Replacing Front Wheels

[Jasons]

Hi Gents,
I’ve got a Fordson Power Major Diesel and one of the front tyres is a bit dodgy so I need to replace it. I have a spare Fordson (not running) with a couple of good front tyres and I’d like to swap the wheels over rather than to replace just the tyres. Both Tractors are the same however the one not running has a different PTO wuth a leaver at the back where my good tractor has the PTO lever up front on the left.
Is there much too it? These are the solid cast wheels and at the hub appears to be a cover with a hex nut cast in it. (I hope this is making sense)
Are there any suggestions or advice you might have, I’m not too mechanically minded so any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks Jason
P.s. The backs are brand new, I got a tyre company to replace them as they were a bit heavy! And so was the price!!!!!!

[Kiwi Kev]

Welcome Jason
If you want to change the front wheels from tractor to tractor, thats no problem, but I would swap the wheel and the bearings so they stay as a set.
There will be a few envious guys on here with your raised PTO. On a Major, you need to have the PTO engaged (lever by left leg) to be able to use the hydraulics. The raised PTO allows you to disengage the PTO shaft and still have the hydraulics work.
and what part of the world do you live in.
Kiwi Kev

[Jasons]

Thanks Kiwi Kev,
II can post some pic if you would like.
Do you need any special gear to press the bearings in or do they just fit inside the wheel housing.
it make sense what you said on the Raised PTO, as the tractor that's not working has a hydraulic blade on the front. It’s probably not a bad tractor, they guy I bought it from parked it over ten years ago after sustaining a head injury in a tree felling accident. For $200 bucks it was worth it just for the parts.
Jason

[Kiwi Kev]

For $200 bucks it was worth it just for the parts.

Bargin

Kiwi Kev

[AdrianNPMajor]

If you want to keep the old bearings you could always swap the front stub axle assemblies as well. The six large bolts might need some soaking with penetrating oil or heating up to free off the nuts. The wrench for the rear wheel nuts fits the front axle nuts.

If you are a purist, you may want to keep the cast iron rims with their original tractor. The rims have casting dates on them which will match the other major castings on the tractor (that's assuming they haven't been swapped over already - this often happened down the years).

Regards

Adrian

[Jasons]

Thanks Adrian ,
I have a feeling that the wheels or at least one of them were replaced some time ago as there are different tread pattern and one wheel has the hub cover with the pressed hex on it and the other has three nuts to take the cover off. If keep the bearings with the wheels will that do or is it better to replace them with new ones?
Thanks for your advice. Jason

[AdrianNPMajor]

These photos might be helpful.

regards

Adrian

[AdrianNPMajor]

Just noticed the felt dust seal in the third photo is wrong way round - the felt buts up against the hub of the stub axle, not towards the bearing as I have shown it here.

Regards

Adrian

[Jasons]

Thanks Adrian I see what your getting at. I check it out tomorrow might be best tho keep them paired.
Cheers jason

[AdrianNPMajor]

Sorry, Jason, I forgot to say that I have steel wheels so what you see in the photos are the hubs, onto which the steel wheels bolt. Your cast iron wheels follow the same principle. It's just that you've got slightly heavier chunks of metal to play with!

Regards

Adrian

[Jasons]

Thanks Adrian, I picked up a JAck today and I'm going to give it a crack on the weekend. Get ready for the next post help.