Toft tractors (Austrack)

since we have a very steep block i know the Austrack /Toft Australian made tractors have a very low centre of gravity but i dont know much else are they reliable etc ?
thankyou in advance Ken

Ken, there was only about 20 of the Toft manufactured machines made, but I'm not sure how many of the earlier Williames Wildcat model was produced.

I can tell you that any Toft built machine will keep on going until it disappears as rust or smoke. Hydraulic parts are usually generic, over the counter stuff and everything else you can probably fabricate yourself. I think the VM engines that were fitted have a pretty good name too.

Best of luck with finding one, they're now are scarce as hens teeth & depending on the model some driveline parts are unique & now obsolete - evolved from the Williams Wildcat to Austrak to Toft.
The earliest models were petrol Wisconsin or Wankel powered, then the diesels started with VM, then Perkins until finally Cummins - we still run late models & have a stack of info on them but for the uninitiated they're a bottomless pit to throw $$$$'s at........stability may be their strong point but it comes at a cost of low ground clearance & high operational cost, they also have a propensity to spin in circles if the directional cable controls lock/break or are poorly adjusted.
In steep country they're unbeatable, but if it's steep country there are less costly solutions & ultimately you rarely need do you do much more than spray or occassionally slash in the hills.....IMO in preference look at a small Fiat dozer or specialised Italian hilside ag tractors likes Valpadana or Carraro fitted with duals

Same tractors are good for hills- four wheel drive, low centre of gravity and air cooled V-block engines, you can't go wrong. The sound from the V4 engine is music to the ears...

I can't help myself I'm looking at one tomorrow it has a deutz 3cyl fitted .. With a slasher ... I've just dozed and seeded( grass seed) some steepish hills if I do buy it il do what I have to do then prob move it on ... I'm curious as to how wide one of these tractors would be ( to see if it would fit on a car trailer or if I have to truck it.... Thank you for replies guys keep them coming

Sounds interesting I believe only very few & the last of the Tofts had factory Deutz motors, though I also understand a few also early build units left the Williams factory with Lombardi's.
The 3PL is on most non-standard & also unique from most tractors are it has down pressure from the top hyd link.
There's no mechanical PTO on these machines, slashers & the like are run via remotes & a hydraulic motor so it's essential the hydraulic pumps, circuits are in good order - consider that on most of these hydrastatic machines wheel motors are unique & not easily substituted for proprietary off the self items.
The best of these machines have the hydrostatic drive/steer via split output bevel gearboxes to individual tailshafts (not chains) to the planetary hubs on the 4 wheels - with twin hyd circuits delivering up 31gal/min (for hyd PTO's) & another with 8gal/min (lift ..etc.)

The machine (if it's the one in Northern NSW) you're considering is one of the last made & should have the best specs as above - also rare in having the factory cab/Slasher/Rippers/Blade - all-in-all for the price looks to be a great buy if it's reasonable working condition.

Here's link to a Austrak factory promo on youtube:


And a link to an enthusiast site:
austrak-wildcat.com/

I found a little light reading...

books.google.com.au/books?id=QaYm2BRTokU...20hydraulics&f=false

Don't be too scared about the hydraulic side of things. In my experience with their cane equipment, a "Toft Engineered Transmission" will consist of Sunstrand Piston pumps and motors, Danfoss steering and Toft's own brand of bevel, final and pump drives, which are virtually bullet proof. Other hydraulic functions would probably use Commercial gear pumps and motors and Vickers vane pumps.

There was also about 180 of the earlier model produced before the company went broke. A short time later they started a new enterprise and had Toft build the 20 R1000 machines. The R1000's were built from 1975 thru 1982.

Do you have any pictures? If it was me, with it being such a unique machine, I would grab that piece of history and not let it go.

ive had a look at the old girl she has been in the open all her life (30+ years) theres a bad oil leak coming from the rear but i couldnt see where from so possibly a hose or steel pipe under the rear fitted fuel or hydrolic tank also there are no brakes which can be a concern .. on the upside they look a heavy machine (3-1/2 ton ? at a guess) also the width is 2.31 metres its a real shame they ddint make 1000s more as they look very versatile !
cheers ken

I'm on the hunt for an Austrak/Wildcat/Williames/Toft tractor for restoration, to restore for display and use on my property. Any leads would be much appreciated.
Col
0467 677 759

I recently bought 2 Toft R1000 tractors but one thing puzzles me,the serial numbers are R1017 and R1025. As there were only 20 made how can 1 be serial no R1025?
Does anyone know where I may find a list of serial numbers?
Thanks