worth the buy?

[bazman82]

https://williamsport.craigslist.org/grd/d/savona-85-hp-tractor/6904275566.html

Going to look at this machine. Opinions on price? The Sundowner tractor place that has the website for farmtrac parts does not stock parts for this machine and the lady I talked with said they do not order parts for this machine but gave me the number of someone else that could possible order parts...

 

[searcyfarms]

well.............this is about as much info as i can offer - TractorData.com Farmtrac 785DTC tractor information

its the only 85hp tractor listed for farmtrac that is close to 2005 - tractor data posts it as 2006-2008

shows a 15 speed shuttle fwd/rev trannie

made by SAME and the Deutz is a turbo engine so keep that in mind

I have not heard BAD things about most SAME tractors nor any nightmares about Deutz other than being careful with their air cooled engines vs water cooled - I personally have no experience with Deutz or SAME tractors just passing along what i have heard

75hp @pto is what is claimed

 

[bazman82]

Well I guess Ill find out in the long run since I am going to pick it up tomorrow morning...I'll then have a SAME air cooled engine in my Mercury 75 and the water cooled engine in this Farmtrac. No issue with my air cooled and so far the SAME has been great to me considering its age. That's part of what sold me on the Farmtrac was that its basically the same as my SAME, that and the one place I called to make sure about parts said yes, they have and can get parts for the 785DTC AND the lady was like, "That is a well built, solid machine." Not sure if she was only saying that because I would be a potential customer but she did sound pretty convincing with the stories she told me. I'll post some better photos of the Farmtrac when I get it home just to show how clean of a tractor it actually is.

 

[Shaneard]

I can't offer much input on this particular tractor but my dad has a smaller Farmtrac with a loader and it's been a good tractor for him. He uses it to feed his cows with on a daily basis.

 

[Jchonline]

Looks pretty solid. How is the parts market?

 

[bazman82]

Looks pretty solid. How is the parts market?

I haven't checked any of the local guys around me but I did make a few phone calls from places I found online that say they sell farmtrac parts. I did find one that said they stock parts and can order parts. I do have a local dealer semi-close by that used to sell SAME tractors and I believe they could probably order parts for me as well since this Farmtrac was built SAME.

From everything I was told about this tractor, it has been stored inside its entire life when not in use. Nothing was leaking as far as seals go and the paint on the engine is still brand new. The guy I am buying it from only used it for mowing hay for 1 season and I don't think he even used it that much.

 

[searcyfarms]

enjoy that tractor, sounds like you are happy with your choice and thats 90% of it, i love mid range tractors and their versatility, that looks like a good one to me from the sounds of it - i hope to some day have a mid range with FWA/4WD - for now i use the 706 and doubt i will ever part with it.

its great on fuel compared to my 5088 and has enough weight/grunt to do most things i need to. I have heard those Deutz are descent on fuel also. Not as good as some but ok. They used Deutz in some Agco/Allis, I know Bobcat used some in their BIG skid steers also as well as Gehl.

What are your plans for it?

 

[bazman82]

What are your plans for it?

Mainly everything from cleaning up some of the areas that I hay the cows outside to making hay. I do quite a bit of dirt moving and stone moving just because of the area I am in has no base so I've been buying stone just about every year to build up areas. I needed the heavier duty loader to make the jobs I need done, easier, you know less trips back and forth. I do a lot that would require 4wd in my area so I definitely did not want to buy a 2wd tractor for the hay making needs then buy a 3 third tractor to have a back-up 4wd. I did feel content after looking and agreeing to buy the tractor and my drive home afterwards I did not feel any regret and it was a 2 and a half hour drive. I will be honest and say I will have a hard time wanting to clean manure with this tractor just because it is so clean right now...

 

[searcyfarms]

sounds like a great tractor for all that, you will love it - if your piles of manure arent terribly deep or wet, you can edge cut them or drive over them with a lighter tractor and blade and scrape off parts and then only get the loader dirt and not sink it in the pile

I have done a lot of that with my SS and smaller tractor to not make such a mess and save the rust on things from all the manure/urine - getting the top dry part off and opening things up and work the pile slow helps, let it air out and dry and crust over again, driving over it with the smaller one packs it down so you can scrape it easier as well and get more traction just dont try to take to much or you will sink it ha!!

I have used my SS with tracks for feeding in the winter instead of tearing things up so much as i didnt have an AWD tractor with a loader. I love feeding with it but dont have to travel far only the pasture and lot.

 

[bazman82]

My piles are fairly deep and its just clay under the piles and all over. So even the trips back and forth from the pile to where I dump it will leave 2 foot ruts if its not dry enough (maybe at min. 1 week without rain). I've been working on stoning the area where are horses are and I would like to build up the area where the cows are in the winter as well but I need more $$ for that.