reason you bought - Wanted a 40+ HP cab tarctor and Montana had the best set up and price at the time when I was buying.
Projects done with tractor -Lots of different projects. Built many house pads ( dirt work ) for new home construction. Lot and lots of hay work-Jigs Bermuda. Drive it to the mail box from time to time.
Problems with tractor - Transmission Replaced under warrenty at 180hrs. Nothing else has broke.
Would you buy another Montana - Yes

Enjoy the pics. I took them today just before I started mowing. Ask any question if you have any

 

[JDeerekid]

Model tractor owned - 4490C
Date tractor purchased - 6-26-06
How many hours on tractor - 289
Reason you bought - Wanted a 40+ HP cab tarctor and Montana had the best set up and price at the time when I was buying.
Projects done with tractor -Lots of different projects. Built many house pads ( dirt work ) for new home construction. Lot and lots of hay work-Jigs Bermuda. Drive it to the mail box from time to time.
Problems with tractor - Transmission Replaced under warrenty at 180hrs. Nothing else has broke.
Would you buy another Montana - Yes

Enjoy the pics. I took them today just before I started mowing. Ask any question if you have any

I have a while yet before I can think about hooking up a mower but the snow is dissapearing kinda fast.

How do you like your mower? I have a 6ft bush hog but was thinking about getting a flail mower a little wider if my tractor would handle say a 7 footer. Most of the fields I mow the grass doesnt get above 2-3ft except with the stuff that I am reclaiming that has some brush in it that ranges from 1 - 3 inches about 8ft high.
Also where are your side mirrors, did you take them off or get them rips off. I have come close to breaking mine off going through the woods but luckily they just fold over.

 

[Texasgreen]

Well, we dont get snow here like you get so I get to mow 10 out 12 months here in South East Texas. I like my flail mower much better then any other type mower I have used. I did have a new Land Pride 72" rear discharge finish mower that did good job but, I was not able to cut my lawn at 1" like I like to be. I have Saraha/Tiff Dwarf bermuda mix that loves to be cut lower.

The Land Pride finish mowers are well built and do a good job but, when trying to cut golf course grade grass with a rotory type mower at 1" wasn't working too good. I bought the flail mower and set it up for finish cutting. You can set a flail mower up to cut heavy brush or set it for fine finish mowing. I have seen farmers use them to cut down and mulch cane and corn fileds.

I have found out that a flail is much easier to run behind my tractor due to it being up next to the tractor and not sticking out like a brush hog does. I cant load my tractor on a lowboy style trailer with side rails on it due to the flail will hit the side rails on the trailer. I have to load my tractor on my flat bed trailer and not the lowboy with side rails.

Over all I like the flail better. I took off the mirrors due to them being fold back and hitting my doors when a branch would grab them and fold them back. I never used them anyway.

Below are pics of our Texas sized gardens we grow here. LoL enjoy!

 

[tractorman99]

As old saying goes everything is bigger in Texas

 

[BigKansas]

I have a 5740 with a FEL. I use mine to mow with a pull behind FMC mower and moving big bails for my horses. I have 15 hours on my tractor. I never had a new tractor before so I am not famaliar with all the "bells and whistles" that come with it. I only had old tractors that I had to work on more than I used them! When the tractor arrived the tach was disconnected and I had a slight hydraulic leak on one of the FEL hoses. I connected the tach and tightened the line. Recently one of my tail lights filled up with water and corroded the socket and bulb. The gasket around the lens was distorted. My dealer denied warranty and said it was'nt covered. Disappointed that the tractor had so few hours and I did nothing to cause this and I was told it was'nt covered. Half of my control panel lights are out also. Disappointed how there is no ramping up of the PTO. I keep shearing my mower pins when I engage the PTO.

I do like my tractor but would consider another dealer next time.