Which cutter?

[curly]

This has prolly been answered many times but if I do to much more searching here at work I will get busted

I'm getting a Montana 4540 and want to know which mower would best fit my needs. I will mostly be mowing fields that seem pretty clean (7 acres or so, I don't have a good knowledge of how to guestimate that yet).

But eventually I want to start going through some of the woods and clearing the undergrowth (leave the big trees). Right now I'm thinking about a Montana 6ft rough cut mower (he didn't give me a model number). It has a shear pin not a slip clutch. The dealer said that would fit my needs...but that was before I thought about clearing the underbrush from the wooded area.

Thanks,
Kurt

 

[Farmwithjunk]

This has prolly been answered many times but if I do to much more searching here at work I will get busted

I'm getting a Montana 4540 and want to know which mower would best fit my needs. I will mostly be mowing fields that seem pretty clean (7 acres or so, I don't have a good knowledge of how to guestimate that yet).

But eventually I want to start going through some of the woods and clearing the undergrowth (leave the big trees). Right now I'm thinking about a Montana 6ft rough cut mower (he didn't give me a model number). It has a shear pin not a slip clutch. The dealer said that would fit my needs...but that was before I thought about clearing the underbrush from the wooded area.

Thanks,
Kurt

No matter if I have an answer or NOT, I HAD to respond, being a HUGE "CURLY" fan! I almost got up and did my rendition of the Curly Shuffle when I saw that face!!!!!!

Anyway, you could probably "get by" with a shear pin protected mower, but a slip clutch is FAR more convenient if you're in "rough conditions". A shear pin might mean jumping off the tractor a few times and replacing shear bolts if you get into tough going. A slip clutch allows you to keep right on with the program in most cases.

NYUK NYUK NYUK.

 

[curly]

Thanks,

I'm just gonna stick with the one I have ordered and maybe replace some bolts when I shear them. I go back and forth on this, so I guess I have time to change my mind a few more times before the thing is put on the truck

 

[Soundguy]

As Moe.. er FWJ said (wink).. the shear pin will do ya.. just make sure yuo carry a tool box full of bolts and nuts.. a hammer and a drift and a couple wrenches with ya on the mower.. no biggie... Once you are good at it.. it will take ya less than 5 minutes.. to power down mower, jump off line up yoke hole with input shaft hole.. beat old slug out.. install new bolt.. tighten up, stow tools, climb back on.. power up and go.

And you always have the option of going down to tractor supply.. plunking down 100$ and buying a slip clutch and a grade 5 or grade 8 bolt.. The slip clutch can be retrofit to your mowers smooth spline input shaft except you use a harder bolt to hold it on.. then your pto shaft will fit ont he front of the slip clutch.. with a similar harder bolt.. then you adjuster and slip her often, and go... Ya might have to split your pto shaft and trim it down a lil on each side to make up for the extra length of the slip clutch.. but no biggie.. that's just chop saw or sawsall work.. or if you like 'popeye' type forearms.. go at it with a couple good hacksaw blades!

 

[N80]

Hey Curly, how did you end up with a Montana tractor? I'm in Rock Hill and didn't know there was a Montana dealer anywhere around? Where are you buying it? I know I'm not helping you answer the question but FWJ and Soundguy have that covered. The only thing I would add is that you may want to look at the max diameter brush the mower is rated for. I use a JD LX-6 which is a light duty mower and it has fit my needs well, but it is only rated at 1 inch brush. I've gone through larger softwood brush than that with no trouble, but if you plan to actually clear brush you may need to look at a medium duty mower.

 

[curly]

Hey Curly, how did you end up with a Montana tractor? I'm in Rock Hill and didn't know there was a Montana dealer anywhere around? Where are you buying it? I know I'm not helping you answer the question but FWJ and Soundguy have that covered. The only thing I would add is that you may want to look at the max diameter brush the mower is rated for. I use a JD LX-6 which is a light duty mower and it has fit my needs well, but it is only rated at 1 inch brush. I've gone through larger softwood brush than that with no trouble, but if you plan to actually clear brush you may need to look at a medium duty mower.

I lived in Rock Hill 20 some years ago (for 1 1/2 years). Do you know Peyton Drake? He's probably 85ish years old now. Great guy, and family.

The closest Montana dealer around me is about 100 miles in Chesterfield. It's probably 60 miles from you. The dealer I'm getting mine from is in Ga. They had a closeout deal on a new 2006 4540 that I couldn't refuse. I was in a kubota dealership and ready to sign the paper on a L3400, but I mustered up the strength to walk out and rethink...and I think I made the right decision (only time will tell). I'm getting a 45hp instead of a 34hp with the new hydralics and nice root grapple for still less money.

 

[LoneCowboy]

slip clutch slip clutch slip clutch

Gets old breaking the shear pin, and it NEVER breaks near the truck/etc

 

[N80]

It sounds like you're getting more tractor for less money. Can't beat that.

 

[Z-Michigan]

If you stick with the shear pin setup, buy at least 10 replacement bolts up front, so you don't have to run to the dealer after your first 20 minutes of mowing.

I'm not sure how many shear pins I would have broken by now but I'll bet at least a dozen, maybe several dozen. And I'm not doing anything terribly rough (though I am failing to rockpick - imagine that, not rockpicking before mowing 5 acres of 3' weeds in 90 degree weather!). I don't worry too much about my slipclutch freezing because I figure it gets used on pretty much every mowing use.

 

[daveinnh]

Curly:

We have a 5' generic (Int'l World Argitech) rotary mower. I got tied of stopping to replace shear pins and installed a slip clutch bought from Agri-Supply. Much nicer operation now.


You might want to check out the heavier built Bush-Hog brand model (I believe they make 2 levels) w/ a stump-jumper plate.

 

[curly]

Well heck, I called him back and switched to the Modern brand 6ft slip clutch. They have my grapple, but now they say the front hydralic valve isn't in so I have to wait for that to get in and get installed before the tractor can be delivered. It's probably a good thing because I'm off next week to work in my shop...and if the tractor comes I believe that work will suffer greatly