Battery for Fordson Major

This forum is for the Fordson New Major, including the Super Major and the Power Major.
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MNUSAMajor
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Battery for Fordson Major

Post by MNUSAMajor »

Will a standard 12V automotive battery be adequate for a 1955 Fordson Major Diesel, or should I be looking for something more? Will be used in Northern Minnesota, USA, where temperatures will be below freezing for a good portion of the year. Sometimes, significantly below freezing. It does have a heater installed in the coolant line.

Puffie40
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Re: Battery for Fordson Major

Post by Puffie40 »

Short answer is yes, but get a larger-sized battery. While the Fordson has a 12 volt system, it originally used two Group-1 six-volt batteries in series to get a large enough cranking capacity from batteries of the time.

Me and my dad like using Group-31 batteries on our farm equipment. Our Case backhoe uses one and it has a lot of capacity for cranking cold or stubborn engines.

For cold weather starting, I would also suggest you look closely at your wiring, particularly the large cables running from the battery, to the solenoid, to the starter. Any corrosion in and around those wire connectors will have an effect on how the starter motor performs.

Also, make sure you have a decent battery charger - you are going to want to make sure the battery is fully charged when it's out in the cold.

shepp
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Re: Battery for Fordson Major

Post by shepp »

Here is a tip for the Fordson Major batteries - you can get batteries from time to time from the vintage battery specialists similar to the originals when they decide to do a production run.

However Varta do a battery which I think is used on a Volvo truck application which is an almost square battery very much like the big square 12 volt battery originally used on Fordson Majors before they went onto two 6 volt batteries wired in series.
This battery fits the Fordson Major battery tray very nicely with very little space all round so that it looks like an original big 12 volt or two 6 volts wired in series - in other words it fills the battery tray up very nicely and it also has a black case. It has a huge amp hour output.

The reference is Varta Promotive Black 635042068, about £230 retail but up to you to negotiate the discount from your suppliers - I get about 45% off.
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.

mathias1
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Re: Battery for Fordson Major

Post by mathias1 »

I have a Varta 12V 100 ah in it, which works fine
Fordson Super Major New Performance
County Super 4 built on the Fordson Super Major
Selene built on the Fordson Super Major New Performance with Silvant winch

MNUSAMajor
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Re: Battery for Fordson Major

Post by MNUSAMajor »

Thank you! I very much appreciate all of the advice!

blackbob
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Re: Battery for Fordson Major

Post by blackbob »

A '643' is relatively cheap to buy (for its size, compared to car-type batteries), fits a Major's battery-tray, and has enough oomph to start a 6-cylinder combine engine in summer, and a Major in a normal Scottish winter: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... y&_sacat=0

A '644' is the same battery but has the terminals the opposite way round, and is the same price..
1440276 - 1957 - working
1335674 - err - one day..
Claeys combine M103 - 1963 703129 - working
Ford 7710 2wd, 1983 - working

The Fordson Tractor Pages. Built to be relied on.

shepp
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Re: Battery for Fordson Major

Post by shepp »

Hi blackbob and mathias

The point I am making is that this battery from Varta fills the battery tray up and has a black case and is the nearest thing to the originals that you will get in a modern battery. When it is fitted it looks correct, you can fit the 643/644 or the bigger ampage 663/664 batteries, they fit the battery tray in one direction across the tray side to side but leave an annoying gap because they are nowhere near as wide longitudinally as the tray is. For a few quid more you get something that looks right - probably doesn't matter on a working tractor but if you have a good clean original tractor or a high class restoration tractor then it is worth spending that bit more. I have them on all my Majors which are all original low hours tractors. Varta is the only brand I buy for everything I have as I prefer quality to price.
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.

oehrick
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Re: Battery for Fordson Major

Post by oehrick »

Hi Shepp, I've seen the cheapskate alternative where someone had carefully gutted an old original dead battery and stood a smaller modern one inside the carcase so it looked genuine until you lift the bonnet :roll:

Sounds like Varta is getting a few votes for quality.
Best regards
Rick - Bogside on Bure


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

mathias1
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Re: Battery for Fordson Major

Post by mathias1 »

I put my paperwork and a bottle of water in the gap between battery and fuel tank. 8)
Fordson Super Major New Performance
County Super 4 built on the Fordson Super Major
Selene built on the Fordson Super Major New Performance with Silvant winch

oehrick
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Re: Battery for Fordson Major

Post by oehrick »

Spanners and wire for bleeding / cleaning fuel lines, (sawdust gets EVERYWHERE) a wire brush and filling funnel between mine Mathias :D
Best regards
Rick - Bogside on Bure


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

MNUSAMajor
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Re: Battery for Fordson Major

Post by MNUSAMajor »

Have a contact with Interstate Battery, going with the Interstate MTP-65HD. Already have good heavy cables. Thanks for all the advice/responses.
B

Billy26F5
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Re: Battery for Fordson Major

Post by Billy26F5 »

oehrick wrote:
Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:36 am
Hi Shepp, I've seen the cheapskate alternative where someone had carefully gutted an old original dead battery and stood a smaller modern one inside the carcase so it looked genuine until you lift the bonnet :roll:

Sounds like Varta is getting a few votes for quality.
Do you have a pic of it? It might do if we struggle to find a proper sized one, and our recovery efforts on one of our old ones is completely useless.
Having said that, the first battery in the recovering thread (viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8361) is still available from it's manufacturer (Tudor 165Ah), and although I'm not sure if it's a good quality buy by normal standards (our one was dry and sat out in the weather for over 10 years, having already been used), I think it's good as I think after another charge it might start something (during the last charge the electrolyte seemed water, but it's now pretty acid after sitting for a week or two). The Varta one suggested earlier looks good, our only experience with one of their batteries was very brief as it's the one Super Billy got just before the big end got totally finished (the battery was then dumped in the barn), it's our only old battery with clean poles, as the others all have deposits on them.
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Billy26F5
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Re: Battery for Fordson Major

Post by Billy26F5 »

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