FORDSON MAJOR FARM HISTORY & AN UNEXPECTED ROAD TRIP

[@astonmcleod5344]

I grew upon a farm in Devon, Father bought a Fordson as his first tractor in the late 60's A 1956 model we had it in regular use until 2000 when we sold the farm. I spent hours on it in the 70's and 80's planting barley in March a week of school to plant 80 acres. Fast forward 30 years, I now live in rural South Australia, been here a few weeks previously in Victoria, helping a neighbour this week plant barley in a NH T8 410 a 12 meter drill with trailer behind for seed and fert, a different beast, plant about twenty acres an hour.

[@stewedwards3122]

We kept the old 135 and T20 in open fronted sheds when they retired in the 70’s, got a bit crusty and brought them in 20 years ago, got them running well an just mix of old engine oil/diesel on the rusty paintwork. working clothes is certainly the way forward. Same age as Dad, just renovated a Piper PA18-150 so lovely to see Pa flying from the strip, guess it is about 600M x 30M. Good friend farms 400acres near Woodstock and has a decent strip and visit him often. Lovely video, really enjoy al of them Nick.

[@funnrun3399]

My Grandfather James had a Fordson Major it was one of the first tractors in Douro Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 way back in the day early 50s

[@delticrobo]

Seen some good posts on Facebook Fordson Major groups about how to bring the old paintwork alive by using wd40 oil and fine wool. Seen some rusty and faded panels brought back to show paint again. I prefer old tractors in their worklife colours, too many people paint them and they then just look like any other painted tractor. Keep them original like you intend. Nice Major keeping it's history. Just added been reading the other comments and others have already commented about oil on the panels. Good idea for a seat cover for the cushion is use an old hessian sack but I am sure you know that.

[@bwagri]

down style exhaust was for working under low hanging trees and branches for orchards and things

[@stevbrkr]

Lovely old tractor. I have 4 Super Majors, the later model with live drive and draft control and they have the optional raised PTO, as well as two Fordson Based Countys, one is a 6 cylinder. Those tractors will spit oil from the exhaust and fume when they have been stood, idling a lot or only doing light work. When you work them hard they will stop doing that unless the engine is worn. Unless you get massive oil consumption I would leave the engine alone. Early one came standard with the under swept exhaust and the verticle exhaust was an option. Very early tractors had the air pre-cleaner under the hood and they had a very sleek look. They also had a square PTO dropbox. Later the under swept exhaust became optional. Your tractor should have early mesh type grills painted blue. They changed to silver on the Power Major and were never orange. Also, I noticed your left front wheel is wrong, you have the 3 spoke Power/Super Major wheel. The right hand side is correct. I would try to get the correct wheel with date codes close to the one on the right. I can date the tractor better with the engine number and there are casting date codes on all the castings that will give you the date of casting. PTO work with early Majors is a bit of a pain as they are not live drive. Have you thought of getting a nice two or three furrow Ransoms TS59 with YL bodies and having a play with it? And as for paint, try using wire wool and diesel to get rid of the surface rust on the tinwork. They can come up a treat with the original paint intact underneath. I say again, it is a lovely tractor and it is great to see it is still loved.

[@stevbrkr]

Also, that roll bar is the correct period type.

[@NicksFarm]

Thanks for the info Steven 👍

[@jonwright7394]

What a cracking tractor, certainly a keeper, may not be worth much money wise but history wise they are priceless. Yes there is always time to stop at the pub.

[@PB_657]

That’ll be great if you can make hay with that Major which your granddad also used for hay making back in the day. It’s a brilliant experience turning hay on a summers day on a cabless tractor- I have many happy memories driving an old tractor in the hay fields. Though for the full experience you really need a small square baller and break your back hand stacking the bales!!

[@richardmatthews3304]

True that

[@stevesmith3026]

Great video again Nick

[@astonmcleod5344]

The downward exhaust would have been for dairy farms for slurry scraping, old buildings had low roofs. We had a MF135 we would remove the exhaust for the low buildings, and keep your head down!!

[@lauriepearce8266]

My dad bought a Major brand new in 1952 just after they were released on the market. It came with an under slung exhaust which I think was my dads choice. However in later years it was changed to a more usual upright one. It did not have a hydraulic lift which in my opinion was a big mistake. It did have the belt pulley and dad had a PTO added at a later date in order to run a PTO driven Salopian ( may have the brand wrong ) muck spreader which was jointly owned with a neighbour. All the implements we used were obviously of the trailed type, Ransome 2 furrow plough and a 9 tine cultivator and a mix of converted horse drawn implements including a Albion mower and Massey Harris binder. Would love to still own it but it was sold when dad quit farming as the rent on the farm was quadrupled in one year.In later years I helped change the liners, pistons and big end bearings in a Major without removing the engine. They had a habit of corroding around the lower liner seals. .

