I have had a Farmtrac 35 for just about a year now. I bought it new to replace an 8N Ford that was just not up to my needs. I'll try to explain the story behind the Farmtrac brand to the best of my knowledge and research:
There is an agriculture equipment company in India named "Escorts". At one time they were under license by Ford to build small Ford tractors (2000's 3000's etc.) for the overseas market. After Ford got out of the tractor business in the 80's (early 90's?) Escorts continued to build essentially the same machine renamed. Long Agribusiness recently started importing and selling these machines under the "Farmtrac" brand name. They are almost identical in appearance and operation to the Ford 2000-3000-4000 series. (The front axle appears to be the heavier unit used on the Ford utility tractors as there are no radius arms.) This information may not be exactly correct, but I think I'm close.
Now, about the one I have, it has nearly 100 hrs on it now, and so far it has run without a problem. It is a heavy machine, weighing 4220 lbs without filled tires. I have bush hogged, box bladed, disced and plowed with it and it hasn't missed a beat. The one thing I don't like about it is it's lack of power steering. At the time I bought it, the 35 didn't offer power steering, you had to buy the 45. I paid $9500 for the 35, and they wanted $11,900 for the 45. I didn't think I could justify $2400 for power steering and a couple more HP, but if I had it to do over I'd bite the bullet, as it gets tiring after a few hours! I see now the 35 comes with power steering, and they call it a "535". (I wonder how much it costs?) All in all, the machine is built like a tank, the castings are smooth and if you can do without the bling-bling like hydrostatic drive, hydraulic PTO, step-through floor etc. it is a good buy for the $$.
A couple more recommendations, order it with the folding ROPS and don't buy the factory filters for service, use WIX filters. The oil and hydraulic filters that the Ford 2000 use are the same, don't know about the fuel filters yet.
Bratkid
