n.p.s.major with high gear ratio

[E1a.major]

Hi all have a query about my n.p.super major i have checked all casting codes on the old girl and they all say sept-oct 63 but the backend is high geared,i know some were factory built like that,does anybody know if many were made like this or is she a rarity

[Brian]

Welcome to the board.

N P Supers could be either 4.4 (Low Gear) or 3.3 (High Gear) depending on how it was ordered. The low speed was introduced to give more field gears at PTO speed. High speed would have been standard and had been the same ratio from the early days of all Majors.

However many farmers ordered low speed and when they got them, found they were too slow and had them converted to high speed. We had one customer who had both a high and low crown wheel and pinion which we swapped for him every year. He used the low speed for ploughing with a Ransomes TS82 plough, in very heavy land, with Rotapeds instead or rear wheels. Come Spring time we would be back to the farm, doing a rear split and putting the high speed crown wheel and pinion back in and putting her back on wheels for the Spring work.

If you look on the rear axle casting, just behind the main gear lever on the left side, just in front of the lift there is a small triangular flat surface. This will have either 4.4 or 3.3 stamped on it.

[E1a.major]

Yeah checked behind gearstick and its very faint but ithink its says 3.3.Does that decrease the value of her as there are more majors with that ratio?

[E1a.major]

Sorry forgot to say thanks Brian for your help

[Brian]

It would not affect the value either way, most people never check what final drive it has. If you want it for road runs then the 3.3 would be best, work with a baler, plough etc. then 4.4 might be what you would be after. It is a faily easy change anyway and the parts are available second hand and on e-bay.