[@NicksFarm]

Thanks for sharing, interesting to hear your history 👍

[@captainclarke]

In addition to what Oak Farm Agricultural said about the scotch pad to remove the surface rust, I'd highly recommend Owatrol Oil - Paint Conditioner and Rust Inhibitor. Brilliant stuff, stops it rusting more, and gives it a nice satin lustre. Just brush it on, then wipe it down a little with some rag. Used it on my old International baler with a similar patina to your Major and came up well.

[@NicksFarm]

Thanks for the info!

[@jamesmarsh4957]

there is nothing like the sound from a Major , i spent hours on one as many of us have , i learned how to plough on a major with a 2 furrow plough , i loved ours , they were built like a Tank , and easy to fix , what a fantastic tractor

[@laytonphillips6667]

Great video nick, good to see Ray, dad and the fordson, its older than dad !!!!

[@NicksFarm]

Cheers mate, haha not quite!! 🤣🤣

[@felixsmith659]

i suggest that you spray the tin work with oil to help prevent further rust

[@johnmyles1497]

Lovely to see you having a laugh with your dad I miss that 8 years today my Dad is gone 😢

[@johnearle6667]

Interesting video , Two grills and head lamps would make the major look much better and buy an old haybob to turn some hay

[@andrewjones-productions]

I fully agree!

[@MrMiniac]

Thanks for the lowdown on the Major 💪 great video 👌 looking forward to hopefully see it in action. sounds like you had a stuck piston ring that freed itself… bonus!!🤘😂

[@strugman1394]

Thank you Nick, we are all wondering if you had time to stop in the pub for a Guinness? Some great advice in the comments for the Fordson project. Best of luck.

[@ritchieblackmore5204]

Ah fordson major lovely tractor I learnt to drive a tractor when I was 8yo on a fordson super major and use to drive one on the farm I started work at in 1968

[@andyellis307]

Would be a good winter project guys the major

[@thomaskilpatrick8531]

The major will get better with more work ,the rings are probably sticking. There is a tank sealant available to seal those tanks ,although it requires the tank to be removed to get full coverage of the complete inside

[@grahamsecker4029]

Tractors normally had a down swept exhaust pipe for orchard work. Regards Graham Secker

[@NicksFarm]

Thanks Graham 👍

[@michaelstaunton1632]

Lovely to see that old tractor on your farm & great to see it active too going forward would definitely love another video on it in the future 👍👍

[@NicksFarm]

I’m sure you’ll see it in action at some point! 👍

[@robertallen3441]

Love the history of the major. As with any older diesel tractor, they tend to oil the exhaust if not worked hard. Best thing is a regular workout, not to kill it, but to clear out the carbon build up around the pistons and valves. Sounds like the roll has sorted it out.

[@NicksFarm]

Thanks for your advice Robert, I think you’re right it just wants using more!

[@haroldjones4309]

No need to remove the side rails, remove the A frame and steering cross bar the sump will come down, saves having to maneuver the front there's a lot of weight in it also the wheels would need to be locking in place other wise you have them turn to one side and end up with it on its front on the ground, you can change the piston rings or shell bearing with the engine in place just remove the head, make sure you drain the water first

[@NicksFarm]

Thanks for the advice Harold 👍

[@johnlong3214]

We had an old ford 3000 with an exhaust that went down and out the back. It was my understanding that this was for going under low braches when hedge cutting etc. or low doorways in old buildings.👍

[@malcolmtyler2565]

They did the same for orchard tractors

[@NicksFarm]

Interesting! Thanks John 👍

[@reachforthesky1849]

Very kind of Steve. Gone to a good home. Lovely to see the major kept original.

[@paulthompson8467]

Great video Nick lovely major spray tinwork with oil and give her a service the rolling had cleaned up the bores and freed up the rings she should be fine with a bit of work now and then 👍

[@NicksFarm]

Thanks 👍 will do!

[@chrisdainton9880]

Great video nick! Great to see your dad in the video as always!

[@NicksFarm]

Thanks Chris 👍

[@malcolmtyler2565]

Hi nick they were for orchard work with the exhaust down there 🤔😉👍👌

[@NicksFarm]

Ah makes sense! Thanks Malcolm 👍

[@OOpSjm]

Fuel tank can be sealed/welded. Just need to clean it out.

[@user-rw2um8ro2p]

Great video nick the major is grand old girl I think the downward exhaust was for working in orchards and working in glasshouses I would leave her in her working clothes your dad is right couple of hours of hard work could clear the engine

[@NicksFarm]

Yep reckon she just needs working more 👍

[@philipreed5981]

Hi Nick, you should use a product called POR15 for your fuel tank on the Major. It is amazing stuff!

