The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Does anyone know where in the UK i can get the two pins for the handbrake pack on the Major? I have got the brake plates from Agricar but they cant get the pins. Craig

The Majors that were exported to the US didn't have handbrakes, so I'm not sure exactly what the pins look like. Could you have a machine shop make them for you?

Think i will have to try that J C. Craig

Why did they not have Handbrakes?

I dont know for sure but an old guy I asked Here in Canada told me he thought It was because ford thought we are too stupid in the export countys, And would drive round with the brake on and lock up the transmissions. L.O.L

As I understand it, in the UK the DOT (Department Of Transportation in the US…have no idea if that’s what it’s called in the UK) requires the tractors to have a tag (license plate) tail, marker, and head lights, as well as a hand brake. As these options were not required in the US most of these items were not installed presumably as a cost savings, not to mention that if you don’t like the way I drive stay off the sidewalk!!!

Pat

We had a few Drunkin hired hands that would drive around with the brakes locked on no matter what it was that they were driving. Use to drive my dad nuts. Nowadays you don't dare hire a drinking man and put him on a machine, or behind the wheel of anything. About the too dumb part, it was not true of owners, but hired farm help.... Dandy Dave!

The problem we used to get was not driving with the brake on, because if you had the brake on fully it would stall the engine or not let you put the tractor in gear, it was driving with the handbrake just on! So on all new tractors, we used to remove the handbrake ratchet and grind the first three or four teeth off. So the brake was either on or off.

Worked well and stopped that problem but the one you could not control was people using it to stop when the tractor brakes were out of adjustment. That would nicely bend the pins and crack the gearbox housings.