Montana 4940 vs Kioti DK 45S

[Gary Fowler]

Any thoughts on which of these tractors would be the better choice for both long term price and durability. Long term price being combination of purchase price, maintenance parts and resell value several years down the road. I see a lot of comparisons on Kioto vs XXX brand but not a lot on Montana tractors. I have a Montana dealer about 15 miles away but the Kioti closest dealer is 70 miles away which is not a really big deal if the dealer had to truck it in for major repair. Anyone with TBN have experience with Montana 4940 with FEL. I have a line on a 2008 with 86 hours for $16,800 which I think is a very good deal price wise, but I have not actually seen the tractor since the guy has not posted any pictures and it is 400 miles from my location.
Since even the Montana forum here has little to nothing about this tractor, I was hoping someone with a Montana 4940 would jump in with personal experience whether good or bad.

 

[BILL_K]

I have a05 4940c and I am happywith it. I hae put over 600 hours on it dding land clearing and road building for hire and have not had any major problems that were not coperater caused. The warranty work that I had done was all related tothe cab and had not problemsgeting it done--I bought the tractor from a dealer 1000 mile away ,sight unseen-after talking to Maka on the phone-
I also put a branch through the radeator and cooked the motor at 500 hrs-Montana put in a NEW motor for just the cost of the fluids. There was a new dealer only40 miles away and he really went to bat for me.Too bad he onlylasted one year. kGet the Montana if youhave a good dealer close for filters,etc or you can get them shipped to youbymanny dealers.
Happy tractoring which ever you decide.

BillK

 

[ScottFarm]

I own a Montana 5740 and helped a school purchase a 4940 for their FFA program. I love my 5740. Six farmers and students went and test drove the Kubota and Montana. When it was all said and done it was 5 votes Montana, 1 vote Kubota and I didn't vote since I already owned a Montana. I wouldn't hesitate at all to buy a 4940. I believe they are the same frame and engine as my 5740 (Mitishibishi). The only downfall I see of the 4940 is I believe they discontinued that model. With them being the same engine and frame as the 5740, I don't believe parts would be a problem.

I've owned or used on the family farm Case, Deere, MF, and AgCo and I wouldn't trade any of them for my Montana.

Good Luck.
Scott

 

[IslandTractor]

I'm not sure what difference financing would make in your decision but right now the Kioti DK45s can be had for 0% interest on a six year loan.

I have no info at all on the Montana, but the DK45s has a very fine reputation. The cab version is a little cramped for big guys compared to the newer Kioti cab models but that is about the only "negative" I can think of.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Does anyone have a price comparison for parts like filters. My old Yanmar costs me $30 for a hydraulic filter, while my BIL paid $8 for his John Deere.
Is the cost similar between Kioti and Montana?

 

[IslandTractor]

Does anyone have a price comparison for parts like filters. My old Yanmar costs me $30 for a hydraulic filter, while my BIL paid $8 for his John Deere.
Is the cost similar between Kioti and Montana?

Not sure of the Montana filters but the Kioti HST filters are closer to $30 than $8. You only need to replace it once every couple hundred hours however so it is hardly a major maintenance cost compared to the oil itself.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have never used them, but there has been some links here about using NAPA for cross-referencing to OEM filters and getting cheaper pricing than the tractor dealers. Any thoughts on that and if it is OK to use the after market filters like WIX and Fram. I suppose there are other manufacturers that supply heavy equipment parts also but I am not familiar with any of them. If they are OK to use, what is the best brand?

 

[Dargo]

Although I have no experience with Montana, I've had experience with several Mitsubishi items. I'll just say that the only thing I'll buy from Mitsubishi in the future is maybe one of their TVs. One of my forktrucks is on it's 3rd Mitsubishi engine in less than 1500 hours. Two of my other forktrucks with different brand engines are on the same engine without any repairs with over 6000 hours.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Bad luck on the forklifts. Some of the post here say no problem for 3000 hours which seems to be a lot for the average CUT owner. I used to put a couple thousand per year on farm tractors, but likely wont put that many on in my lifetime at least what is left of it. What caused your Mitsu engine failures?

 

[JDeerekid]

I wouldnt be scared to get the Montana at all. I have the next size smaller 4340C and have around 220 hours on it and I havent even had it a year. I had a couple minor thing wrong from the start. A loose fuel injector which just had to be tightened and a cracked hinge that was from shipping, dealer replaced no cost.
I belive both tractors offer great warrenties.
Montana gives you every add on from the start.
I am not sure about the Kioti but I did look at them when I was looking to buy and they are little more money but not by much.
Filters for the Montana are a little pricey, but you can get most of them at Napa if you get cross reference the numbers. Dont think they are much different in cost compared to any other brand.

Good luck with whatever you choose!!

 

[DK35vince]

I've used both Wix/Napa filters and Kioti filters on my tractor in the past.
Lately I have just been using Kioti Filters. The Wix/Napa filters were no cheaper $$.

