What About Your Montana?

[Texasgreen]

Thought I'd start this thread just to see what tractor everybody has and the likes about your Montana Tractor.

1. 2006 4940C arched boom FEL.
2. 149 hours as of today
3. Transmission replaced @ 118 hours. This has been the only problem I've had. Montana handled this issue very well.
4. Tractor seems to be a tad bit thirsty for diesel then what I'd like.

I'm very happy with my 4940C. All I can say is that I get a big ole grin from ear to ear when I get in the cab and start her up.

I mostly use my tractor for hay work and dirty work. I'm a very happy owner.

 

[JerryG]

What happened to your transmission?

 

[Oleozz]

I thought back in May you were trying to sell that tractor and were looking at the Kiotis? I'm not sure I'd be so happy with a transmission replacement at 118 hrs but hopefully those problems are all behind you.

 

[Texasgreen]

Quote: Oleozz I thought back in May you were trying to sell that tractor and were looking at the Kiotis? I'm not sure I'd be so happy with a transmission replacement at 118 hrs but hopefully those problems are all behind you.

Yes. I was trying to sell my Montana. I did have a chances to sell it but, I decided to keep it only because we had our main tractor that we use to run our hay equipment loose a injector pump and we had grass on the ground ready to bail up and sale. At that same time, I had a person gathering up his money and trailer to come buy my Montana from me. I had to end up keeping my Montana due to the other "green tractor" going to the shop for three weeks for an injector pump replacement and to also keep our costumers happy.

So, I still have my Montana 4940C and my trust is back in this brand of tractor. It did save my butt when I thought it would have let me down.

 

[uphere]

I am a relative newcomer - bought a 2740 back in May ... got 25hrs on her and so far so good (been to busy to get to use her much!) ... got the curved-boom loader. Used mostly for bush-hogging (Howse 5ft) ... mostly tall grass and slow speeds - and she doesn't seem to complain? I don't think the 5ft is too big for it - as long as I take my time? What do you folks think?

I like the 2740 because I can get the lads to use it (even the wife has been on it to move some some garden soil!) ... my old International doesn't have any brakes and is much larger and harder to deal with (like everything that gets a little older I guess - so I'm told!)

 

[Unclebuck257]

I have a 5740C and I've had mine since Feb 2005. I have the old, original, model FEL, with the more flimsey quick disconnect levers. I love the tractor and think it's great. I wish I had the new FEL with those newer model, much stouter quick disconnect levers. That's the only thing I'd change if I could. Otherwise, the tractor itself is unbeatable, for many reasons, compared to the other major brands.

 

[gemini5362]

uncle buck have you had any problems with your loader breaking bolts. I have read some posts about that but I have the older loader on my 4940c and it has not broken any of the mounting bolts. I broke a pin that you use to disconnect the loader with. The one on the top by the hydraulic stack but it came right out and i just rewelded it back together.

 

[Woodsman30350]

I have a 3040 with 100 hours and I have been very satisfied. I have had to replace 3 or 4 o'rings in the FEL quickconnectors and am not sure what to make of that.

 

[Unclebuck257]

uncle buck have you had any problems with your loader breaking bolts. I have read some posts about that but I have the older loader on my 4940c and it has not broken any of the mounting bolts. I broke a pin that you use to disconnect the loader with. The one on the top by the hydraulic stack but it came right out and i just rewelded it back together.

Not a problem one in that catagory at all. My problem is those flimsey levers in the original FEL quick disconnect keep bending and then they're hard to operate/use, or don't work until you spend some serious time straightening them out. They grab onto/into the round bales when I'm moving/stacking round bales and that's how they get bent up. A REAL PITB!!

 

[jc7622]

Do you have a picture of your flimsey levers? I have the original FEL (I think) and they seem to work OK. I am curious to know if you have the same one I do. I do know that they work a lot more smoothly if you keep them greased really well. I also use a small pipe as a cheater sometimes when they are stiff.

 

[Ron Henderson]

I have had my 5740C for about 5 months now with 36 hrs on it.

