New member, new tractor :)

[glynparry]

Good afternoon Gents (and ladies if there are any),

First off- I hope you have all had a Merry Christmas.

I am a long time Super Major and MF35 (Can I say that here?)fan. After 15 years traveling the world I have returned to the farm in West Wales. I have been working around the farm for the past couple of months and got the old Fergie back up and running after it has been sat for a few years with running problems. I decided I wanted a project of my own...... after about 2 months of looking I found something close enough to look at and put a serious bid in on..... In the end I got this:







Sorry about the picture quality- they are the ones from the advert. But on looking at it things look good (under the 4" of dust). Hopefully I will have some more pictures up soon once I an able to rent a trailer (seems EVERYWHERE shuts down for the whole Christmas period).

I will be looking to get her back to her former glory, but with a slight twist- so things like LED lights compared to halogen- but will be fitted to the original housing so minimal impact on original look. I will also be asking a million questions about what is correct for the model- so grill colour, where the lights go etc.

I believe she is a early Super Major (3 spoke cast wheels) and should have lights inside a silver grill?

Cheers,
Glyn

[super6954]

Hi Glyn
Welcome to the forum so you're the lucky new owner of the tractor from Newcastle Emlyn . The tractor should have headlights in the grills and silver color grills i believe . as you are a new member you would not be aware of the grill color wars that happen here. if you want to paint them orange that is your choice but be prepared for the arguments to begin, or just don't tell anyone what you did .
So I see you are a west wales resident and I guess close to the location of the tractor, I used to live at Aberporth, we used to sell Belarus tractors up there before coming to Canada in 2000.
you will get all the help you need from guys on here, so don't be afraid to ask anything you want to know
Good luck and I' am already waiting for the next pictures in you restoration of a great looking tractor .
Regards Robert

[glynparry]

Thanks for the reply Robert,

I am getting a feeling these will be like Land Rovers (my other mechanical love) where rebuilding a classic with the wrong era wing mirrors or tyres creates world destroying anger in some people for some reason .

It really is a small world- I am just outside Penparc... and me and the missus are currently looking into emigrating to Canada- I have spent quite a bit of time in Calgary and love it (she has just had enough of the UK).

I have finally found a trailer!!! Quite amazing that none of the local trailer hire companies have anything over 5' wide. In the end a local plant hire company have a trailer with the required dimensions/ weight rating. So a long trip (visiting missus' family in Newport Gwent at the moment) but will be able to take it to the farm workshop ready for my return after the new year.

Some more pictures to come tomorrow

Happy new year

Glyn

[Dandy Dave]

Welcome Aboard Matey. Looks like you have a good machine to start with. Did the bonnet, Wings, and Grills come with it? Or do you need to look for these? Dandy Dave!

[glynparry]

She is finally home now

I had time to take a quick picture (Please excuse the MF50 in the background):



She came with a load of little bits and bobs which includes the hood (rusted but can use the catches/ badges), original tool box- which has the original dealers plaque on it (Gloucester). Unfortunately that is about it with respect to panels. I hope to slowly acquire bits at shows etc whilst I concentrate on the little things. I knew the lift pump glass bowl was broken so ordered one last week and fitted it straight away- so work has begun.

I am now away to see the new year in so that will be all for now, and will start again soon .

Glyn

[henk]

Seems a nice catch. Great start for a new year.

[ford5000y]

Good afternoon Gents (and ladies if there are any),

First off- I hope you have all had a Merry Christmas.

I am a long time Super Major and MF35 (Can I say that here?)fan. After 15 years traveling the world I have returned to the farm in West Wales. I have been working around the farm for the past couple of months and got the old Fergie back up and running after it has been sat for a few years with running problems. I decided I wanted a project of my own...... after about 2 months of looking I found something close enough to look at and put a serious bid in on..... In the end I got this:







Sorry about the picture quality- they are the ones from the advert. But on looking at it things look good (under the 4" of dust). Hopefully I will have some more pictures up soon once I an able to rent a trailer (seems EVERYWHERE shuts down for the whole Christmas period).

I will be looking to get her back to her former glory, but with a slight twist- so things like LED lights compared to halogen- but will be fitted to the original housing so minimal impact on original look. I will also be asking a million questions about what is correct for the model- so grill colour, where the lights go etc.

I believe she is a early Super Major (3 spoke cast wheels) and should have lights inside a silver grill?

Cheers,
Glyn

Nice one you got there! A 1961? super major! I'm green with envy..again.

I will guess that one of the first thing to do will be inflating the right rear wheel. Because looking at a tractor that looks as if it is ploughing though it is not was a little bit awkward.

