identifying my fordson diesel & brakes issue

[Kirbust]

If I remember correctly, I think your wiki link said there has to be a 7 number/letter combination,
if so here 's mine (S420376) and that was found right under the number one injector (the one
closest to the radiator & fan) so hopefully someone here can help me ID it as I want to road register
it, also with that ID number can anyone tell me whether it is suposed to have drum or disk brakes
on it?..,..as there is no brake components on it at this time except for a working hand brake and
that makes it a bit dangerous to use as it is.

[Kiwi Kev]

Kirbust
The S420376 tells us that the tractor has been fitted with a replacement engine at sometime. This number has nothing to do with your tractor.
There are other numbers/letters on your tractor to tell us when she was made. This link will tell you where to find these numbers/letters combinations. Get as many of these numbers(as indicated in the link) and post them here.
http://www.fordsontractorpages.nl/manua ... _major.pdf
These numbers will then tell us when she was made (day,month and year) what model, and therefore whether she has drum or disc brakes.
Kiwi Kev

[Kirbust]

hello, the s number i gave you will have to count in some way as there is no behind the starter number plus
the s number is under injector 1, and I still am of the opinion at this time that that engine is the original
one unless someone can show me that it isn't and how that can be proven, also for your info it has a
simms inline fuel pump on it and yes I did forget to state that it's the 4 cylinder engine

secondly here are the rest that I had time to find today because I was not going to look for the under the seat
number with a drizzle of rain coming down so that will have to wait for another day IF it is that important

casting code locations
just forwards of the pto engagement lever is this number as best as I can decipher it
G27FN
there is no number under the manifold near the dyno

axle numbers are 1288 e27n and either 30|08 OR 30108 going from L to R as its a bit hard to read the far right hand
number and before you ask yes I did use a rag and petrol to clean where the numbers are

serial number IS 1301089

so all I appear to be without at current time is the under the seat hydraulics number AND the other
number that you state should be under the manifold near the dyno but isn't, why is it not there if it
is supposed to be there as you have said or were there certain models made that did not have the
under the manifold number as long as it has the under injector 1 number as I am both puzzled
and curious

[Nick]

Like kev said, your engine number under injector 1 means (as it begins with s), that it has had a replacement engine from ford, and will not have anything to do with your tractor at all. The original engine would of had the serial number which i assume you found on the firewall plate, they were stamped on the engine by the starter motor, which is why its now not there.
I havent got my book with me to date, but i think going by my dodgy memory that serial number points to an earlyish tractor.

I suspect kev will be able to tell you more than me, lets see some pictures!

[Pavel]

One way to narrow it down a bit is to find out which Simms in-line pump is fitted. Does it have the pneumatic governor on the front of it; or the mechanical one on the rear?
Pavel

[Ambidextarous]

The "S" prefix to the engine number tells us that it is an industrial engine so i have been told, one of my Supers has such an engine.Hope this helps, happy 2013 chaps.

[JC]

1301089 is June 1954. Did you find that number on the tag on the firewall? The other numbers that you gave are numbers in the castings, but aren't the date code numbers. The date codes will have a letter, one or two numbers, then another letter. H21V, for example.
Here's a link to an article that Brian wrote in the Wiki that may help you.
http://www.fordsontractorpages.nl/wiki/ ... Major.html
fordsontractorpages and dotty are the user name and password that you need to get into the Wiki.

[Kirbust]

One way to narrow it down a bit is to find out which Simms in-line pump is fitted. Does it have the pneumatic governor on the front of it; or the mechanical one on the rear?
Pavel

it has on the back of it as far as I can tell only the part that shuts off the fuel when you wish to stop the engine, on
the front (which is closer to the fan/radiator) it has a round bit with 2 metal pipes coming out of the top of it
heading off to towards the radiator area if that's any help

[Kirbust]

1301089 is June 1954. Did you find that number on the tag on the firewall? The other numbers that you gave are numbers in the castings, but aren't the date code numbers. The date codes will have a letter, one or two numbers, then another letter. H21V, for example.
Here's a link to an article that Brian wrote in the Wiki that may help you.
http://www.fordsontractorpages.nl/wiki/ ... Major.html
fordsontractorpages and dotty are the user name and password that you need to get into the Wiki.

ok so all other numbers are now irrelevant and yes that "1301089" number was found on the firewall on the plate
there as stated in brians help pages in the link supplied by kiwi kev which is
http://www.fordsontractorpages.nl/manua ... _major.pdf
and the date code is supposed to be under the manifold near the dyno/alternator?....if so there isn't a number there at all but of course if this is a replacement industrial engine then it wouldn't have one would it?

