Buying a Farmtrac 665DTC...should I?

weathda · Jun 30, 2012

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.

mdford · Jun 30, 2012

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................

JIGBUILDER · Jul 1, 2012

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.

weathda · Jul 2, 2012

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...

cowski · Jul 2, 2012

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.

weathda · Jul 3, 2012

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.

Bud Soda · Jul 3, 2012

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.

weathda · Jul 4, 2012

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.

cowski · Jul 4, 2012

sorry did not see your post yesterday.be sure and check that axle stop for tightness.hopefully you will have good luck with it.

weathda · Jul 5, 2012

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.

Dr Dave · Jul 5, 2012

Nice looking tractor, very good price! Many of the parts are same as Ford, India plant built tractors for Ford.

BigBoyinMS · Jul 5, 2012

weathda said:
Does anyone have a cross-reference napa, wix or baldwin number for those fuel filters? They are a Mico F002 H20 306.

This is a bit worrisome... I just checked Wix and they list most FarmTrac models except the 665.

Davidsan · Jul 6, 2012

Congrats on the "new Tractor". Looks like a good one!

weathda · Jul 6, 2012

Thanks Dr Dave and Davidsan. I hope it will provide some good service.

BBM, I noticed that too about the filters. I can get them from Sundowner, but would like to get them local if I could.

weathda · Jul 6, 2012

The primary and secondary fuel filter numbers are buried in this forum. The original filters both have drains.

Fuel
Napa: 3472 (P/S)
Baldwin: BF1226 (P), BF1372 (S)
FleetGaurd: FS1251 (P), FS19599 (S)
Wix: 33472 (P/S), 33358 (without drain)
MF: 3904889M1 (P), 3904888M1 (S)

Engine
Napa: 1452
Baldwin: B118

Rear/Hydraulic (2)
Napa: 1712
Baldwin BT8504

Fred Widom · Jul 6, 2012

weathda said:
The primary and secondary fuel filter numbers are buried in this forum. The original filters both have drains.

Fuel
Napa: 3472 (P/S)
Baldwin: BF1226 (P), BF1372 (S)
FleetGaurd: FS1251 (P), FS19599 (S)
Wix: 33472 (P/S), 33358 (without drain)
MF: 3904889M1 (P), 3904888M1 (S)

Engine
Napa: 1452
Baldwin: B118

Rear/Hydraulic (2)
Napa: 1712
Baldwin BT8504

Try and use original filters with drains on this tractor
The Fuel injection pump on these tractors are pricey.

Clint S · Jul 6, 2012

Parts are not an issue, these tractors are still being made in India.

weathda · Jul 19, 2012

I bought the service manual from Sundowner. Not too impressed with it for the money - several spelling errors, missing sections in my opinion, but it helped with fluid capacities and had a nice procedure for adjusting the valves. The valves were clattering a bit when I bought it. After adjusting (several were way off) it sounded much better. I painted the battery box. The fuel gauge wasn't working and I happen to look in the tank from the fill and saw the float was doing the back stroke all over the place. It had somehow detached from the rod. Took the whole dash apart so I could remove the sending unit and check it. It tested ok and so I reattached the float, put it back together, turn the key and I was reading half a tank...excellent!

While the dash was apart and the throttle and shifter lever were out I lubed the collars that hold them. I greased and oiled all the linkage points. Changed out the hydraulic fluid w/ filters and engine oil w/ filters. I replaced the primary fuel filter which was incredibly dirty. Put on the new filter and opened the drain till I saw fuel coming out the filter drain. I then opened the fuel bleeder and used the primer pump till fuel came out the bleeder. The tractor cranked right up! I then repeated the same process for the secondary filter and the tractor cranked right up! Not as bad as I though it would be. I replaced the coolant. Added slime to front tires, widened all 4 wheels out all the way as I have some steep hills I'll be cutting on. The rears were loaded and required help from my dad and brother. I also put 450lbs on the front bracket. Painted some rusty spots and painted the canopy top, replaced a pin on the lift arm where someone had lost the original and put a smaller pin. The smaller pin was gouging the holes. I bought a 1" hydraulic pin from TSC and had it machined down to 0.91". Oh and fixed a hydraulic leak on the right hand side of the transmission at the elbow of a drain tube(?). Gave it a good wash and now I'm planning to take it over to my property in the next few days for it's maiden voyage. I'll give my impressions after this weekend's use.

labushhog · Jul 22, 2012

Nice looking tractor, I don't know about the model you have, but I get my filters for my FTrac 360DTC from CarQuest; they told me that WIX makes their filters and they seem to be good quality. anyway, my point is that they matched my oil & fuel filters with no problem, and they always have them available, and the prices are reasonable.

weathda · Jul 22, 2012

I found all the oil filters at Napa and I was able to pick up Wix fuel filters (with drains) at O'Reileys. I put 14 hours on it this weekend mostly bushogging with an 8' cutter on hilly terrain. It ran that entire time on a tank of fuel so not too bad on fuel. The 4 wheel drive was great, could not have cut half of what I did without it. My only gripes are the emergency brake doesn't hold well although the foot brakes work fine. Also I wish the lift arm lever was a little higher. The stop on the lift lever doesn't allow you to bypass to let the implement all the way down. The stop has to be unscrewed and reset if you want to drop the cutter to the ground. The tractor is very stable on the front with the 1600 lbs cutter. The lift was strong and had no problem picking the entire cutter up. The little 3 cylinder pulled the cutter fine and up some pretty steep inclines too. Here's a few pictures I took.