1961 Supermajor axle diagram

scbco · Post by **scbco** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 7:01 am

Hello does anyone have a workshop manual picture for a 1961 Supermajor showing the axle assembly and differential (left hand side in particular) as my one has lost drive on the left hand side and am wondering if I have snapped an axle or if a retaining clip or bolt has come off as axle has come out of housing by about 15 to 20 mm.I know that in theory the differential should be ok as when I engage the diff lock it will drive.
Also does any one have any idea why sometimes the steering stops working.The steering on my machine has been converted to full hydraulic steering like on a forklift with no actual mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels.This is not the power assisted steering I have seen on some pictures of other Supermajors.
The tractor is one we bought for $1000 Australian and have spent about $4000 making it in serviceable condition to get it road licensed.It has a front end loader which I intend to convert to a quick release hitch sometime.The motor runs like a dream no knocks or noises and even on a cold day starts first time just by releasing the engine stop and pushing the start lever no aerostart or anything else needed.We use this machine for grading , firebreaks and slashing grass as well as cultivating(rotary hoe)on our Shark (have just set up a vegetable patch and mini orchard). At a later date intend to use it for paid fire breaks and slashing of paddocks.

Regards
Steve

henk · Post by **henk** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 6:52 pm

Welcome Steve,

You have found the right place to be.
There are manuals on the home page of this site, repair and parts manuals. Just make a tour around the site and you will find a lot of interesting things.

JC · Post by JC » Sat Sep 11, 2010 7:38 am

Welcome to the forum, Steve.

I think that the nut on the end of the axle shaft has probably loosened up, allowing it to slide out of the bull gear. I hope not, but it may have ruined some splines, too.
Did you find the links to the repair manuals on the main page? If not they are here http://www.fordsontractorpages.nl/manua ... _guide.htm

scbco · Post by **scbco** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 2:54 pm

Thanks guys I found the manuals and also a photo of one with the top cover removed on the site so know what I am up for hopefully.I will be pulling it apart tomorrow (Tuesday) oh what fun!!!! at leaste I have a mini excavator to help lift the top cover off.The wheel might be anothe matter though as it has some big boots 18.4 - 28 tyres water filled with cast weight in centre and I do not have any specialised lifting gear to remove and mini excavator will not lift that much weight.M tractor serial number is 773912 so according to the production date listing should be Jan 1963 tho old girl is older than me by 5 and a half years.Would post some pics of her but have tried uploading to photobucket without success.I am afraid I will be considered a heathen as some of it is not original equipment (I have put a new padded seat on and also modern lighting and an alternator to keep up as requirements to get it road licensed here and I have a bad back so seat was essential) The front end loader is a locally fabricated unit as most ones over here will be .
Regards
Steve
Darling Downs
Perth
Western Australia

scbco · Post by **scbco** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 3:09 pm

Hello I have just been able to upload to photobucket will upload more pics when I take them just copy and paste link into your browser to view.

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab23 ... 301150.jpg

http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab23 ... 301061.jpg

Regards
Steve

scbco · Post by **scbco** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 2:55 pm

Have taken the top cover off and removed the wheel today lucky I have a mini excavator to lift them with.The gears and bearings look ok without closer inspection when I remove the axle tomorrow but as suspected the axle is broken.Luckily a local tractor wrecker has one in stock and we will collect it tomorrow.I also had to buy a 3/4 drive socket set today so I could remove the wheel as did not have any spanners/sockets big enough.I am also fabricating a remotely mounted larger reservoir for the power steering pump as asked my brother possible reason for losing steering and he said at high rpm the pump might be using all the oil up and aerating it so basically was if it had no oil.The original reservoir only had about 200mls of oil when I took cover off so the new one will hold about 1 litre just have to find a suitable inline oil filter to place in the return line as mounting it internally like the original will be too hard with the design I will make.Hopefully this will fix the problem as not looking forward to having to remove the steering column and contol valves if it does not as is very tight to get spanners in where it is mounted where the original steering box goes.

scbco · Post by **scbco** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 6:36 pm

henk · Post by **henk** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 8:05 pm

Scbco,

This is a serious repair. Hope nothing else has damaged.
Hope you will get her back and running smoothly.

Mervyn Spencer · Post by **Mervyn Spencer** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 4:28 pm

Hi Steve, how on earth did that axle break

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 9:51 pm

That old girl definitely has a broken leg! You're lucky that a nearby breaker has a replacement and nothing else got damaged. I would run a strong magnet on a stick into every nook and cranny to be sure no fragments are left behind to screw up the replacement. She sure looks to be in good shape! Good luck.

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 12:24 am

Broken axle .. wow an impressive failure. I wouldn't even know how to do that if i wanted to

scbco · Post by **scbco** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 6:48 am

Have now fixed the beast and is running well took it for a quick test drive last night and no noises it should not make also the wheel did not fall off. I did not modify the hydraulic pump as spoke to a specialist and he said to try changing oil first so just put some new O rings in but is still doing the loss of steering bit (is kind of interesting doing 26 km per hour on the highway trying to go in a straight line) so will have to try a couple of other ideas first.I will give her a high pressure clean as was too late/dark last night to do it.Welded some braces on left mudguard as was rusted through on supports I also changed hydraulic oil filter whilst top was off and put in new oil as wheel as a new axle seal.I adjusted the brakes whilst I had to get dirty and she now seems to stop a bit better (although who really needs to stop LOL).Replaced the O rings between top cover and diff/hydraulic/pto housing whilst at it.
I have posted more pics of the repair and the Supermajor complete showing the loader , the hydraulic controls , the power steering pump and all round views as well as the Yanmar B17 excavator used as a crane in the repair, an Iseki tractor we also have (a baby tractor 22 hp) as well as the implements we have for the Fordson.
Click the link below to see them on Photobucket
http://s867.photobucket.com/albums/ab23 ... ?start=all

For those interested I was using the loader in gravel/rock /sand when she broke.I could see some rust in the centre of the axle where it broke so I think it may have had some microfractures previously that made it weak possibly from the casting manufacturing process.

Regards
Steve

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