[Pavel]

From all the information gleaned via these posts I believe you should work on the basis that, as JC posted, your eng. block no. of 1301089 is of June '54 vintage. This is re-enforced by your description of the Simms fuel pump which is of the earlier type with vacuum governor [fitted onto the front of the pump]. The later mechanical type governor Simms pump [Minimec] was fitted to the Super Major from engine no. 1613500.
With the above being the case, your major would have had drum brakes.
Pavel

[JC]

Most likely, your Major was built in June, 1954, but there's a chance that someone could have have changed the battery tray and the firewall with it. It would be good to find some casting codes, so that you would know for sure.
Since your engine has been replaced, its probably not the same age as the rest of the tractor. You may need to know when it was made, if you need parts for it. The "S" engines should have the casting code by the dynamo. I have one that does.

[Pavel]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that a handbrake lever was only used on tractors with drum brakes -- disc braked ones had a foot pedal latch.
I'm curious as to how you can have a "working handbrake" without brakes ???
Pavel

[super6954]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that a handbrake lever was only used on tractors with drum brakes -- disc braked ones had a foot pedal latch.
I'm curious as to how you can have a "working handbrake" without brakes ???
Pavel

Hi
I had a super Major here that I shipped from England to Canada with me. it had the proper hand brake That worked on the transmission and disc main brakes on the foot pedals.
It also had the pedal hold down latch as well like all majors I have seen around verious countries. The trans park brake was not fitted to nearly all factory export spec majors for North America and maybe some other countries too.
I had to take the transmission hand brake and linkage off when I sold mine as everybody new it wasn't a genuine North American import.
it's amazing the stupid stuff buyers will pick up on , and if I had $50 for every guy that pointed it out, Id be retired at 38
Regards Robert

[Kirbust]

Most likely, your Major was built in June, 1954, but there's a chance that someone could have have changed the battery tray and the firewall with it. It would be good to find some casting codes, so that you would know for sure.
Since your engine has been replaced, its probably not the same age as the rest of the tractor. You may need to know when it was made, if you need parts for it. The "S" engines should have the casting code by the dynamo. I have one that does.

Hello, it has no number near the dynamo but the only number found on the block is under number 1 injector, as for
the 7 digit number starting with 1 that was found on the bulkhead/firewall and I have given all other casting code numbers here except for the hydraulic plate number which is so-say under the operators seat which as its
a dry day out today I shall get as well as trying one more time to clean up the front axle so I can get a
better reading of the numbers there

[Kirbust]

hello, the s number i gave you will have to count in some way as there is no behind the starter number plus
the s number is under injector 1, and I still am of the opinion at this time that that engine is the original
one unless someone can show me that it isn't and how that can be proven, also for your info it has a
simms inline fuel pump on it and yes I did forget to state that it's the 4 cylinder engine

secondly here are the rest that I had time to find today because I was not going to look for the under the seat
number with a drizzle of rain coming down so that will have to wait for another day IF it is that important

casting code locations
just forwards of the pto engagement lever is this number as best as I can decipher it
G27FN
there is no number under the manifold near the dyno

axle numbers are 1288 e27n and either 30|08 OR 30108 going from L to R as its a bit hard to read the far right hand
number and before you ask yes I did use a rag and petrol to clean where the numbers are

serial number IS 1301089

so all I appear to be without at current time is the under the seat hydraulics number AND the other
number that you state should be under the manifold near the dyno but isn't, why is it not there if it
is supposed to be there as you have said or were there certain models made that did not have the
under the manifold number as long as it has the under injector 1 number as I am both puzzled
and curious

and the under the seat number for the hydraulics is h23v

[Kirbust]

in additiion to our discussion re identifying this tractor is there anyone who can help get reg plates for it?....it as far as I know has never been registered ever in its life, no v5c or tax disc either has it had in its lifetime.

[Kirbust]

Hi, This tractors foot brakes are NOT holding if going backwards, the left foot brake is barely working when going forwards IF one stands ALL of their weight upon the foot brake pedal which feels like it is at that time fully against its travel stop though the right foot brake is working very well and does not feel like its hitting the travel limiter (unlike the left foot brake) though making a screeching sound when applied like the liner is maybe worn out.

the only brake that is holding in all directions is the hand brake, how do I find out if I
have worn out brakes or if I just have to adjust them though the right foot brake is working
very well though to my ears it sounds like it has worn out the wear surface (shoe) and if i do have to replace those brakes what do I have to do, get the rear wheels off?

