Dates Fordson power major

[Dan-dan100]

Hi, I've recently bought a fordson power major, my first tractor.

It came with "the original plate" I have sent off for a replacement V5, using the number engraved into the top of the block.

After having a quick look online, the DVLA says the tractor was Road registered 15th Feburary 1960.

The Engine block dates to April 1960

The rear axle (P15C) dates to December 15th 1959, below seat dates to (N19C) November 19th 1959.

Other dates on the tractor are (P7D) December 7 1960 and D12D April 1960 which are other engravings in the tractor.

Any chance the tractor was registered and engine put in 2 months later or would it have been changed during work like many others.

If so am I going to struggle with getting the original number kept on the tractor

Many thanks in advance

[Brian]

Have you got the serial number from under No.1 injector?

Your tractor could have had a replacement block or engine at some time, as long as most of your numbers are around early 1959 you should have no problems. You may find that you cannot have the original number anyway if it has been re-used.

[Dan-dan100]

Thanks for your reply Brian

The serial number is 1553905 which I am told dates to April 1960, a mark 3 power major.

I have sent of for the V5, using this number as the serial number, although after looking a few days later to see if there was any images of the tractor I found that the DVLA had registered the number plate on 15th Feburary 1960, this was the only information they had About the tractor.

I think I may have shot my self in the foot as I have given them the serial number, dating 2 months after the plate was registered.

Are there many ford sons left with the original engine? And does it affect the value of the tractor

[Brian]

The number plate could have been supplied before the tractor, we used to have at least 30 number plates in stock all the time, numbers were issued by the local licencing office and we used to pick them off the pile and tell the office which tractor they were going on. Unused numbers were put back into the system.

As far as the value goes it will make no difference, your engine sounds like an original engine and close to the production date of the tractor. The later casting codes you have are probably replacement parts.

As far as original engines are concerned Henrietta is 1952 and still has the original engine and I know of many like her. It would depend on the area but if the block ring grooves remained in good condition there would be no reason to replace the block barring breakages.

[Dan-dan100]

Thank you very much was slightly worried but there's still a chance of getting the plate.
The DVLA seem to have taken the money for the registration. So there may be luck for me yet.

Thanks again

Dan

[oehrick]

Dan

I was going to use the vintage scheme to re register my '58 major as I couldn't find the original logbook, then found that the original registration was already on their computer, it then became a simple matter or a re issue as the V5 document - the only problem I had was it was registered in my late fathers name so I had to take in a copy death cert, this was when there was a local office, Swansea screwed it up by somehow registering it as a disabled vehicle - go figure and best of luck.

BTW Swansea will have no idea what the serial no represents, as long as it is the same as they have on record you should be OK