Is a tractor supposed to be this much fun?

[Sarge1951]

I have a 5740 tractor.

My 4W Drive lever will move into 4WD but is the devil to get out. I was told by the dealer to put the tractor into reverse and then try it. Sometimes it works and sometimes not.

The main gear shift lever is very stiff and hard to engage. I have driven a stick in my vehicles all my life and was expecting the same moothness in shifting on the tractor. Is the shifting supposed to be difficult to engage?

Likewise the Range gear shift lever (Hi-Low shift) seems a little hard to engage but not as tough as the 4WD lever.

The differential lock was frozen in place on delivery and that will be fixed shortly.

Are all these problems related; all in the transmission? The tractor sat on the lot for a year and a half before I bought it. Do I need to give it more time or is there cause for real concern.

The dealer is picking up the tractor this weekend to fix the differential lock and look at the instrument display. It was changed out because it did not function properly but the new one is not much better. The tach never gets above 2100 rpm and many of the instrument lights don稚 seem to work. I was told it might be the sensors buried deep in the engine.

How much fun can a new tractor be? LOL

Otherwise what work I have asked of it I am very happy with and still want to own a Montana. Maybe just not this one.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[JDeerekid]

Well first of all congrats on your purchase of your Montana!!! Good tractor for the money.

The 4wd lever is usually a bit hard to disengage. A trick I use is lifting the front end up with the loader and it disengages easily. Or will driving forward or in reverse slowly disengaging it.
The shifting levers are a bit stiff when new but will loosen slightly over time and use. The range shifter is still stiff on mine with over 400hrs but is still not that bad. I try to lubricate all the linkages a few times a year.
Not all the dash lights are hooked to anything. Not sure why but thats the way they are.

There are alot of knowledgable people here so if there is any problems ask away and someone usually knows the answer.

Good luck and have many happy hours of tractor time!!!

 

[Sarge1951]

JDEEREKID

Thanks for the reply. It was the one I was hoping for. I like the way the tractor works but then again it is the only one I have ever owned. If the dealer can get the tach to finally work out I think I will have a winner.

So far it has handled everything I have thrown at it. My wife loves it and has more seat time than I do. It seems that she looks for projects that involve her driving the tractor. What a woman!

Thanks again for the quick reply. Everyone on this board has been very helpful both with my entry into tractors and all questions that have arisen since.

 

[LBrown59]

Is a tractor supposed to be this much fun?
.

Not unless you let it.
The hard part is not letting it.

 

[NSBound]

JDEEREKID

......My wife loves it and has more seat time than I do. It seems that she looks for projects that involve her driving the tractor. What a woman!

Oh, oh, you're done now! Hope you've budgeted for a second tractor!

 

[Sarge1951]

I would call her cheap labor but I do like to sleep indoors.

 

[Tul01]

Hi Sarge, welcome to Montana-ing. Has your dealer been able to help you out with your issues yet? When we first got our 5740C, the 4wd would work its way out while I was snowblowing, our dealer adjusted it and now it sounds just like yours. Every once in a while it won't disengage even with the tractor in neutral, popping clutch a little, changing gears and I found if I just lower the bucket and slightly lift the front wheels it will pop right out in those instances. I much prefer it this way over when I had to monitor it or even sometimes hold it in 4wd. The other levers are tight too, but I don't mind.

Our tach engine revs up to about 200 over rpm rated speed (I can't think what that is right now 2400?) It feels like the tach is accurate, I don't have a way to measure it.

Here is a picture of ours yesterday hauling in a pallet of firewood (almost 1/2 cord oak). I cleaned it up, just waiting for the snow to start around here.