So far no problems at all !!

Love the tractor, it does all I expected and then some.

Very pleased.

Ron

 

[Unclebuck257]

Do you have a picture of your flimsey levers? I have the original FEL (I think) and they seem to work OK. I am curious to know if you have the same one I do. I do know that they work a lot more smoothly if you keep them greased really well. I also use a small pipe as a cheater sometimes when they are stiff.

No picture of those levers, but if you have the ones like mine, you have two levers on each side. a big one and much smaller one. The newer quick disconnects only have one big and rather stout lever on each side.

My problem is not that they stick on me, at any point, but rather they get bent up and then they just won't work at all.

 

[gemini5362]

Not a problem one in that catagory at all. My problem is those flimsey levers in the original FEL quick disconnect keep bending and then they're hard to operate/use, or don't work until you spend some serious time straightening them out. They grab onto/into the round bales when I'm moving/stacking round bales and that's how they get bent up. A REAL PITB!!

I am not sure which levers you are talking about are you talking about the ones for removing the FEL from the tractor. That is the pin that I had break. Or are you talking about a quick discnnect for the bucket from the FEL. My tractor did not come with that I had to go back to Montana and purchase one after the fact.

 

[Dallas_Lilly]

I have a 3040 that I purchased in February of 2006. I now have 80 hours on it with about half of those hours with a box blade and the other halve being with a brush hog. I have not had any problems other than a loader control lever that snapped off at the base about 10 hours ago. Dealer replaced it.

In the light weeds / grass that we have here it handles the 7' brush hog like a champ and it likes the 7' box blade also. It takes a 7' implement to cover the rear tracks of the industrial tires.

My only complaint on the whole tractor is the removable radiator screen can not removed with out taking off one side of the loader brackets. Big oversight when they designed the loader bracketry. you can still clean it with air but it would be nice to remove it so you can get to the radiator cleaning better.

Edit: the brush hog and blade are 6 foot not 7 foot.

 

[Woodsman30350]

I have that same problem with the bucket disconnect arms. Very flimzy.

 

[Unclebuck257]

I am not sure which levers you are talking about are you talking about the ones for removing the FEL from the tractor. That is the pin that I had break. Or are you talking about a quick discnnect for the bucket from the FEL. My tractor did not come with that I had to go back to Montana and purchase one after the fact.

I'm talking about the 2 levers you must use to pull up the pins, or lock the pins down, holding your bucket onto your FEL.

 

[gemini5362]

Most of the Ansung loaders that were originally on the Montana's did not have a quick disconnect for the bucket or at least that was the impression I got. Mine is an adapter but might have been made out of the heavier material like the newer loaders. Mine seem to be made fairly well.

 

[Unclebuck257]

Most of the Ansung loaders that were originally on the Montana's did not have a quick disconnect for the bucket or at least that was the impression I got. Mine is an adapter but might have been made out of the heavier material like the newer loaders. Mine seem to be made fairly well.

OOPS!! I don't know what to say gemini, because all the first Montanas I knew about had quick disconnects, and apparently Montana was getting a lot of complaints about those flimsey levers like mine because I was told that's why they changed to the stronger ones on the newer FELs like they have now. The whole overall FEL system is nicer now than the original ones were.

 

[gemini5362]

You are probably correct I am sure that some of the dealers that read this page would have a lot more insight into it. My montana was a 2005 model that I bought in 2006 Most of the FEL's that my dealer had did not have quick disconnects. When Montana went to the curved loader I believe that they all had QD's on their loaders. My understanding was that Montana had some problems with the Ansung loaders and the newer loaders were better. I do know that I had a problem with mine when I first got it. I broke three FEL hoses in a row. I noticed that the original hoses were rated at a lower pressure than the new ones I had purchased. I contacted montana about it and they checked out my FEL and then replaced all the old hoses with the newer ones with the higher ratings I have not had a problem since.

 

[Unclebuck257]

gemini,

Mine is an 05 model too. Bought it in Jan 06., delivered in Feb 06. The newer FELs are curved and ours are straight.