Petrol major top end

[kiwimc]

Hi all,
following my 'Timing & tappets' topic...
I've pulled the head and taken to my engine reconditioner man. He has said get 8 new springs, valve guides & 4 new exhaust valves.
I've got various original parts books and two factory manuals. They are pretty comprehensive on the diesel motor, but details (particularly later mods) on the petrol motor are a little sketchy.
The motor I'm overhauling appears to be un-serialled, is not the original (e.g. has smaller main, fan and generator pulleys), and has definitely been worked on previously because 2 exhaust valves don't match (2 chamfered, 2 non-chamfered), and it has an odd (too small) rotator cap.

Reading the parts books it would suggest:
the petrol springs are the same as the early diesel ones, E1ADKN6513B.
the rotator caps are the same as the early diesel ones, E1ADDN6550B.
inlet collets, retainer & seal all the same.
exhaust collet & retainer the same.

The exhaust valves themselves have different numbers...
I've taken a gamble on the Agriline 'Early' kit with valves, springs, valve guides (which didn't seem an outrageous price) - if valves don't fit I'll at least have the springs and valve guides.
Now I've paid the money can someone tell me I've guffed , or please provide any clarification on how things differ???
[I note the diesel exhaust valves also have a 'spacer' that varies over the model years. My petrol didn't have spacers, but someone had put a flat washer under each exhaust valve spring!! Again, any clarification would be great.]

[kiwimc]

85 views but no replies eh.

Parts have arrived and (assuming they are the correct ones) I can now tell you that diesel inlet & exhaust valves are same head and shaft diameter as the respective petrol valves, BUT 35 mm longer.

My old-school engine reconditioner chap doesn't seem too phased, bless him.

[mathias1]

Kiwi,

If someone knows the answer, they will certainly try to help you out. It's just that Petrols aren't that common and the same goes for the people working on them.

[kiwimc]

Hi Mathias,
yep, I figured that it was probably because no-one knew the answer. Do you know the total production numbers of petrol vs. TVO vs. diesel? Are they in Condie's book?

[mathias1]

Hi Mathias,
yep, I figured that it was probably because no-one knew the answer. Do you know the total production numbers of petrol vs. TVO vs. diesel? Are they in Condie's book?

Hi,
I tought I would find the min the Haynes manual, but there it's only the production numbers of the several majors. Don't have the book you mentioned.
From 1951 unitll 1964 there should be about 489340 new major produced. Only about 15812 Super major new performance tractors

[Old52]

Hello Kiwi:

I know this was a couple of years ago, but did you sort out a source for the petrol valves? I too have an old 1952 petrol version, still runs strong and never been apart...but I know that it's time will come when it needs some valve work, so want to get the parts now...Thanks.

[kiwimc]

Hi Old52. This is a current thread (not couple of years ago).
The petrol Major I am working on is December '52 model, BUT the motor has serial number for Jan '55.

The '55 motor has small front pulleys (they were reduced late '54) and I've just read ['Ford & Fordson Tractors - The Golden Years (1917-84)'] that the front timing pointer disappeared at the same time (around serial 1308977) - "The timing method changing to a marked flywheel accessed through a removable plate now mounted on the right-hand side of the sump flywheel housing". That explains why I couldn't find a pointer!
The head from this motor has rotator caps, the same ones as fitted to the diesel motor from mid '53, but I can't find a date they were fitted to petrol motors. By '57 however they are listed for petrol exhaust valves in the 1952-57 Spare Parts List.

My suggestion would be to contact Messick's (I've found them really good) and give them their parts numbers DKN6507 for inlet valve and 81710758 for exhaust. Make sure you have your fingers crossed too.
As a guide - measurements of mine:
inlet 123 mm long, 9.5 mm diameter & 43.7 mm head
exhaust 121 mm long, 9.5 mm diameter & 38.9 mm head. My head has certainly had work done on it previously, so take these with a grain of salt.
Good luck!

[I also have 2 June '54 models. Both these have the big front pulley on fan belt. I have the head off one of them and it has no rotator caps so I think matches the pictures in the Jan '54 'Repair Manual' which you can find online (http://www.fordson.se/1A_Motorkapitlet_ ... manual.pdf).]

Lots of petrol Majors sold here in NZ, but by the time of Power & Supers I think almost exclusively diesel. I've never seen a TVO model here.

[Old52]

Thanks Kiwi: Sorry looked at your joining date not the date of the thread...still getting used to using the forum. It looks like Messicks is not too far from me (I'm in Toronto area), so at least the same time zone as them, thanks for the lead. I think we have one of the last petrol Majors sold in Canada, or at least in this area, I have never seen another one around here. Good to know there were a few sold in NZ. If you run across a distributor cap anywhere, please let me know! Thanks for the part numbers for the valves too. Mine has the large front pulley with the pointer. Did you source valve guides and seals also?
Thanks!