bazman82
Gold Member
So as many may have seen already, I purchased a Farmtrac 785DTC a few weeks back. It is a 2005 model year according to the info on the engine plate. It was a considerable jump from my 1980's SAME Mercury 75.
The experience in riding and driving the FT is so much smoother and nicer than the SAME that I have barely even used the older tractor since I got the FT. I just finished 1st cutting last night and used the FT for the entire thing. Managed to do 1485 small squares and 134 round bales. It may not sound like a lot of round bales but when you need to get off the tractor for every one because the cutter doesn't work properly, that time adds up...Using the FT for all of this was great. I did not want to switch tractors like I usually do where I'll have 1 tractor hooked to an implement and ready to go the day before instead of unhooking and hooking back up. It was worth the time to stay on the FT and to unhook and hook back up.
The loader on the FT may need a bit of tweaking for the little bit that I have used it but I won't know for certain until I really put it to use. So far, it doesn't seem as responsive as the loader on the SAME. The FT has the higher rated lift capacity and the SAME has a higher breakout force so I am not sure if that's the difference in feel when using it. I'll know more later when my grapple arrives. I do wish the cross arm on the loader of the FT was in the slightly different spot as I can't see the spike on the bale spear while I am trying to get round bales which make it just a bit more difficult to pick them up.
Now my wife has warned me that if I start to pay less attention to the SAME that it'll get upset with me... So on Friday last week as I go to mow the rest of the 1st cutting I notice my SAME leaning to the side...Yup the one rear tire was flat
. The rim has a pretty decent size hole in it around the stem area. I'd say a 2" x 3" hole. Looks like the SAME wanted to of my money and attention....I guess the younger, newer and bigger tire tractor was enough to make the other Jealous...
All in all, I am happy with my purchase of this tractor and 1 of my local new Holland dealers can get parts for me which is a plus.
The experience in riding and driving the FT is so much smoother and nicer than the SAME that I have barely even used the older tractor since I got the FT. I just finished 1st cutting last night and used the FT for the entire thing. Managed to do 1485 small squares and 134 round bales. It may not sound like a lot of round bales but when you need to get off the tractor for every one because the cutter doesn't work properly, that time adds up...Using the FT for all of this was great. I did not want to switch tractors like I usually do where I'll have 1 tractor hooked to an implement and ready to go the day before instead of unhooking and hooking back up. It was worth the time to stay on the FT and to unhook and hook back up.
The loader on the FT may need a bit of tweaking for the little bit that I have used it but I won't know for certain until I really put it to use. So far, it doesn't seem as responsive as the loader on the SAME. The FT has the higher rated lift capacity and the SAME has a higher breakout force so I am not sure if that's the difference in feel when using it. I'll know more later when my grapple arrives. I do wish the cross arm on the loader of the FT was in the slightly different spot as I can't see the spike on the bale spear while I am trying to get round bales which make it just a bit more difficult to pick them up.
Now my wife has warned me that if I start to pay less attention to the SAME that it'll get upset with me... So on Friday last week as I go to mow the rest of the 1st cutting I notice my SAME leaning to the side...Yup the one rear tire was flat
. The rim has a pretty decent size hole in it around the stem area. I'd say a 2" x 3" hole. Looks like the SAME wanted to of my money and attention....I guess the younger, newer and bigger tire tractor was enough to make the other Jealous...All in all, I am happy with my purchase of this tractor and 1 of my local new Holland dealers can get parts for me which is a plus.
