The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Hi all,
After ages and ages, here's Davie's report.

Davie is a 1963 narrow Dexta no. 09C-912252 finished on (I think) 3E19. A few things have changed since then, but not much.
Now for casting codes and similar from components bought by Ford (like injector pumps)
Starter Lucas M45G CW84 26143N 2 63
Front hub LH C25J
Front hub RH D3J
Gearbox D9J
Top cover 3D22
Steering Box D3
Block E63
Engine 1538415
Cylinder head E73
Bell housing 3E15
Rear axle 3E15
Dynamo Lucas C40A 22703E 5 63
Silencer 5-63
Injector pump 38166
Oil filter IEA2737
Oil filter element EP3316
These last two are stamped on both sides of the fixed housing (neither the bowl nor the element itself (not original)).
Note no codes on the axle housings, these were cast by KFD for the narrow Dexta. The footplates

and front axle were cut down and the radius rods

and spindle arms bent to complete the general conversion. The check chain brackets are not fixed either

this is another feature of the narrow conversion, as are foot pedals with small cut-outs at the edges.

The drawbar is similar to Billy's one but I don't know who made it and fitted it.

Davie also has the optional stabiliser brackets, but instead of having rigid bars, he's got Major style check chains (home made, not genuine Major bits).
Someone painted his back and wheels dark red for an unknown reason, they also added an extra fuel filter, of the Tecalemit E1ADDN-9155A type, very common here as Ebro filters (ours included) are of this type.
Someone also cut away the bottom of the front cowling to fit a number plate, never seen such a drastic attack for that.

Davie has had two registration numbers, the first one is HU-4994, from Huesca and the second one is a much later Barcelona one, B-40070-VE.
The tachometer is of the km/h AC type, but for some extraordinary reason it marks the revs but doesn't count hours; it must have broken something long ago.

I don't know much about Davie's history other than since we've had him. We got him quite a while ago and he came with a cultivator, sprayer and trailer.



A few years later we fitted a special implement for working in vines, called the intercep. It's a plough that can be moved in and out to remove vegetation right next to the vines (see this: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8553).


It's powered by a PTO driven pump with its own oil.
Since Super Billy has been in bits the trailer has had lots of them in it.
As with Billy cleaning has been a constant job.
The hydraulics have a bad leak, I think it's the check valve, that makes him correct 6 times per second! We'll get to that soon.
Hope you enjoy this too.
Sandy

Great pics!
Good to see a working machine doing its thing.

It's a nice looking small tractor you have there and it seems in good condition!

Thanks both.
It is great to have them doing their thing, it does give work cleaning wise, but that's an excuse to spend even more time with them!



I didn't mention this earlier, but I hope you noted the temp. gauge in perfect working condition. That's one of Davie's best features as you see the temperature whenever you want without using battery power. Hoping we can get Billy's one soon too.
Sandy

Cylinder head E73

I found the cylinder head casting code today, see this to find your ones:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8294
Sandy

Billy26F5 wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 03, 2020 1:03 pm

A few years later we fitted a special implement for working in vines, called the intercep. It's a plough that can be moved in and out to remove vegetation right next to the vines (see this: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8553).


It's powered by a PTO driven pump with its own oil.

Added the link about the intercep.
Sandy

I’ll read again on computer but my thought on the front cut out is that it looks more like it was done for a weight frame attachment point rather than just a registration plate.

Cutting the front beam to bring the wheels in a bit narrower was common over here in Jersey too, although not to such a drastic extent as yours.

Interested to see what you find with the hour meter.

I see what you mean, but as there's no weights in the wheels it seems a bit strange, and as there was a number plate there (and a fairly solid one too) I thought that was the reason, I'll need to look in to that. The Narrow conversion was made by Stortmont Engineering who also converted Major's under the KFD name, bringing the wheel track from the normal minimum of 48" down to 44". In France there was the Vineyard Dexta (Vigneron there) with even narrower wheel track, see this for pics: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8623 Someone might have fitted a Narrow front axle beam to a std. width Dexta to be able to use 5.50-16 tyres at 48" but it souds a bit involved for such a tiny change. I will post about the tachometer when we get there, yours is a rare early Smiths one so make sure you don't loose it.
Sandy

You say ‘As there are no weights in the wheels’ but did you mean there ARE weights in the wheels.

If you had wheel weights, then a weight frame might be pointless, but with no wheel weights a Vicon or 600 litre sprayer on the back definitely needs from weight. Dad used to put a couple of 50kilo sacks of fertiliser on the nose cone.

The bits that stick out foward, can I see 4 holes drilled in, like for bolting another piece of flat to… strongly suspect it was weight frame… and became handy place for reg plate. Those in-wheel weights are a pig to fit and remove without bruised crushed fingers, so a weight frame was always the best option.

I see what you mean, although the weights are much less difficult to fit in 19" wheels (as Davie has, I know because of Super Billy). I can see the idea, I don't know if any previous owner used such implements, the ones that had Davie before us probably didn't as we got their implements and the number plate was already fitted anyway. I might find something out from other people who've had Davie. I haven't seen any Dexta's with weight frames, seen far more Major's with them, although there you already have nice holes (tapped with 3/4" Whitworth) to bolt stuff into.
Sandy