HELP!! I'm trying to rewire my diesel power major
-
- Not Quite Blue Yet
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:06 pm
- Location: Ironton, Minnesota USA
HELP!! I'm trying to rewire my diesel power major
Hi everyone, nice to meet you all.
I'm new to this site and I need some help. I know that this subject has been gone over a hundred thousand times before, but could someone please walk me through how to rewire my tractor?
I don't really don't know anything about fordson tractors, we always had farmall's on the farm.
My tractor is a 1960 power major diesel, with a GM 1 wire alternator on it.
When I got it all the wiring was an absolute mess!!! All the gauges were broken, the wiring harness was all melted and mostly missing and the tach cable was broken.
So I bought all new gauges and a new wiring harness from agriline products. Come to find out (stupid me) the wiring harness is for a generator not an alternator.
Could someone please tell me which wire goes where ?
Also what are all the positions on the light(key) switch for ?
thanks, John
I'm new to this site and I need some help. I know that this subject has been gone over a hundred thousand times before, but could someone please walk me through how to rewire my tractor?
I don't really don't know anything about fordson tractors, we always had farmall's on the farm.
My tractor is a 1960 power major diesel, with a GM 1 wire alternator on it.
When I got it all the wiring was an absolute mess!!! All the gauges were broken, the wiring harness was all melted and mostly missing and the tach cable was broken.
So I bought all new gauges and a new wiring harness from agriline products. Come to find out (stupid me) the wiring harness is for a generator not an alternator.
Could someone please tell me which wire goes where ?
Also what are all the positions on the light(key) switch for ?
thanks, John
-
- Site Governance Team & Expert Team
- Posts: 2085
- Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 8:56 pm
- Location: Arnemuiden, The Netherlands
- Contact:
Re: HELP!! I'm trying to rewire my diesel power major
John,
Welcome to this forum.
Hope someone can tell you more about the different between de connections of a alternator or generator.
This is how my switch is connected

Welcome to this forum.
Hope someone can tell you more about the different between de connections of a alternator or generator.
This is how my switch is connected
Kind regards, Henk
Fordson New Major February 1957 Mark I
Fordson New Major February 1957 Mark I
-
- Site Governance Team & Expert Team
- Posts: 1092
- Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:48 am
- Location: Montague Calif. USA
Re: HELP!! I'm trying to rewire my diesel power major
Here's a wiring diagram. Sorry about the quality, the scanner doesn't seem to be working quite right.

Inside the red oval is the regulator, you won't need it with the one wire alt. Connect the black/red wire (A1) to the yellow wire (A) and connect them to your alternator wire. You won't use the other three wires on the regulator. The GM one-wire won't start charging until about 1400 rpm, so if it won't charge, rev it up.

Inside the red oval is the regulator, you won't need it with the one wire alt. Connect the black/red wire (A1) to the yellow wire (A) and connect them to your alternator wire. You won't use the other three wires on the regulator. The GM one-wire won't start charging until about 1400 rpm, so if it won't charge, rev it up.
-
- Not Quite Blue Yet
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:06 pm
- Location: Ironton, Minnesota USA
Re: HELP!! I'm trying to rewire my diesel power major
Thanks for the diagram, do you know what I would need to do different for a diesel ?
-
- True Blue
- Posts: 1859
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:49 am
- Location: Copake, NY
Re: HELP!! I'm trying to rewire my diesel power major
The diesels have a solenoid by the Air cleaner, I do not see that in the petrol diagram. Other than that, omitting the ign wire to the coil and parts, The lights and stuff would be the same. Dandy Dave!
Have a Fordsonful day Folks!
1960 Fordson Power Major
1960 Fordson Power Major
-
- Site Governance Team & Expert Team
- Posts: 1092
- Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:48 am
- Location: Montague Calif. USA
Re: HELP!! I'm trying to rewire my diesel power major
Sorry about that. I gotta quit posting when its past my bed time
Here's the diesel one.



-
- Not Quite Blue Yet
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:06 pm
- Location: Ironton, Minnesota USA
Re: HELP!! I'm trying to rewire my diesel power major
Thanks so much !! I will give it a shot.
Does anyone know where I can get some replacement bulbs for the headlights ? The local parts store can't seem to find them .
Does anyone know where I can get some replacement bulbs for the headlights ? The local parts store can't seem to find them .
-
- True Blue
- Posts: 1859
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:49 am
- Location: Copake, NY
Re: HELP!! I'm trying to rewire my diesel power major
This Fellow has them, and he ships world wide. I purchased 4 of them for the Butler head lights on my power major several years ago. One of these day I have to get that Clear Hooters honker mounted. It is all painted and ready to go.
Dandy Dave!
http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/

http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/
Have a Fordsonful day Folks!
1960 Fordson Power Major
1960 Fordson Power Major
-
- True Blue
- Posts: 793
- Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:16 am
- Location: Wisconsin USA
Re: HELP!! I'm trying to rewire my diesel power major
Hi John, I don’t want to make things more confusing than they are but if you have questions just ask, you found the place with the answers! My super six has a GM alternator as well, I’m not a GM man but I believe it’s an older one that needs a hot wire from the ignition switch to enable it to charge. As the wiring harness was a total disaster on mine as well, when I made the harness I tied the alternator into the idiot light in the dash, the dash being the same as your Power Major you should be able to do this if the alternator can be wired this way.
Pat

Pat

-
- Not Quite Blue Yet
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:06 pm
- Location: Ironton, Minnesota USA
Re: HELP!! I'm trying to rewire my diesel power major
Thanks everyone for the info !
I have my fingers crossed .... I think I might have it figured it out !!
Now I just have to get the injector pump back from being rebuilt.
John
I have my fingers crossed .... I think I might have it figured it out !!
Now I just have to get the injector pump back from being rebuilt.
John
-
- True Blue
- Posts: 1859
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:49 am
- Location: Copake, NY
Re: HELP!! I'm trying to rewire my diesel power major
I always wire the GM Integrial Alternator this way myself. From the side plug, the red wire goes back to the power side. You can hook it right on the rear lug if need be. On a GM car or truck, that wire is Fusable link wire, but not to worry on the old Fordson. The white wire goes back to the light in the dash. This circut excites the alternator and allows it to start charging at lower RPM. I do not like to rev a cold engine just to make the charging system work. The side plugs are available at your local auto parts store. Dandy Dave!BearCreek Majors wrote:Hi John, I don’t want to make things more confusing than they are but if you have questions just ask, you found the place with the answers! My super six has a GM alternator as well, I’m not a GM man but I believe it’s an older one that needs a hot wire from the ignition switch to enable it to charge. As the wiring harness was a total disaster on mine as well, when I made the harness I tied the alternator into the idiot light in the dash, the dash being the same as your Power Major you should be able to do this if the alternator can be wired this way.
Pat
Have a Fordsonful day Folks!
1960 Fordson Power Major
1960 Fordson Power Major