The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Good day.

I bought a fordson new major about a month ago for my first tractor. So far very impressed with this beast. Starts better then my car lol. Anyways when I was looking up info on my tractor for the year I ran into a few issues. Found out my tractor is a mix of super major and new major. The rear end has casting mark dates that line up when the super was built but the engine has a casting code for 4 apr 1954 but the serial number is R45315. Cant find any info on this. Casting code is D28V. also wondering about the ho rating for this engine. When I search for it I get anywhere from 30 to 50hp. Would like a general idea so I can buy the right size rough cut mower for it. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Ill try to post pictures when I get home and figure out how to do upload them

Fordson tractor engines did not start with a letter and industrial engines start with an "S" so that is a bit strange. Your casting code is indeed April 1954 so your serial number should start 128****

A Major engine of this vintage is roughly 40hp.

ok here are some pics.



by the alternator


engine casting code

You learn something every day about these tractors!

Any chance of any information about her history as you have a number of strange things on that tractor. It could be that she has had an engine transplant although from the date code that does not seem right,but you seem to have the 1957 engine with the injection pump inclined 8 degrees and a breather on the timing cover. These did not come out until 1957. Check under No.1 injector and see if you have a stamped number there.

From what I can see in the picture you have a Major/Power Major back end but the casting codes would be helpful. You say they fit into the Super era but remember that castings were being produced as spare parts so the dates might not line up if she has had some repairs done. If you can get as many codes as possible from all the parts it would help.

Where in the world are you? That may be a help too. Countries like Australia had their own numbering system for some tractors. That could explain the "R" number, the serial number also moved from where you have it to under No. 1 injector after around 1957.

After blowing the picture up I can see you do have a Super rear axle with disc brakes but you have the earlier New Major/Power Major lift fitted. It looks like you have a Fordson Major ASP (All Spare Parts). There are quite a lot of these about after over 60 years. It looks like you have a Super Major front tombstone too.

Hi
I'm going to guess this tractor might be in Canada , the loader bracket uprights look similar to some I converted to fit a Belarus, the other thing I see that we have here is the little oil pot on the side of the fuel injector pump cover. The Delco alternators a common replacement/ update to for tractors here .
Somewhere at the back of my mind in the last maybe 2 months, I've seen this tractor listed for sale online to, But can't remember where, maybe Alberta / Saskatchewan, or another Canadian province with Kijiji. I search so many other world wide for sale sites to, for fordsons I cant remember. it might even be AU and gumtree .
I have never seen that engine number stamped there with the R Just the old major stamp like that as Brian said.
Regards Robert

more pictures

New pic without the loader brackets on


Clutch linkage area



rear axle


Rear end


And yes I'm out west of Edmonton, Alberta Canada.
And probably the same one you saw on Kijiji. it was out by Camrose.

The guy I bought it from got it at an auction. The seller allegedly spent a ton of money and time rebuilding it. I think All the seller did was a paint job and maybe changed the fluids. The seller who sold it at the auction told the buyer that it needs a squirt of ether to get it started. The guy I bought it from used it one summer for working his hay field but it didnt have enough power to run the baler so that's why he sold it. He put 60 hours on it and idnt have any issues other then using ether to start it and one time the screen on the fuel pump plugged up with a waxy residue. When I got it I found that the fuel lines were leaking the fuel filter was half full of water. changed out the filter added a new hose and fitting on the fuel tank and line from the tank to the pump. bled the lines and if you press the cold start button on the pump she starts right up no ether needed.

Looks like it has a couple of oil leaks but nothing I'm to concerned about. got it for $3200 with shipping to my place and the tires are brand new so I think I came out even but just trying to figure out this engine thing

The date code on the engine seems to be the problem. That gives 1954 but all the others are 1962 right up to the clutch housing. From your latest pictures and the pump and engine breather I would now say she was a 1962 Super Major with an old style Major/Power Major lift fitted. You have a Super throttle position and dials that align with the dates.

The engine could have a 1954 block with 1962 components added although I am not sure that the injection pump mounting would fit without being modified. This could have been done however. Also, in 1954 the throttle went through the block behind the injection pump and up to the intake manifold rather than around the back of the block. There were no mounting pads casted into the early blocks to 1957. A further indication of a 1954 block is the number of tapped holes in the truck engine mounting points cast into the block just behind the lift pump. Four holes = Pre 1957, six holes = 1957 to end of production.

I think what you have is a 1962 Super Major with a 1954 engine transplant and Super Major parts fitted lik injection pump. A check on the valve cover mounting bolts to see if you have six screws or just two studs would tell us if you had a pre-1957 cylinder head and valve gear. Have you also got a short breather between the valve cover and manifold?

If the engine needs ether to start you are likely to be in expensive territory. Those engines fire up in even cold conditions with no problems. Constant ether use will damage pistons, rings, connecting rods and even cranks, especially on a 1954 engine where the crank was cast steel and very fragile indeed. It may be very worthwhile to check your pump timing to see if that is why she is not a good starter and needs ether.

Just at work right now but will check those bolt patterns but i know the valve cover has the 2 bokts on the top along with the decompression lever. The throttle linkage doesnt go thru the engine block.

As for the ether I havent had to use it after i fixed those leaky fuel lines and changed out the fuel filter. But it does need the cold start button pressed for it to start and with that starts right up no problem. After that if i shut it off and start it a bit later its good to go without the cold start being pressed.

So with the rear end on this major power super tractor lol what kind of pto hp would i be looking at?

The bolts through the top of the rocker cover confirm you have a Super with an old Major engine. She is 40 hp so look for around 32-35 at the PTO.

Right on. Thanks a ton for your help. Going to get the rough cut mower on tuesday hopefully and put baby blue to work lol.