[@NicksFarm]

I'll check it out!

[@tonymorgan3526]

Great video nick, the first ever tractor I drove was one of those way back in 1982, I was 12 and bailing straw! 😀👍

[@NicksFarm]

Cool 👍

[@ianhaggart1438]

Our nuffield 460 is our long standing tractor on our farm used to use it for all the rolling with a 8ft flat roller. Oh the joys. It has a fordson and nuffield rear wheel set up can't make up my mind which I prefer the look of the scallop center or circular center of the fords? . Stay safe 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@oakfarmagricultural506]

that major is lovely, reminds me a lot of my dads old one, I would highly recommend using some wire wool/scotch pad and wd40 on the tinwork, its amazing how much paint can be hidden under the surface rust, the bonnet nosecone and mudguards would probably come up as nice as the fuel tank

[@NicksFarm]

Thanks for the tip! I’ll give it a go 👍

[@Avemtec]

It must be an orchard variety with exhaust down below

[@robinbeattie3173]

PP, BH and KX were all Buckinghamshire registration letters = each county had their own letters.

[@casto-]

We taking bet on how long you can turn hay before the itch gets too much 🤔🤣. Nice to see the old major coming back to life

[@NicksFarm]

My mate already said I won’t last 20 minutes… I’ll aim for half an hour, just long enough to get some good footage of it 😂😂

[@casto-]

@@NicksFarm 🤣🤣🤦‍♂️

[@astonmcleod5344]

Another snippet of info, when tractor pulling first took off, the preferred back axle and gear box was the fords major, over engineered and bomb proof.

[@masefarmer6970]

Hi mate how are you a love your video mate

[@NicksFarm]

All good thanks 👍

[@johndeere1951a]

Is Ray fabricating a roll bar for the Fordson? looks like he has the skills . It will fix itself with fresh oils and filter, every year and lots of grease👍 drive it . ✌️

[@NicksFarm]

We’ve actually picked one up from one of our subscribers who had one! We will fit it on this week 👍

[@bobpaterson1845]

Please don't paint the Major it would lose all its patina and it's history of a working life 💪 worst thing in the world for an old tractor is for it to sit and not do any work 🤔 great video and a kind donation from Steve 👍

[@NicksFarm]

Couldn’t agree more Bob 👍

[@vinylrevolutions9718]

Dad has already given his age away, on one of the Dad Cam videos. The first one, I think.

[@andyellis307]

Lovely old tractors the Fordson major, Super major and the Dexter too. I cut my teeth on them helping a local land owner hay making . What was your first tractor you drive Nick??

[@NicksFarm]

That’s cool! my first was our 7710 👍

[@paddy294]

You can’t beat the old school tractors. They don’t make them like that anymore

[@NicksFarm]

They sure don’t!

[@georgedoorley5628]

bores got glased from not being worked .........few days hard work will get the glase off the bores ............have a same laser here that throws oil up the stack in winter when on a bale unroller ..........a session on the slurry pump cures that ...........!

[@jjohnpayne]

temporary fix for tank rub a bar of soap to leaking area

[@philipbutler9404]

Hello Nick give that major some p.t.o work that will sort it out just go careful though.

[@NicksFarm]

That's the plan!

[@alexthomas637]

🚜😎😎👍

[@Oldrobbo]

Hi Nick what became of the electric car not seen it for a while.

[@NicksFarm]

Hi we still have it but Dad gets more use of it than me!! couldn’t recommend it highly enough though it is excellent 👍

[@sandymcghee3328]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@jeremymassey5940]

It need an oily rag restoration,old engine oil rubbed over it then it's in it's working clothes

[@greggroome2791]

🇨🇮🇨🇮🙏🙏👍👍

[@russellpetrie119]

use it or lose it steam clean her then duck oil her keep her from rusting

[@bwagri]

don’t restore it. it will hold its value in working clothes. now it’s had a good run with a roller it may have sorted itself, as old engines don’t like to be left on idle and they can sometimes spit oil out the exhaust. if you do decide to referb the engine i’d do big ends bearings, main bearing, front and rear oil seal, pistons and piston rings and re lap the valves and new valve seals.

[@andrewjones-productions]

What you say is most certainly not wrong. However, I politely beg to disagree with you. (Forgive me). I would rather that they fully restore it to 'as new' to ensure that the tractor lives on far into the future. If it were new, we would consider making repairs to restore its 'newness' and just because it is decades old, I prefer to see it being viewed in the same way. The current ecological 'threes' of ' reduce, recycle, reuse' should to my mind be a four of the aforementioned three with 'repair' as the fourth.

[@bwagri]

@@andrewjones-productions everyone has their own opinion 🙂