The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Just installed my new (repro) ratchet. It's welded directly onto the side of the roll bar. Seems to be working well.

But how long do these repro ratchets last as it doesn't appear to be the hardest of steel ??

should last for a long time. It's not as if you would be abusing it. Mine has been two years now , no problem up till now anyway

Brian Cox wrote:should last for a long time. It's not as if you would be abusing it. Mine has been two years now , no problem up till now anyway

That's encouraging!

I spoke to Queensbury, who apparently make quite alot of the parts they sell but not the rachets. They report no complaints about their ratchets in 6 years - although I notice that their ratchet is slightly different to the mine, so there is evidently more than 1 supplier.

Mine original was slightly worn so I simply recut the teeth with a file and then tempered it.

russelm wrote:Mine original was slightly worn so I simply recut the teeth with a file and then tempered it.

Cunning!

How do you temper it? Heat it up with a blow torch (to cherry red?) then quench with water?

Ben,

Your photo suggests to me that your ratchet is on the wrong way round!

Gerald

Tubal Cain wrote:Your photo suggests to me that your ratchet is on the wrong way round!

Surely not!!
Item 11 p 12 of parts list:

I just heated it gently until straw coloured then maintained the colour for a few minutes followed by quenching

Here in the USA there are still a few dexta's in service. I have two, one running well and another I purchased for scrap price that some kid ran it overheated until it literally stopped. Back to the hand brake ratchet. I have never seen one on a tractor in the USA. I would certainly love to fit one to my runner. Any leads to a supplier for a repo or even someone with a used original unit for sale. Many Thanks pwbrown north carolina usa

brownsmule wrote:Here in the USA there are still a few dexta's in service. I have two, one running well and another I purchased for scrap price that some kid ran it overheated until it literally stopped. Back to the hand brake ratchet. I have never seen one on a tractor in the USA. I would certainly love to fit one to my runner. Any leads to a supplier for a repo or even someone with a used original unit for sale. Many Thanks pwbrown north carolina usa

What handbrake do you have?

The ratchets, ie part#11 in above diag, are readily available in UK from Agriline, Queensbury etc, as are the ratchet 'repair kits' (ie pawl, rod etc). If you need the entire handbrake lever/handle, rods etc, a breaker is your best bet. There was one on ebay recently (item no 170971248010).

Keep 'em running!

I too was looking at the hand brake with interest. I have seen several Dextas here in the states, many, many, online photos, and never once was there a hand brake installed. Both of our foot brakes can be locked down with a ratchet where the brake lever attachs to the actuation rod behind the drivers right foot. Must be some sort of safety rule for the Europe tractors....

My '61 doesn't either. Until I read further, I was thinking this was a self made retro brake of some kind. Haven't seen one either. It's gone this long without one, I don't suspect I'll be looking to add at this point. I appreciate seeing it though!

I have seen many Dextas here in Norway, but none with that handbrake. I guess it was made only for the british market.

dexta roadless wrote:I have seen many Dextas here in Norway, but none with that handbrake. I guess it was made only for the british market.

I have seen early UK Dextas with the handbrake latch on the RH side behind the drivers foot, so guess the handbrake was introduced here about 1961 (my Fordson book doesn't say!).

Hi,
Have only seen one handbrake here in Canada... and that was on a 1958 Dexta imported together with the owner:shock:
But have yet to come across another 1958 model here. Maybe it was the 1st one to Canada!!!
Les

Both dextas I have driven here have handbrakes.

All the Dexta's, Super Dexta's and Petrol Dexta's that I own or have seen all have hand brakes on the left as Bens Dexta
But in saying that, I have seen a 3000y with a right side ratchet handbrake on it rather than the standard left sided handbrake, that I suspect has been fitted after the tractor was originally sold. TSG.

Hi,
Noticed in parts list (F001566/10/63) that the handbrake was fitted from chassis number 45496 (about Dec/1959) onwards and that a retrofit kit (E245-WP-9) was available for the earlier Dextas.
Doesn't say for which markets though.

Les