Also, at the second pic. I don't want to see that tractor lifting a ts82 or a topper or whatever it is with that screwdriver as a pin on the linkage! . But that's ok if you got the pin when you got the bits and bobs with the tractor.

[ford5000y]

Sorry , I double clicked it, so there were two posts.

[super6954]

Hi Glyn
Well I'm glad to see you got her home looks better already with the trip blowing some dust off .
yes it is a small world I was neaarer to you than Aberporth I actually lived in Felinwynt . you should know D.D Thomas at Aberporth the tractor parts guy up there on the corner . Don't know if you ever saw the 6cyl power major he built in the late 60's early 70's . I have that tractor sitting here in my collection, shipped it over in 2000 .
So you want to come to Canada, I'm never gonna be rich here( might help if i stopped buying tractors ) but will never regret coming , the U.k only seems to get worse, was back in 2004 and it changed then, So must be even worse now. Everything seemed small, felt like you could stretch your arms across Cardigan main street and touch a shop either side of the street, compared to here .
Happy new year to you and catch you again soon.
Oh just a thought is Madelaine Morgan still at the petrol station in the village or still living around there. Called to see her in 2004, was kinda sad as cyril died just after I came here , used to get on really well with both of them
Regards Robert

[glynparry]

Time for a quick update- not much work done yet other than a few bits ordered in, some of the electrics hooked up and thought I would find out how complete she is, and things are looking quite good

Here are the codes:
Engine Block: M13D (13 Oct 1960)
Gearbox: M14D (14 Oct 1960)
Rear Axle: N16D (15 Nov 1960)

Hydraulics Lift casing: M15H (15 Oct 1962)........ I have noticed that this is later- did the later versions have a better system?

The engine number is: 157611 (Oct 1960)

What was the rough gap between casting and assembly- I have read that the Super Major was officially released in December 1960 so this could be a very early one?

I just about managed to talk myself into her being a Power Major- one site said the engine number is October 1960 and would have been fitted to a Power not Super Major. But all the dates add up and it has disk brakes and other features from the Super Major...... So she must be.

Nice one you got there! A 1961? super major! I'm green with envy..again.

I will guess that one of the first thing to do will be inflating the right rear wheel. Because looking at a tractor that looks as if it is ploughing though it is not was a little bit awkward.

Also, at the second pic. I don't want to see that tractor lifting a ts82 or a topper or whatever it is with that screwdriver as a pin on the linkage! . But that's ok if you got the pin when you got the bits and bobs with the tractor.

I have noticed that every time I look at her I see another nut or bolt missing from something That arm with the screwdriver has a M5 nut and bolt at the bottom.... which would give away first bolt or Screwdriver

Hi Glyn
Well I'm glad to see you got her home looks better already with the trip blowing some dust off .
yes it is a small world I was neaarer to you than Aberporth I actually lived in Felinwynt . you should know D.D Thomas at Aberporth the tractor parts guy up there on the corner . Don't know if you ever saw the 6cyl power major he built in the late 60's early 70's . I have that tractor sitting here in my collection, shipped it over in 2000 .
So you want to come to Canada, I'm never gonna be rich here( might help if i stopped buying tractors ) but will never regret coming , the U.k only seems to get worse, was back in 2004 and it changed then, So must be even worse now. Everything seemed small, felt like you could stretch your arms across Cardigan main street and touch a shop either side of the street, compared to here .
Happy new year to you and catch you again soon.
Oh just a thought is Madelaine Morgan still at the petrol station in the village or still living around there. Called to see her in 2004, was kinda sad as cyril died just after I came here , used to get on really well with both of them
Regards Robert

Hey, yeah D D Thomas is my local dealer (and yes tractors are like drugs- just more expensive). I also know his son (or pos other relation) Glan as he now owns a gardening machinery center just down from the airfield where I get my Husqvarna hit from.
I have only just come back from being away since 1999 and everything has changed- not the same Cardigan from many years ago. I am unsure about Madeline, I vaguely remember the petrol station being sold (not the same now)- Very fond memories as that is where the bus dropped us off after school so we would spend left over dinner money on penny sweets for the 1.5 mile walk home every day.

I was up Derfel's place today getting some bearings and mentioned your name and they spoke very highly of you (and the 6cyl you have)

Glyn

[rich2a]

hi glyn, small world! I also live just 10 mins from derfel`s and use him often. Glan the mower/baler man (since died) was derfels brother as is dylan thomas plant hire (boncath). The mower place is now run by glan¬s son , geraint. If I`d only known you needed a trailer I have one here! Major here as well, also a landrover freak - see jan issue of LRO! All the best with resto, Rich.

