The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Took the Major out for its first real run today. Only two faults really showed up, fuel leak from the filter housing (sealing ring and outlet pipe, both now on order) and oil all over the place round the air cleaner. Stripping the air cleaner revealed the top part full of wire mesh in loose rings, n...

Dear Adrian; You are quite right, and I am reassured. Gearbox and axle oil remain separate (different colours), and no nasty knocks or rattles, I suspect as she gets used to actually moving things will quieten down a little more anyway . As an added plus giving the tractor a run seems to have reduce...

Took my 53 Major out for a short run of about 2 miles yesterday, its first road drive since registering her. All went well and she is only a little smokey, clearing to a thin blue haze when hot. I was suprised at how much transmission noise there was, particularly from the wheel ends of the axle (I ...

Works just fine. The only real problem I had was that the nuts holding the fan and pulley on just would not engage with the holes in the new pump. Eventually took the pump off again and found that the holes in the pump pulley and fan blade needed reaming out since the holes in the new pump were a fr...

I have a very old two wheel trailer I purchased recently from an orchard farm in Herefordshire. The axle is from a Ford AA truck and, judging by the red paint underneath what is on now, was used by the GPO in the UK. The truck would have been a 1930 0r 1931 model and I reckon the trailer was put tog...

[quoteI just went through my pile of used blocks it looks like the difference is the shape of the gallery that runs up into the head from the water pump mounting flange. 2 blocks have an oval ish shaped hole and what looks to be an early block has a round hole thats not as big . I tried my non genu...

Ordered a new pump from Dunlop Spares this morning. Only £28 odd plus VAT and they say it will fit either block. We shall see.

My 53 FMD fettling continues! I was fitting the newly rebuilt dynamo (Original 1953 lucas C39), and noticed that the fan and fan boss had a lot of play, although no obvious water leaks. Should I: A. Live with it. B. use a rebuild kit C. Replace the pump (Pumps in the UK are about twice the price of ...

Many thanks, especially the white paper idea, I will try that

My 1953 FMD has a few leaks. So far I have replaced a fuel pipe and tightened a few loose engine bolts, which has removed the fuel leak and reduced minor oil leaks, but now I need to get at the leaks underneath. There seems to be a little dropping from the front of the engine, a little from the midd...

Just ordered my first 5 gals of 20/50 from Morris of Shrewsbury, I intend to just top up for a while before draining and tackling the leaks! I have no idea what oil has been used before. Will I do any harm by mixing brands or viscosities? I am working on the "halitosis is better than no breath at al...

I have just got my historic registration for my 1953 FM from the DVLA and have ordered a pair of plates. Do I have to have both on, or just the rear one? How do you fix one on the front if needed? ( The DVLA were most helpful, and got really excited when they realised that the chap at the next desk ...

Looks and sounds just as I remember! toolbox added, radiator grilles now blue and underslung exhaust to original pattern. Pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31231726@N03/7631380850/in/photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/31231726@N03/7631359958/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/3...

It will take a few days to get the paint and clamps, etc , together but I should have it done some time next week. Martin, the chap that made them, assured me they sound just right. I will let you know.Having dug around a bit there is a suggestion that nearly all early Majors were fitted with these ...

Have a look here for photos: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fordson-Major-DKN-DDN-under-swept-exhaust-system-/380453085493?_trksid=p4340.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222001%26algo%3DSIC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D598030012904035453%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D1%26 The engineer has made 10 (He t...

Just arrived, less than 24 hours after ordering. V heavy duty steel, really well made too.

I have just ordered a new underslung exhaust system for my 53 FMDiesel (Which I suspect originally had one, since the fixing bolt for the rear bracket is still in place and the suppliers name plate on the bonnet is hidden by the currently fitted upright version.). The tractor I drove as a child had ...

Many thanks guys. I can't open the link Henk, and the tractor has a new starter fitted just before I bought her. My suspicion is that the dynamo needs repair ( It should be torn down and cleaned out every six months according to the user's handbook! ). Since I have no capacity whatever to deal with ...

First time I have used the tractor for work, spent half an hour with the new topper cutting the paddock. Worked just fine and very satisfying but when I stopped I found the battery did not have enough oomph to get the engine going. The battery charges fine on the battery charger, and holds charge, s...

Well, my 1953 Major Diesel now has a refurbished seat painted the right shade of Empire Blue and identified as the "de luxe" seat option, which has a plain rubber pad, easily renewed with self adhesive neoprene strip and the radiator grilles are blue, not orange, the colour of the 54 Major I drove a...

Robert;
Very many thanks. I'd worked out it was not the later one (shown in the handbook) but your detailed explanation as to how the thing works is a god send, especially as it explains why the lever tightens up as the lock nut is tightened. It now makes perfect sense. David

Thanks guys

Brilliant Pat (BearCreekMajors) That solves the problem! Thanks.

Sadly not, while I am pretty sure the seat is a Fordson item I don't think it's from an early Major. The seat pan is in a top frame that is linked to a bottom frame which, in turn, is fastened to the transmission casing by four bolts in two long slots. Try here? http://www.flickr.com/photos/31231726...

Just finished priming my seat pan and mounting frame which clearly came from another tractor (mine has been kept under cover, and it shows, the seat bits are rusted but sound, and have obviously been outside for a while). While cleaning up I found the remains of a rubber buffer (and the hole where a...