[Brian]

Well, it is certain that you have a replacement engine if your engine number starts with an "S". If your serial number is 1301089 it is a July 1954 tractor.

Your casting code should be C27F which would make it a 1961 casting. (G was not used in the casting codes until 1963). H23V is June the 23rd 1954. You could have had a new gearbox casting fitted as these sometimes broke the mounting lugs off if using a loader.

Brake issues: All Major brakes are poor in reverse but it sounds like you need to service the brakes and cables to be safe.

[Kirbust]

Well, it is certain that you have a replacement engine if your engine number starts with an "S". If your serial number is 1301089 it is a July 1954 tractor.

Your casting code should be C27F which would make it a 1961 casting. (G was not used in the casting codes until 1963). H23V is June the 23rd 1954. You could have had a new gearbox casting fitted as these sometimes broke the mounting lugs off if using a loader.

Brake issues: All Major brakes are poor in reverse but it sounds like you need to service the brakes and cables to be safe.

cables i seenow....this is an external brake drum hub mounted outside above and to the front I believe of the back axles with what looks like an adjuster nut on the inside between the drum and the gearbox on the inside of the rear wing....this tractor is the same as the one pictured here somewhere on your website with the hand throttle mounted down beside the hi-low range lever to the right of the dashboard....what I need to know is which way to turn that nut to take up the LH brake shoe and is that nut an adjuster nut?

[Brian]

The brakes are adjusted by a star wheel that is acessed through a slot in the brake back plate or by taking the drum cover off and then going in through the hole in the brake drum. The adjuster pushes the shoes closer to the drum.

Jack up one side of the tractor and block the other wheels.

Turn the adjuster until the wheel locks and you can no longer turn it. Stamp on the brake pedal and try turning the wheel again. Back off the adjuster until you can just turn the wheel. Again stamp on the brake pedal and then check if the wheel still spins freely or is stuck. Repeat adjustment.

Now repeat the above on the other wheel.

Once you have finished, lock the brake pedals together.

Run the engine at 1/2 throttle and select 1st gear.

Drive off then apply the brakes but not the clutch. The tractor will either go straight on and the engine will labour or it will move to the right or left. Tighten the adjuster on the side opposite the direction which the front of the tractor moves.

[Kirbust]

The brakes are adjusted by a star wheel that is acessed through a slot in the brake back plate or by taking the drum cover off and then going in through the hole in the brake drum. The adjuster pushes the shoes closer to the drum.

Jack up one side of the tractor and block the other wheels.

Turn the adjuster until the wheel locks and you can no longer turn it. Stamp on the brake pedal and try turning the wheel again. Back off the adjuster until you can just turn the wheel. Again stamp on the brake pedal and then check if the wheel still spins freely or is stuck. Repeat adjustment.

Now repeat the above on the other wheel.

Once you have finished, lock the brake pedals together.

Run the engine at 1/2 throttle and select 1st gear.

Drive off then apply the brakes but not the clutch. The tractor will either go straight on and the engine will labour or it will move to the right or left. Tighten the adjuster on the side opposite the direction which the front of the tractor moves.

Hi Brian, could you be kind enough to tell Pat Pawsey of the fordandfordson association
website of our chat with regards to ID'ing this tractor which your club ID'd as a june 1954
model as I have seeked his help in getting it road registered, I'd appreciate that-many thanks

[Brian]

You need to send Pat pictures of all the casting codes you can find and also the identification plate. It may be best not to mention the engine number as that should be the same as the number on the identification plate. When the engine was changed, that number should have been ground off and re-stamped with the original number.

The problem you have is that your tractor is an ASP, (All Spare Parts) and to get an age related number, you need proof of the year the majority of it was made. This will come from the casting codes + serial number. You have numbers on the gearbox housing, front axle, rear axle, lift and axle trumpet housings. You may need to search but they are all there.

Although I work with the local police and the DVLA on occasions identifying tractors, I have no official authority and Pat has all your details anyway. Just provide him with as much information as you can backed up with pictures. I even took pictures of my tractors at work just to show what they were.

Pat is also a member of this board so he may have read all your posts.