Raised PTO

[Emiel]

Hi,

At the moment I’m working on my ‘53 FMD. Replacing some bearings in the rear axle, replacing oil seals etc. I’m planning to fit the raised pto I’ve lying around to it. It’s the old style box with the right gearing. So far so good.

Now the question arise, from when was the raised pto available. I only have newer part books stating 52-63-8 and 63-8 to end of production. Does anybody know whether they were available from early on or not?

Other question, some have the lever upright and others have it bend forward and below the lift shaft facing forward. How should it be? Mine has its handle cut of in the past (wasn’t me of course)

Rgds emiel

[Billy26F5]

I'm not sure if they were available throughout but they did appear pretty early. The bent lever was the earlier design, and it was either the preset linkage control or the Super Major that introduced the straight one (I suspect it was the Super Major from the tractors I've seen, but there's no guarantee that all those started with raised PTO). Here's a very early brochure with raised PTO among other things (the link looks a lot worse than it is): http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/1950/53ftr/53ftr.html
Sandy

[shepp]

I have the first print of the sales brochure 11/51 "By Appointment to His Majesty King George VI" with the flat drawbar and flick over brake latch and there is no mention of the raised PTO as an optional extra in that. I have the first print of the operator's manual January 1952 again with the flat drawbar and flick over brake latch and again no mention of the raised PTO. The 1952 parts book has no mention of the raised PTO, the 1956 parts book does have it in with a cranked selector lever. The Power Major parts book has it with the cranked lever and part numbers as the 1956 book.

I would think that Sandy is right and the more straight raised PTO selector lever came in with the Super Major alongside the more straight main gear lever.

[mathias1]

I have the first print of the sales brochure 11/51 "By Appointment to His Majesty King George VI" with the flat drawbar and flick over brake latch and there is no mention of the raised PTO as an optional extra in that. I have the first print of the operator's manual January 1952 again with the flat drawbar and flick over brake latch and again no mention of the raised PTO. The 1952 parts book has no mention of the raised PTO, the 1956 parts book does have it in with a cranked selector lever. The Power Major parts book has it with the cranked lever and part numbers as the 1956 book.

I would think that Sandy is right and the more straight raised PTO selector lever came in with the Super Major alongside the more straight main gear lever.

I think it would fool the control of the super major hydraulics.

[Billy26F5]

Do you happen to have a late 52 or early 53 piece of literature to look at? The repair manual (January 54) does have a section on raised PTO, including a pic of an early Major with an E27N type rear lamp.
The latest gear lever is from 08A-302897 onwards, and from 08B-743082 the new detent retainers and selector plate appeared. I suspect the new straight raised PTO lever actually appeared on the first Super Major's, it does however seem that no earlier tractors had them from new.
Sandy

[shepp]

I've had a search and I have found the sales brochure from January 1953, "By Appointment Motor Vehicle suppliers to His Late Majesty King George VI", in fact this was left with us in 1953 by Con Pile the salesman from H & J Quick at Cheadle, Cheshire, who supplied our Fordson tractors, and apart from the Quicks stamp he has written his home phone number on the brochure back. This shows tractors with clevis drawbars, lift and turn brake latch and single central rear red lamp, and the raised PTO is shown as optional equipment. So by January 1953 it must have been available.
I also have the first print sales brochure for the Super Major from September 1960, again left by Con Pile, this shows the raised PTO but unfortunately it is on a Major or Power Major judging by the linkage lift rods shown so it does not tell us whether the straight selector lever appeared at the point of introduction of the Super Major. The January 1962 combined Super Major and Dexta brochure has the same picture as the September 1960 brochure, so again it does not help regarding the straight selector lever. The New Performance Super Major brochure lists the raised PTO as optional equipment but there are no pictures shown.

[Billy26F5]

Thanks very much Shepp, I did think the raised PTO appeared very early on, just a pitty Ford didn't always update the pics in later brochures and instruction books. I think I've only ever seen an NP raised PTO on an Australian tractor that I think Brian saw (and took a pic) in one of his visits there.
Sandy

[Emiel]

Hi, thanks guys for sharing all these details. Then it will be original on mine, as it is a may 53 tractor.