Confused about Montana tractors ?

[BigKansas]

Make sure you get the warranty defined. When I bought my Montana 5740 a year and a half ago I was told I had a 3 year warranty also. My fault I guess for not asking the question as to what the warranty covered. I found out that even though I had my tractor for only 14 months with 12 hours on it that a leaking brake/tail light lens was not covered after water ran into it and corroded it. Dealer said I was responsible and would have to pay $45+ dollars to replace it. That is when he explained the warranty to me.

 

[FLHayman]

I stumbled upon this thread while searching about LG/LS Cable tractors. I have several tractors, like them all for different reasons. I got a great deal on an approximately 2007 Montana 5740 fwd with a Koyker loader. I haven't had any problems with it. I love the visibility of the cab, the flat areas inside to set down things while you're driving, and the gear ratios suit me fine for all hay operations to bushhogging. Only things I would change are the seat (I prefer cloth seat in a cab tractor to a slippery plastic one), and putting adjustable link arm end on the 3ph (which I saw they did do on more recent models). The fuel tank thing hasn't bothered me, and since I'm in good fields, I took off the bottom fuel tank guard, which hangs from bottom fuel tank attach points, screwed into the plastic tank itself. The guard, which doesn't have a streamlined edge, could easily catch a limb, pulling the screws out of the plastic, causing the leaks some have had. On a Caterpillar track loader I used to own, I got some hydraulic leaks by unknowingly jamming a tough tree branch up into a small opening towards the hoses, so it can happen.

Does anybody know the status of Montana? I'm sure I can get parts worldwide through somebody, since it's a huge Korean company that made it. But I was wondering if any of you all have gotten parts very recently that are branded Montana, and if you know of an internet order site for the same. Luckily, so far, 280 hrs, it hasn't needed anything.

 

[NewToy]

[ I quit reading the Farmtrac thread months ago because it was just too much BS and wild speculation about not much of nothing.


You are 110% correct with your statement!!!!

Well said. I felt the same way.

 

[Stampeder]

FLHayman:
You've got a great tractor in the 5740. I have the 4940C and it has about 400 hours on it. I really USE it. Right now it's waiting for the baler to finish up in the repair shop so we can get back to baling.
The only weakness in the 5740 seems to be the transmission. It's a little light for the horse power. I've seen several in the local dealers shop. Mostly waiting for parts. They tend to be ones used by operators who don't know how to shift properly.
I too have been waiting for parts for a while. My rear window needs replacing and it's been months on back order. Apparently, LS has a huge order from New Holland for 50 to 60 thousand tractors so all parts are going into this order. They have to deliver all of them by the end of the year. LS is having similar parts issues according to the LS dealer.

Montana is a good tractor. The company has been a little sketchy since J.B. Hunt died however.

 

[blueliner]

Well said. I felt the same way.

Toy,

History is to re-write itself.

- Like Farmtrac, Montana is tied to Textron for their floor planning. Textron is a THIRD PARTY financier, intended to circumvent state buyback laws.
- Like Farmtrac, Montana dealers are starting to receive pressure to take on stock more than they'd conventionally. On page 125 of the Tarboro court document, attorneys used the term "chattel stocking."
**Note: this is a large file. It may take a few minutes.**

Chattel Stocking "stuffs" the product pipeline; a "short-term solution" that is a *bad* sign for future business.

- Like Farmtrac, Montana deals with Escorts, Ltd. of India, who is on shaky financial ground.
- Like Farmtrac, Montana dealers are beginning to drop off.
- Like Farmtrac, some Montana dealers may be pressed into signing a Confidentiality Agreement. Textron acct. mgr. Kurt Schenk uses it as part of a "bait" to negotiate product purchase price to dealers. He tells dealers "you have to sign a C.A. then we can negotiate price."

It's a sucker bet. No financier should ever have to hide anything to negotiate with a dealer.
--Say "NO" to confidentiality agreements.
--Say "NO" to being suckered in to CA's on the chance of *possible* deals.

Sorry Montana fans, bloggings about the Farmtrac situation (battling its way through courts in Providence, RI and Raleigh [N.C.] ) are anything *but* empty banter.

Read and heed.

Thx,
--blueliner

 

[Stampeder]

Blueliner:

I'm not getting a lot of warm fuzzies about getting my rear window anytime soon.....

We are down to one dealer in East Texas and he's getting warranty work from all over.

I really hope the Farmtrac history does not repeat itself but it's not looking good.

I really do agree with you on CA's. I have to sign them all the time with our customers, but we are in the high tech business and it is the nature of the business and direction, not the pricing that is being protected.

Thanks.

 

[dgl24087]

FLHayman:
You've got a great tractor in the 5740. I have the 4940C and it has about 400 hours on it. I really USE it. Right now it's waiting for the baler to finish up in the repair shop so we can get back to baling.
The only weakness in the 5740 seems to be the transmission. It's a little light for the horse power. I've seen several in the local dealers shop. Mostly waiting for parts. They tend to be ones used by operators who don't know how to shift properly.
I too have been waiting for parts for a while. My rear window needs replacing and it's been months on back order. Apparently, LS has a huge order from New Holland for 50 to 60 thousand tractors so all parts are going into this order. They have to deliver all of them by the end of the year. LS is having similar parts issues according to the LS dealer.

Montana is a good tractor. The company has been a little sketchy since J.B. Hunt died however.

The LS-New Holland contract is for 2500 tractors. YONHAP NEWS

 

[Rancherswife]

any ideas on where to find a used motor and or transmission. We were just informed it will be over $5000 to get one for ours.

 

[kgoldsm732]

Rancherswife, I hope someone reads your post as the last before yours was in Aug. of 2010. You might want to post in several others, even non-montana forums. Maybe someone know someone who knows someone etc:

 

[OK.Montana]

Basically from what a local dealer tells me Montana will warranty any tractor they sell regardless of who built it. Warranty on my tractor is 1 year bumper to bumper and 3 years on the drivetrain, engine ect. They may have gone to 3 years bumper to bumper since I bought mine, I did not ask. I have only had 1 minor warranty issue and it was handled promptly, without me having to haul the tractor back to the dealership. I wish I could say as much for my MF tractors. I quit reading the Farmtrac thread months ago because it was just too much BS and wild speculation about not much of nothing.
If the tractor is a good price and you like the way it is set up I would buy it. The dealers near me are still in business and I have not heard a word from any of them about being displeased with Montana at all.
Montana's are now all LS built, as are the smaller Mccormick's. Mine is a Tym built model that was replaced by an LS model this year.

Arky217: I am not familiar with the Greenwood ,AR area dealer, but if you would like the number/locations of 3 Oklahoma dealers let me know and I will email them to you.

I am in Oklahoma and just purchased a T7074 and would like to know the Ok dealers