Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

This forum is for the Fordson New Major, including the Super Major and the Power Major.
Post Reply
dromonedog
Not Quite Blue Yet
Posts: 24
Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2011 6:32 pm
Location: Canada

Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

Post by dromonedog »

Does anyone know what the differences are between the Fordson major Diesel engine to the gas engine other than the head. Are the pistons, liners etc different and gasket sets
Dromonedog

oehrick
Site Governance Team
Site Governance Team
Posts: 1239
Joined: Wed Jan 29, 2014 2:41 am
Location: Norfolk Broads UK

Re: Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

Post by oehrick »

I've never seen in a petrol or paraffin major engine but pistons probably different as the diesels have the usual combustion crown, the parts drawings / listings for all E1A variants are on line somewhere, fordson.se probably, have a look at the different listings and see which part numbers vary is probably your safest bet.
Best regards
Rick - Bogside on Bure


1958 Diesel E1A Mk2 s/n 1470165 - still in working clothes

shepp
True Blue
Posts: 448
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:24 pm
Location: Lancashire

Re: Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

Post by shepp »

The cylinder head is completely different as it has the combustion chambers cast into the head. The pistons are completely different as they have a flat top, they are a smaller diameter than the diesel and the cylinder liners are thicker with the same outside diameter as the diesel but a smaller internal diameter. The camshaft is different. The inlet manifold is different as it mounts the carburettor. For a petrol/TVO engine the exhaust manifold is different as it incorporates a vaporiser. The distributor is fitted in place of the injection pump. The cylinder head gasket is thicker. The thermostat has different opening temperatures. The fan is different to give a greater cooling capacity with 4 blades and bigger diameter. Other than this most other components are the same on diesel, petrol/TVO and straight petrol engines.
1946 E27N, 1952 Major Diesel, 1959 Power Major, 1962 Dexta, 1962 Super Dexta, 1963 Super Dexta NP, 1964 Super Major NP, 1965 Super Dexta 3000, 1966 Major 4000, 1967 3000 PF, 1994 5640,plus Basildon built NH.

Emiel
True Blue
Posts: 729
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:22 pm
Location: Netherlands

Re: Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

Post by Emiel »

Hi,

Cylinder liners for petrol/parrafin are same as diesel, for pure petrol they indeed have a smaller bore. Head of parafin engine is also different to the petrol head. If i remember correctly, valves and rocker are the same for diesel and petrol, but not for vaporising engine.

Petrol paraffin engine have been made upto the MKII engine, petrol to (nearly) end of production, according to parts list.

Parts like conrod, block casting, crankshaft are interchangeable.

Rgds

Emiel
Best regards

Emiel

N 1937, E27N 1948, 8N 1949, E27N 1950, E1A Diesel 1953, E1ADKN PP 1956, Dexta 1959, NH Clayson M103 1964

dromonedog
Not Quite Blue Yet
Posts: 24
Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2011 6:32 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

Post by dromonedog »

Thanks for your comments, wondering where one could buy liner kits, gasket sets, rod and main bearings

shepp
True Blue
Posts: 448
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:24 pm
Location: Lancashire

Re: Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

Post by shepp »

Virtually all of the straight petrol tractors were exported to the USA and Canada, so I would expect that if there is any chance of finding original liners and pistons for these engines it will be from somewhere in the USA or Canada. Failing that you can have liners and pistons made to the original pattern - there are companies in Great Britain who can manufacture any size of liner and there are others who can manufacture pistons and rings, however the cost is likely to be substantial.

You might get away with the thickest type diesel head gasket, or possibly make one out of copper sheet. There are firms in GB that can make up head gaskets for obsolete stationary engines, whether they could make up a gasket for an engine this size I do not know. Con rod and crank main bearings will be the same as the diesel engine.
1946 E27N, 1952 Major Diesel, 1959 Power Major, 1962 Dexta, 1962 Super Dexta, 1963 Super Dexta NP, 1964 Super Major NP, 1965 Super Dexta 3000, 1966 Major 4000, 1967 3000 PF, 1994 5640,plus Basildon built NH.

AdrianNPMajor
True Blue
Posts: 1174
Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2011 6:11 pm

Re: Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

Post by AdrianNPMajor »

I'm fascinated by the petrol (gasoline) version of the Major.
Why was it produced? Why did Ford feel the need to create this version?
I believe Brian in one of the posts on this great website mentioned that the (now defunct) GPO ordered a fleet of the petrol version.
Hope to see much more info on this subject. A 3.6 litre petrol engine in a great tractor sounds like a flight of fancy, and I love the idea!
Best, Adrian.
ps Bet it sounds great. Wonder how it labours under the strain of ploughing.

oehrick
Site Governance Team
Site Governance Team
Posts: 1239
Joined: Wed Jan 29, 2014 2:41 am
Location: Norfolk Broads UK

Re: Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

Post by oehrick »

I don't know how big the US / Canadian market was reckoned to be Adrian but petrol / gasoline was dirt cheap in the US until more recent times, not sure how it compared to diesel at that time but certainly not carrying the sort of tax burden it had in the UK. I'm more surprised that petrol paraffin models were considered viable, perhaps as diesel had not by then gained much of a foothold in UK agriculture - the TVO tax 'rebate' here ended around that time, praps Ford didn't see that coming ? either way it was a modern, innovative tractor and at that time standardisation of parts was not so common as it has become, you can't fault UK Ford for that aspect.

My fourpennorth :yikes:
Best regards
Rick - Bogside on Bure


1958 Diesel E1A Mk2 s/n 1470165 - still in working clothes

Nick
True Blue
Posts: 712
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:52 am
Location: Somerset UK

Re: Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

Post by Nick »

There is an early straight petrol major on ebay at the moment - looks like a nice original one. I have to admit I am tempted but its priced quite high - £5250.00.
Oh yay, look, another seized bolt! Lets get a hammer.....and some kano.....and some cider!

Old52
True Blue
Posts: 72
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2019 6:16 pm
Location: Peterborough, ON

Re: Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

Post by Old52 »

Hello, first time posting here, just joined.. I have an original 1952 gasoline Major Serial Number 1229858. According to some of the comments I read on this post, they were all shipped to the US and Canada, which might explain why I cannot find parts in the UK. I am in Canada (near Toronto) and had assumed that the best source for parts was accross the pond. From my research, there are a number of interchangeable parts, as mentioned already in this post, but certainly things like a distributor cap seem to be impossible to find. I am also looking for parts for the governor (ball drive plate) which I replaced once before in about 1972, but seems to have failed again. My dad bought the tractor in 1955, so it's older than me and just as much part of the family :) Any suggestions on parts sources would be greatly appreciated.

henk
Site Governance Team & Expert Team
Site Governance Team & Expert Team
Posts: 2069
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:56 pm
Location: Arnemuiden, The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

Post by henk »

Welcome Old 52,

All electric parts are from Lucas. There are still a lot of Lucas parts. Try searching with that name on google and see what comes up.
I have even found parts for the dynamo.
Kind regards, Henk

Fordson New Major February 1957 Mark I

Old52
True Blue
Posts: 72
Joined: Mon Mar 11, 2019 6:16 pm
Location: Peterborough, ON

Re: Fordson major with Gasoline/Petrol engine

Post by Old52 »

Thank you Henk, I will look for Lucas parts...

Post Reply