 

[Maka]

I have customers using their 4340's for logging (pictures are posted on pic site from years ago) and they have had zero problems with 1000's of hours now. Filters can be had from Donaldson, Wix, Luberfiner etc. and affordable.

The 4340/4940 are genuine Mitsubishi engines but they are manufactured in house by LS/LG under a license from Mitsu. I have never had a warranty claim on one yet and my customers are tough on them.

Again, I have lots of customers in the 1000's of hours on them now. They are as strong and reliable as you will find anywhere.

Maka

 

[Gittyup]

I also considered Montana, in addition to TYM and Kioti. What concerned me was the same issue that surrounds all "second tieir" makers: will they be around in 5 or 10 years? While I was willing to take some chance to save and get a better equipped tractor, I just didn't have faith in Montana surviving, and was (am) also wary of TYM. In the size I was looking at (20 to 30 HP), I liked the Kioti's better than Montana, but I liked the TYM the best (more right sized for me). In the end, neither seem to be as established nor as committed as Kioti. So, I went Kioti. And around here the Kioti was actually cheaper too.

However, I've only heard good things about both TYM and Montana. And LG is a huge company with the wearwithall to gain traction in the U.S. market. We'll see if they have the stomach for it in the years to come.

 

[Dargo]

What caused your Mitsu engine failures?

IMHO, simply bad engines. I had problems with a Mitsu vehicle; both major engine as well as transmission. I know the Mitsu dealer and he told me that he has had way too many problems with their engines and transmissions. He traded me out for a used GM product. I know many others who have had major engine issues with Mitsubishi. I am trying to get rid of my last Mitsu powered machine if I can. Unfortunately most potential buyers want to steal it due to it having the Mitsu engine.

 

[Maka]

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is as different from Mitsubishi motors (what you have) as it is from Mitsubsihi electronics and Mitsubishi Bank. There is no connection as far as I have been able to acertain. Several models of Perkins are made by Mitsubishi, Cat models by Mitsubishi, Ingersol Rand uses them as does Volvo and New Holland and lets not forget the highly respected Mahindra 15 series all manufactured by Mitsubishi. These are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and not the motors division (automotive).

Not disagreeing with you on what you have (sounds like a piece) as it may very well be bad and in fact will give that to you as long as no one mix's the two (heavy industries and automotive) as the same. Mitsubishi is a huge company with many different divisions and their heavy industries is highly respected worldwide.

I will put up Mitsubishi Heavy Industries any day with any other diesel engine.

Maka

 

[DmansPadge]

I have never used them, but there has been some links here about using NAPA for cross-referencing to OEM filters and getting cheaper pricing than the tractor dealers. Any thoughts on that and if it is OK to use the after market filters like WIX and Fram. I suppose there are other manufacturers that supply heavy equipment parts also but I am not familiar with any of them. If they are OK to use, what is the best brand?

It is fine to use an aftermarket filter. I generally use WIX filters. They are quality filters... not sure I would recommend Fram though. They do normally run around the same price as OEM filters but I use them because they are good filters and are available at a lot of stores. My dealer is about 30 miles away and I can get WIX from O'Reilly which is close by. You can look up filters for your particular tractor at their website.... Wixfilters.com.

 

[Dargo]

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is as different from Mitsubishi motors (what you have) as it is from Mitsubsihi electronics and Mitsubishi Bank. There is no connection as far as I have been able to acertain. Several models of Perkins are made by Mitsubishi, Cat models by Mitsubishi, Ingersol Rand uses them as does Volvo and New Holland and lets not forget the highly respected Mahindra 15 series all manufactured by Mitsubishi. These are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and not the motors division (automotive).

Not disagreeing with you on what you have (sounds like a piece) as it may very well be bad and in fact will give that to you as long as no one mix's the two (heavy industries and automotive) as the same. Mitsubishi is a huge company with many different divisions and their heavy industries is highly respected worldwide.

I will put up Mitsubishi Heavy Industries any day with any other diesel engine.

Maka

That sounds good. I qualified my experience with Mitsubishi (I call it something a bit different due to my experience ) being with only forklifts and vehicles, because I have zero experience with anything else Mitsubishi except for a TV. I'm honestly very glad to hear that there is different divisions of Mitsubishi. I apologize for my distaste for Mitsubishi, but please understand that I associate that name with being bitten in the wallet in a big way. If you say Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is in no way...er...it's hard for me to not call what I have junk...like the others I've had, I have absolutely no reason to not completely believe you.

 

[jda1961]

i don't know about the montana tractors but the kioti is a fine tractor, well made, very strong, starts cright up in any weather. i have a dk55 with a loader for sale if you are intrested. i'm selling it to go into other things. its a very strong tractor, handle hillsides very well. turbocharged engine. buy the kioti.