Buying a Farmtrac 665DTC...should I?

   / Buying a Farmtrac 665DTC...should I? #1  

weathda

Silver Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2010
Messages
235
Location
Alabama
Tractor
Farmtrac 665DTC, Kubota L2550, John Deere 310SE, Dresser 175C
Hi all. New to TBN...longtime lurker. Not new to tractors, but new to Farmtracs, so please educate me. I have an opportunity to buy a FT 665 DTC here locally. I test drove it today. The tractor has 358 hours on it. Has no dents or dings. Looks like it has sat outside awhile. Seems the forward reverse shifter on the column and throttle pedal are slightly binding and need some lubrication. Have the linkage points on the shifter and throttle been a problem with other owners? The tractor started great and everything appears to be working. If I could get this tractor for say $10k, would this be a good deal? My major concern is parts availability. I can wrench on it myself, but if I can't get parts then there's no way I'm going to get this tractor.

The only reason I'm even considering this tractor is the fact I'd only use it maybe 10 days/year bush hogging (<100 hours/year) with an 8' cutter and maybe some occasional box blade work. Since I only plan light use for my tractor I hate to shell out big bucks for a name brand just to have it sit in the barn most days of the year. This tractor buying opportunity just came up and I'm wondering if I should pull the trigger or run away and keep looking.
 
   / Buying a Farmtrac 665DTC...should I? #2  
Buying it cheap would not be a bargain if you can't find parts. Sooner or later, parts will dry up. In 5-6 years, you may have a very expensive boat anchor. Those are good looking tractors and it's such a shame the company has gone away! Maybe someone else on here can advise you of what they think. Just my 2 cents................
 
   / Buying a Farmtrac 665DTC...should I? #3  
Its not likely parts will dry up for many years.
I believe the tractor could be the same as a 3900-4000 series Ford tractor possibly made by Escorts of India. Maybe some of the former Farmtrac dealers can enlighten us as to the actual tractor builder. Some of the Farmtracs were built by LS Cable. LS builds tractors with different brand names.

The 665 has the 201ci 60 hp 3 cylinder Ford diesel .

I have a Farmtrac 60 based on the 3610 Ford with updated dual fuel system/seperate power steering/a bit different sheet metal/etc. I can get most parts from any of the old Ford dealers.

Escorts still manufactures the same tractors and markets them to other countries so parts ain't gonna' dry up any time soon.

Check out the 665 DTC on tractorhouse and look at some of the Ford 3900/4xxx series tractors for a idea on which Ford tractor the 665 is based on.
 
   / Buying a Farmtrac 665DTC...should I?
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Looks like a Ford 4610. The serial plate says manufactured in India.

I noticed about 5 different pieces on the tractor that I felt would need replaced or were completely missing. I downloaded the parts manual from Sundowner and called them. I also called IPT and they could get the two seals I would need for the 4x4 drive shaft (both ends were leaking a bit). The other two parts - pins for the third arm that were missing they could get, but it sounded like those would come from India. The last part was the third-arm or center link hook which was missing. He said he could not get it. Not a deal breaker, but I was testing the waters to see how easy getting parts would be. Not the ideal I was hoping for, but not a lost cause. Hmmm, I'll have to keep pondering...
 
   / Buying a Farmtrac 665DTC...should I? #5  
hook it to a bush hog and see if the pto stays in gear.drive it down the road to see if it dives for the ditch.check the front axle stop and see if it is loose bent or broke.since it looks mostly like a ford copy,it might work after the bugs are worked out.
 
   / Buying a Farmtrac 665DTC...should I?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
cowski, does your neighbor still have the FT? I saw where you had helped him fix a few issues with it. I'm still on the fence about this tractor. I only expect to use it maybe 5 days year bushogging at 10 hours/day. So maybe 50 hours a year. If I could get 750 trouble free hours out of it, I'd feel I got my money's worth. I know it's a cheap tractor and I know you get what you pay for. If I were going to be depending on this tractor to get my hay in, or using it every weekend, or using it for paying jobs then I wouldn't consider, but I feel my situation might justify the purchase. Don't know...I'm just bouncing this off you guys. Keep the comments coming.
 
   / Buying a Farmtrac 665DTC...should I? #7  
I have 2 Montana (FT) tractors. A 675 and a 675DTC. Paid $14,000 and $17,000 for them in 2010. . I did have to do a little maintenance on them when I got them but have had no problems at all. I would buy another one if I could find one with a loader.
 
   / Buying a Farmtrac 665DTC...should I?
  • Thread Starter
#8  
I took a chance and bought it. I offered $9k out the door and the dealer was ready to move it. Even made them pay the tax so the sale price on the tractor was around $8750. I'm getting ready to go through the fluids, adjust the valves and fix a couple of minor issues. Seems like it will fit the bill for me. Thanks for everyone's input. It was all much appreciated.
 
   / Buying a Farmtrac 665DTC...should I? #9  
sorry did not see your post yesterday.be sure and check that axle stop for tightness.hopefully you will have good luck with it.
 
   / Buying a Farmtrac 665DTC...should I?
  • Thread Starter
#10  
I did double check those axle stops before I bought it, they looked straight and in-tact. I will keep an eye on them in the future. My plan is to widen it out all the way and add some suitcase weights to it. Does anyone have a cross-reference napa, wix or baldwin number for those fuel filters? They are a Mico F002 H20 306. Here it is the day I picked it up.

tractor665dtc.jpg
 
 
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