Review By : AnitaF on 7/8/2008
Price Paid : $26,000.00
Years of Use : 30-Days
Implements : bale handler/grapple
Purchased From : Light's Equipment
Strengths On the surface you get an air conditioned cab 4x4 tractor for a good price. Baling, raking and teddering with the tractor are done with ease. The visibility in the tractor is good.
Weaknesses The quick-attach on the front loader came loose while the tractor was in use carrying a load of dirt and an irritating oil leak from the drip pan developed all within the first 20 hours of use. We took the tractor in to have the loader fixed, as promised by the dealer, only to find three washers put on the springs to "tighten" them and our rigging of bungee ties on the quick attach. when the dealer was asked if it was "fixed" his response was that was all he could do to the springs and we had a pretty good "system" with the bungee ties and he would recommend that we continue to use them. We bought this tractor to handle one job, loading trailers with a bale grapple (which incidentally we bought at the same time as the tractor from the same dealer). We were assured by the dealer this model tractor will do the job. It does not and never will. the tractor was grossly misrepresented by the dealer and when we asked the dealer what he would do about the fact that the tractor cannot preform as promised, no solutions were offered. The same attitude was taken by the manufacturer, Montana. Montana's response was this is a problem between you and the dealer.
Overall In my experience with Montana I would first say that the Montana warranty is only as good as the dealer you are dealing with. In my opinion this was shown by the shotty warranty work done on the tractor and Montana's response in saying that none of our problems are with them ,just the dealer. Secondly, in my opinion, to have a front-loader bucket FALL OFF in the first 20 hours of use is not what I expect out of brand-new equipment.In closing, I would say that if you were looking for a "hobby-farm tractor" or maybe even to do light duty work this tractor would work but I think you will have some nagging issues, such as small oil leaks etc. My advice would be to look at the dealer network before buying and remember how we have been treated primarily by the manufacturer, in their stance of not standing behind their dealer
Parts : 1 Performance : 3
Ease of Use : 3 Financing :
Reliability : 1 Overall : 1