[super6954]

Hi Glyn
From what D.D told me that was the first 6 ever converted in the area, I was the only guy he ever said he would sell that tractor to, and offered it to me 3 weeks before coming here, He near cried the day I picked it up, and drove it away . Don't know if the pictures still up in the parts room there, I sent him a shot of it pulling our 60ft Herman harrow, a few years ago.

As he said at the time , I have that tractor and it's not going anywhere else for profit so that's why he sold it to me .
He's a real nice guy just don't cross him . A guy that used to buy a lot of fordson stuff in that area did once . D.D had a very nice major hood in the "upstairs store", this guy wanted it that badly a 100 was offered at one point . Well the unthinkable happened one day and they fell out over something. D.D sold me that hood for 10 pounds, on the understanding that I took it round to where the guy worked and he found out, I had it and what I paid .
He has a lot of knowledge on older stuff, that was his day when he started out, so will be a big help to you if you need to know things .
Regards Robert

[glynparry]

Some more work on the old girl today- most electrics are now hooked up, dash has been dismantled, cleaned and re-built so ready to fit . I also took a picture of the dealer's plate..... I did have a look online to see if I can find any history etc but come up with nothing- would be awesome if she is in a sales book. Maybe a trip to the local offices will help (I spend my weekends 10 mins from Cheltenham).



Robert,
I get that feeling there- it isn't just about making money, it is all about the family business. I will have a look for the picture- I have to go up tomorrow to get a couple of parts.

hi glyn, small world! I also live just 10 mins from derfel`s and use him often. Glan the mower/baler man (since died) was derfels brother as is dylan thomas plant hire (boncath). The mower place is now run by glan¬s son , geraint. If I`d only known you needed a trailer I have one here! Major here as well, also a landrover freak - see jan issue of LRO! All the best with resto, Rich.

It really is a small world!! I must admit I don't bother with any of the LR magazines any more- they all seem to generally have the same in them every couple of months with just the odd interesting article (I did see your 20 in the Jan issue whilst having a very quick look in Tescos ). Whilst abroad LRO tends to sell for anything between £7-10 so was really not getting my monies worth!!

Do you get involved with the Barley Saturday parade through town? I am thinking that if I have a target to aim for I will work a little harder on the old girl

Glyn

[glynparry]

Milestone today....... Before doing/ ordering anything more expensive (and battery cables arriving) I decided to start the old girl up- First time in over 5 years. A quick bleed and away she went

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlXLo1OojjU

She is a bit tappety, but no bad clunks, bangs or grinds I have also dropped in my initial shopping list with D D Thomas so hopeing to be going full steam next week

Glyn

[Dandy Dave]

She sure sounds nice. And ticking on all 4. She needs to be put to work now. Dandy Dave!

[super6954]

Milestone today....... Before doing/ ordering anything more expensive (and battery cables arriving) I decided to start the old girl up- First time in over 5 years. A quick bleed and away she went

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlXLo1OojjU

She is a bit tappety, but no bad clunks, bangs or grinds I have also dropped in my initial shopping list with D D Thomas so hopeing to be going full steam next week

Glyn

Hi Glyn
Glad you got it running, you started with a much better looking tractor than I usually do. I find that when you get that new purchase running it inspires a guy to get it complete and driving , so in the next 3 weeks we should see it complete , Barley Saturdays a coming
I used to own a grey fergie belonged to Will Daniels aunt on Tenby road at cardigan, I brought it restored it ran it in the parade a few years, then sold it back to will (he owned it from his aunts estate) when I built my Toyota Hi Lux mini monster truck . White truck red frame/roll bars bumpers, silver wheels 33" tires and jacked up about 2ft with 3.5 Rover V8. you might remember seeing that round town in the mid 90's ish.
Looks like the parade has grown in the last few years, found a clip on tube. I used to be the only tractor when I did it .
Regards Robert

[glynparry]

Ready and working in 3 weeks!! Looks like I won't be sleeping much.

Unfortunately this is the 'spare-time' jobs. Today I did strip down one of the brakes and gave her a good pressure wash. Still LOTS to do. I am just glad she is running well as it was 'bought as seen'. The seller did say she ran well before sitting in a corner for over 5 years, but you never know... Glad there wasn't a surprise there.

She does look nicer in the pictures than in real life- lots of little bits missing here and there, but she will get there.

Priority jobs at the moment are:

-> King pins/ bearings on the front axle of the MF 50HX (The bearings on it had disintegrated).... Just waiting for a couple of disks, then re-assemble.

and most importantly is getting my pride and joy registered here in UK:


The registration system seems to just be long and full of hassles, but am getting there- they have confirmed that I don't owe any import TAX just need to get a the registration sorted now.

Once those 2 jobs are sorted it will be full steam ahead on the Super Major..... oh, and finding a job to pay for it all, lol

Glyn