The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Does a diesel major have a rear diff? i take it that it hasnt got a locking one, because theres no way to activate it. Only reason im wondering is because while my tractors wheels were off i started it up and put it in gear so the rear axel was spinning and i could stop one of the axles turning with my hand, the other i couldnt. Is this right or not?

Hi Nick,

Be very carefull when doing such tricks, you can easily get injured.

There certainly is a differential in the rear axle. Thats why you have independant brakes left and right as well, otherwise one would be enough.

I can imagine that oil drag transmits enough power with cold weather that it turns the axle without you being able to stop it by hand Try the brakes to stop it. They shoud be able to, or fit a wheel disc, then you can better stop the axle due to the greater arm.

Regards

Yes, otherwise you would go straight on when you tried to turn.

You will find that, if you stop one halfshaft turning, the other one turns twice as fast. The dif diverts all the power to the free turning wheel.

When you are ploughing, for example, the furrow wheel has a nice firm, dry bottom to grip on, the outer wheel might be trying to grip in slippery soil or muck. The outer wheel takes all the power and spins so progress is halted. If you then apply the brake to that wheel, the load increases so the dif feeds some of the power back to the furrow wheel. This can grip so the tractor moves forward again.

This is why you have independent brakes.

If the going was expected to be really bad when ploughing, people fitted wheel strakes. These had adjustable spade lugs that could be extended into the ground on the outer wheel to aid progress.

Another way, and a really good seller for my old company, J.J.Wright and Sons, was sets of spade lug wheels. From the late 1940's Wrights made these wheels for Fordson Majors and New Majors, right through to the '000nd series. We fitted them to Counties and Roadless too along with Ferguson and Nuffields, although Ford were the only company that would stand by any rear end warranties when these were fitted.

The coming of dif lock as standard equipment saw the end of the wheel strake on one wheel, but the Super Steel Wheels lived on. We supplied a special set to the tractor that leveled the track for Donald Cambells' world speed record attempts in "Bluebird".

thats ok then, i thought it was working properly because when you rotate one wheel, the other goes the other way.
thankfully though my new tyres are being fitted tomorrow morning!

I am sure most looking on here know exactly how the diff functions but his is quite a good moving diagram: http://www.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm/printable