The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Well Gents,

Finally got the oil -seal for the input shaft and have it fitted.
Am now putting the P-Major back together.
Have both halves lined up well, but one of the shafts is not aligned inside.
Both sides measure exactly 3/4 " gap, and top and bottom look right as well.
What is the best way to get the shafts aligned in the clutch?
Clutch was not apart. I have put the belt pulley in gear and rocked that, and it will turn the clutch/engine over. Also tried turning engine through the inspection plate.
Even tried turning the PTO, but still not engaging as it should.
No, I didn't force it, just rocked it and turned belt pulley.

Any good ideas??

Thanks for your time,
Richard.

Put the tractor in gear and turn the engine. Put the PTO in gear an turn the shaft. If you put a long bolt in either side and just hold the two halves together as you rock and turn this also works well. Do not put any pressure on the bolts, just use them to hold things as you rock and turn.

Thank you for the pointers Brian, you're a good man!
That should do it. Hadn't thought of putting it in gear. We'll get it sorted.

Thanks again,
Richard.

Hello Richard,

Good luck, all will be fine.
Any idea how much time you did spend for splitting and reasambling?

Mathias,
Split it in maybe 4 hours, don't know exactly. I am always doing more than one thing at a time!
Had to make a 'bogy' to wheel the front end away from back end. All flintstone type stuff. ...Chocks hammered in here and there.
Did a bit yesterday afternoon, and ran into the miss- aligning, and left it at that. This morning back at it and with Brian's advice it more or less fell together.
Had been waiting a good while for the oil seal, so It wasn't as fresh in my mind as if I'd just pulled it apart.
Neighbour called to see me, and we went to look at a rear blade he was selling, (Bought it) and a look at his boundary fence he put in last back end.
Back at it again and all together barring the bonnet, as I wanted to check for gasket leaks. Went t start her up, and had a poor connection at the starter solenoid, and she started smoking! Gave up for today.
Will look at that in the morning, but need to get some spring ploughing done soon.


Does the solenoid have to be Fordson??

Solenoid would probably have been Lucas or similar originally, the ones with the rubber boot are handy if you loose ignition keys easily (but easier to steal the tractor if you leave the battery on )

Sounds like you are making decent progress despite the odd setback & distraction

Now then Rick,

Odd set-back? Naaa. well, yes I think! Got a solenoid today, stuck it on and nothing. cleaned terminals and nothing. Somehow no juice coming through the solenoid, but live at the battery side.

Meddled and messed with it, and with a booster -cable across, it sparks and the starter turned, but not fast.
Took starter off, and the drive is full of the same linseed oil they put in the gearbox! Hardly gummy, more like silicone and hard to clean out. Anyway, starter in lovely order despite the crud. All cleaned up now and near ready to put back on and try again. The switch on starter was rather fouled up, so am hoping that was the problem. Will know tomorrow!
Wanted to be ploughing by now..

Just a thought - make sure the solenoid is earthed correctly, I fitted a new solenoid to mine and it wouldn't work - I found that one of the small terminals needed to be earthed, whereas the old solenoid had been earthed just through its casing and the mounting screws?

Thanks for that, Bob.
Have to think that one through, as this solenoid only has 3 terminals, the two heavy battery terminals and the small one for the switch.
I wonder if I run an extra earth from the mounting screw to the frame, if that would work?

I'll let you know how I come on with it Bob.
Cheers,
Richard.

RH wrote:Thanks for that, Bob.
Have to think that one through, as this solenoid only has 3 terminals, the two heavy battery terminals and the small one for the switch.
I wonder if I run an extra earth from the mounting screw to the frame, if that would work?

I'll let you know how I come on with it Bob.
Cheers,
Richard.

Normally there's no need for an extra earth.

f I remember right this had a 4th terminal, opposite the other small one.

No fourth terminal on this one Bob.
Don't know what's up. Tried it again with an extra earth onto the back of the fastening bracket, and no joy.
The large connectors to the battery and from solenoid to the starter feel a little warm after I've tried it, but nothing else.
Been pulling the guts out of the wiring harness, thinking I have a weak supply to the switch on the starter. Trouble is, I'm useless at electrical stuff. It either works or it doesn't most of the time!

Connect the small one with the neg on the battery. You should hear the solonoid click

Got it sorted, but don't know how exactly.

It's still wired as it was, but it starts now instead of just the solenoid click. Maybe it got some shock treatment when I inadvertently touched the fuel tank and hot side of the battery at same time with jumper cables! Not satisfactory I know. Only other thing was I pulled the starter to pieces again, and found a little insulation missing from the wire to one of the brushes, so ensured this wasn't touching anything.
Anyway, when re-assembled it's working and that is all I know!
Thanks for the tips!
Just have to make a wiring loom out of all the loose ones I have now. I Did replace some wiring with cracked insulation.... Maybe that helped as well?

Richard.