The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Hello to all. I hope to put the used front tires on which was part of my parts purchase. I have never raised front end and with the way the front axle is attached with trunion/pin was wondering the best way to jack up the front end of the tractor. Seems if you raise just one side then the axle will just pivot on the trunion. Also does anyone have a close estimate of the weight I will be trying to lift? This will help me in knowing what size jack is needed. I'm limited with the type of jacks I have and with axle height from ground I know my jack stands will not be tall enough. I will have to figure something out to raise her up and keep her up while I work on the front end, hope to check bearings while I have wheels off. Any suggestions or advice is appreciated.
Thanks

Hi, Gman. I've just done two front tyres, and believe me, the wheels are heavy!

We used a big oak block and jacked up with a bottle jack in the centre of the axle. Keep going until both wheels are well off the ground. Then block/chock how you want for safety but still keeping some little weight on the bottle (it's extra support.)

As for the weight to be lifted, allow approx half the weight of the tractor, or well over one ton. (My bottle jack is 10 tons, but we used a 20...[for lift height])

Hope that helps.

I jack one wheel at a time under the axle, then block it and work on the tyre. I never take the wheels off to change a tyre, it is easier to do it on. No lifting.

Last year we took down a blackthorn hedge and we were getting two or three punctures a day in the front wheels. Got quite good at whipping the tyre off, finding the thorn and slipping a repaired tube in, in the field.

I have a 3 ton jack which works for me.

If you would like to see how I change the rear tyres, check the manual section from the home page. I took photographs of each step. "Henrietta gets new Tyres". The front ones come off the same way, only smaller.

Thanks Brian and John. The tires that came with the Major I bought for parts are already mounted on wheels, just going to swap them out with old ones. Hopefully the lugs will come off with no problem. Based on what you are telling me I can raise one wheel at a time or can raise both at same time with jack in center, I will have to figure out which jack will work best for me although I feel safer with one wheel still on the ground.
Brian, if I raise one wheel at a time will there be a lot of movement of the axle upward before the tire clears the ground? I know my jack will be limited to how high it will lift. I do need one back tire and have looked at Brian's wiki on changing back tires, that will be another project. Thanks for your advice.

Usually about 2" to 3". If you have good blocks you can stand your jack on one.

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I think that most FMD/SMD front wheels here in the USA are of the pressed steel type with 6 lug nuts. In these only the wheel comes off, unlike the cast center type where the bearing comes off.

I just put the forklift under the axle and lift just enough to clear the ground. Pull the lug nuts then use 2 pipes under the tire to work the wheel off, one in front of the tire one in back. I only need to use the pipe levers when the wheel has a weight installed. I remove the weight take the tire and wheel to the tire shop. )

Thanks everyone. I have the pressed steel wheels although I really like the looks of the cast ones. I guess it would require changing spindles to go to the cast ones if any could be found. I do want to check the bearings while I have the wheels off, looking at the hub cap it appears to have a head like a bolt, is it just pressed on or does it have threads?
Thanks

Cast wheels go on the same axles and bearings. Yes the cap is screwed on.

Hi Gman I have some of those cast wheels up here in Canada but i think shipping would kill it for you. you need 2 men to pick one up and I would not want to ask about shipping cost.
If you are seriouse about adding them try finding a wrecking yard that has a late fordson E27n with 4 spokes on as those wheels are the same. The very early ones did't have the dust ring on them. They also take a 6.00 x19 tyre so yours would not fit. I believe the only place you can get them in the U.S.A is Miller tire a web based company that I found when I was looking for tyres and they are over $100 each plus tubes and shipping.
Apart from the look you want i would not bother personally. they make the front end real heavy to steer and I found with mine they make a mess in wet ground as the narrow tyres sink in more. I took them off and put steel rims on . Also i added removable weights on a frame so I could take them off and lighten the front when I was not using our brush mower.
Regards Robert