3840

[danfw]

Hello all! I'm new to the forum, but just purchased a 3840 last friday and am just as pleased as punch with it!

I've got about 5 hours on it moving 15 yards of rip rap and about 30 yards of 1 1/2 minus rock up our steep driveway to our future building site.

My old tractor was a TaskMaster 424d and it would have taken me several days to do it with it.

Because of the terrain etc. I had the front and rear tires moved to the furthest outside position, and before I took it home to work, I had the tires filled with that liquid BBQ-looking sauce that has replaced the Calcium for the tires. So far, rock solid on the hills and side-hills I've been on.

My only complaint on it so far (and I had to search to fine one) is that before on the TaskMaster I'd removed the oh-sh*t handle on the left fender and bolted a milk crate to it for our smallest dog to ride in (West Highland Terrier). Now both dogs want to ride on the new tractor (the Westie and a Jack Russel) and with one between my legs and the other riding behind my left leg getting to the clutch can sometimes be a little 'hairy'. Also, where is the coffee cup holder?

I'm very anxious to try mowing our field. Before it'd take me the better part of a day with the Taskmaster in 2 gear/low range. The taskmaster was just a bit short on 'snort' to get the job done when the grass was long.

I have to say reviewing the forum on the tractors prior to purchase helped me quite a bit with deciding which tractor to go with.

Thanks to all!

 

[montanaman]

My only complaint on it so far (and I had to search to fine one) is that before on the TaskMaster I'd removed the oh-sh*t handle on the left fender and bolted a milk crate to it for our smallest dog to ride in (West Highland Terrier). Now both dogs want to ride on the new tractor (the Westie and a Jack Russel)

So the dogs even prefer Montana?

As for a cup holder, look into getting a magnetic one that you can stick on the fender.

These tractors are pretty much all business as far as the components taking up all available space so you are limited for space to mount a tool box, etc. Guess you could strap a milk crate to each side of the ROPS for the dogs?

I sure wouldn't want a dog behind my clutch foot!

Other than that, I think you are going to love that tractor!

Ken

 

[danfw]

Yes, both dogs prefer the Montana over the TaskMaster .

Previously the Jack Russell just followed the tractor on foot (paws) and the Westie rode along. It started when the Westie was a pup, I didn't want to run over him when I was on my excavator so he rode inside my coat with is head sticking out. As he got larger, that didn't work anymore. Now anytime anything diesel starts up, he comes running to go for a ride.

There is plenty of foot room in the excavator so no issues there (and without him barking at the boom, I'm not sure the thing would run right without him) but we had to come up with another solution for the tractor (mainly because the old one it had so many leaks and spit fluid that the dog got too greasy and oily but that's another story and part of the reason for the new tractor).

On the dual milk crates, I think that's a a good idea.. just some ubolts another milk crate we'll be good to go.

I rolled the TaskMaster one time on a side hill with a bucket full of dirt.... luckily no dogs were around at the time, but I tell you, this now one is absolutely rock solid for stability and very well built.

One question that is unclear to me; on my excavator I grease it every 10 hours of use. On the Montana loader it seemed unclear on how often specifically to grease it. The 50 hour service seems to me too far out for a good greasing. Suggestions?

Thank you for your reply.

Dan

 

[montanaman]

Well how often you grease the loader is really something that will depend on how it is used. If running the loader with pallet forks and in a clean environment. it won't need the grease as often as when working it in dirt and sand that will wear away at the pins.

The grease actually has two jobs. The new grease lubes the joints while it is pushing the old dirty grease out of the way.

I usually suggest that a guy has two grease guns at home. One with good quality expensive grease in it for high load applications, and one with a lower cost grease in it so the cost is NO excuse to not grease the loader and hoe!

I would say to grease it every time you look at the FEL and say,"Man, that thing is dirty!"

If you use five extra tubes of grease a year at $2 a tube, you wasted a whole $10 and you know the FEL was well taken care of.

Ken

 

[danfw]

most of it's use is hauling rock/gravel/dirt. I buy grease by the case and use a 12v grease gun, so an extra tube or 2 a year certainly isn't going to hurt me.

I guess I'll do it every 10 hours like I do the excavator.

thanks!

d

 

[BTDT]

Sure would like to see some pics..Lots of folks at TBN have hilly terrain on their property, and are always asking about which tractor to buy. You may have found a solution for them. Good luck with your new tractor, and welcome to TBN.

 

[danfw]

What specificially would you like to see pictures of? I've got a digital camera and would certainly be happy to send some pictures. Just let me know.

I have 10 hours on it now and just greased the loader. What a breeze! Every zerk was easily accessable and took < 5 minutes to grease! Excellent; good design and certainly not what I'm used to with the old tractor.. used to have to raise the bucket, grease half of it, lower the bucket, grease the other half, etc. What a well designed loader!

Most everything I do so far I used mid-range on it.. can't imagine what the low-range is used for at this point unless you are dragging logs around or something. I've probably moved 60-70 yards of dirt and rock. I just absolutely love this tractor!

 

[BTDT]

What specificially would you like to see pictures of? I've got a digital camera and would certainly be happy to send some pictures. Just let me know.

I have 10 hours on it now and just greased the loader. What a breeze! Every zerk was easily accessable and took < 5 minutes to grease! Excellent; good design and certainly not what I'm used to with the old tractor.. used to have to raise the bucket, grease half of it, lower the bucket, grease the other half, etc. What a well designed loader!

Most everything I do so far I used mid-range on it.. can't imagine what the low-range is used for at this point unless you are dragging logs around or something. I've probably moved 60-70 yards of dirt and rock. I just absolutely love this tractor!

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-slope-tractor-suggestions-starting-over.html
Here is one of the posts where they have questions about which tractor for hilly property. Maybe a pic of the property you have and a pic of your tractor from front, side and rear, so they can see how low it is and how it works for you.

 

[danfw]

per your request, attached are some pictures. The field is pretty flat, but between the building site and the field is a creek and everything from the creek is uphill.. unless you're at the top heading down . I've done quite a bit of excavator work building roads in, leveling the building site, but have had no issues with roll over (or even close) with the new tractor so far, with yarding logs up the hill or just transversing any of it (within reason). I have all the wheels on the outside settings, all 4 tires are filled with the weight stuff (looks like BBQ sauce and took the place of Calcium), and I almost always have the 'drag box' on the back of it.

The pictures seem to kinda 'flatten' things out a bit. The road on up past our building site (gravel) is about a 20 degree incline, as the road that goes up above the well is a couple more degrees beyond that further on up the hill.

Unfortunately, I had rolled a previous tractor on the incline up past the well last summer. It did have the tires out the furthest out settings, but didn't have any weight on it.. had quite a narrow width even with the outside settings.. and with a bucket load of dirt it just went on over.... it was a 24 hp 4X4 rice paddie tractor (not a Montana). Of course, the first thing my wife said was "good thing you had your seat belt on". Of course, I didn't.... ooops We got my truck and her Jeep up there with a couple winches and got it drug around and sat back up on it's wheels, filled it back up with fluid, and away I went (this time with the seat belt on tight!). Unfortunately, the tractor wasn't the same afterwards. So a short time ago, a new tractor (with more HP) was in order.

 

[FIREFIGHTER6CO6]

I got a new 3840, great tractor... seating is a little tight... I am 5'11 and I have the seat all the way back. Anyone know of what I can do to get a better seat, give me a little more room.