Will it move? - Abandoned Fordson Major Diesel Moves under its own power!

[@clearprop]

Glad to see her out of harm's way without too much of a struggle. A great project, and I agree that she shouldn't be 'over-restored'. 👍

[@nicostenfors5690]

It's great to see old tractors being saved. I saved a Nuffield universal four, a few days ago. Sadly the 4th gear is missing some teeth so it'll need major repair. It's 60 years old so no wonder it needs a few new teeth😆

[@MO3MINI]

After backing it out ive finally found out from its reg thats its a 1956 Major Diesel.... its been off the road longer than 20 years. 27 years! And it fires up instantly.

[@nicostenfors5690]

@@MO3MINI I had 2 majors, both had been sitting about 30 years. I put a battery in them and they fired right up. Both engines had bad O-rings in the cylinder liners. Common problem on the Majors...

[@pattonm4753]

@@MO3MINI the majors have quite the reputation for being easy starters mine sat for 7 seven years and before that it had sat we didnt even put a good battery in her we just rolled her down a hill

[@MO3MINI]

This one still had coolant in it after 20 years... only took a few litres to overflow the rad

[@pattonm4753]

@@MO3MINI wow

[@B0BB0Y45]

It runs and moves, well done. Hope to see more on this lovely old Fordson.

[@steamwally]

Nice! Typical Major riding the governor... I love the sound of them, the clatter of the injector pump at idle is a familiar dawn chorus at the steam rallies.

[@LordMuck]

Well done ! That's a nice Major

[@100texan2]

Those majors are tough tractors. I had a 1963 model Ford 5000 with an industrial loader on it. They called it the Ford 5000 it was a rebadged Super Major.

[@chrisharis6284]

Perfect starts 1st turn. I like the back tyres. 😊

[@LuisRamirez-ji1um]

Noble and faithful workhorse. Honor for the Fordson tractors.

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

I rebuilt one of those engines many years ago. There is a procedure to lubricate the injector pump since it's not oil fed from the engine. Sounds great!!!!!

[@MO3MINI]

Nice engines.. ive had a little look into the injector pump lubrication and discovered that its not lubricated by oil but by the diesel fuel. Internal leakage lubricates the pump well enough for no engine oil to be used. If you rebuild the pump you are advised to prelube everything with oil before putting it back on the engine. Then once running diesel fuel lubricates the pump again. Later Super Majors had a different type of pump that did require oil to be added.

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

@@MO3MINI We must have had one of those pumps because it had a fill and a drain plug. I believe we filled it and then drained it to lube the crankshaft but never ran it with the oil in it.

[@thomascatford2627]

@@MO3MINI correct simms minimec with mechanical governors needed oil

[@hughjarse4627]

@@MO3MINI that’s bollox they all need oil in them i rebuild them for a living, especially something this old you can’t get bits for them so bang some oil in

[@jimmybritt9537]

Nice find , cant wait to see what happens next 😉👍👍🇺🇸

[@johnmcmccormack9203]

Less talk and more work and you will get there 😉

[@markb1487]

We had 2 of these fordson majors, and a power loader too.. Great machines..

[@bryjan51]

A lovely sound from a now happy tractor😀.

[@michaelbourgeois4262]

My dad, talked about those Fordson’s Major’s he used them for logging. In the late 50’s and early 60’s. And we live in New York. Funny.

[@jeffreysheldrake8126]

Well that started easy . She is ready for work after an oil change and coolant recheck. The flaming clutch wasn't even gummed onto the flywheel. My that sounds healthy without severe knocks. Good job

[@WeeShoeyDugless]

Pour water over the pump connector to hear what it ought to sound like. They get worn over the years. Nice, original old Major though👍 Dad bought his first new Major in 1954 & we still have a 1955 model with a Boughton winch on the back to this day.

[@MrMusic1950]

Being under cover makes a big difference, for the better!

[@MO3MINI]

Definitely. The barn was still doing a good job of keeping the weather off... but it wasn’t far off of collapsing. Tractor is now tucked up in a very nice garage

[@TheShadeTreeFixitMan]

Nicely done!

[@paulhackett1313]

It’s a gem.

[@desktopdiddies5530]

memories of old iron from yesteryear, nice one

[@Insignificatos]

Lovely old girl

[@Titan604]

Think that chuffing noise is just an exhaust manifold leak next to one of the cylinders, besides that sounds like it runs very well!

[@MO3MINI]

After it was out i did notice the exhaust manifold was cracked. Probably where the sound came from

[@jackwinter5866]

take the exhaust off and fire it up give it a few minutes and give it a bit of throttle see if u can hear anything that sounds extremely odd there’s always a tiny misfire with majors

[@hughjarse4627]

@@MO3MINI injector washer blowing

[@BensWorkshop]

Hooray! It lives! It moves!

[@jimplatts6172]

If you look on the injector pump stop arm there is a button if you press it in it gives excess fuel to aid starting particularly in cold weather.

[@eliaspiraino2814]

I'm looking for a 3.6L cylinder head for a 63 Super Major in U.S. Thanks for any help.

[@357bullfrog2]

That tractor is ready to go back to work

[@justinweaver8787]

Hope you continue to save it thank you

[@jameslindley924]

Thats an owd un with those tyres on !!- itdve been somebodies pride and joy many years ago

[@philip_james]

Sounds like a tight tappet. Check the valve clearances

[@georgenye5744]

Nice how much did it cost I’m looking to buy a major in similar condition

[@MO3MINI]

I tried to buy it. But the owner had sentimental attachment and wouldn’t let her go. I would expect to pay around £2000 for a running road registered Major in this sort of condition. It needed quite bit of serious work with bad oil seals and possibly a burnt exhaust valve. Just replacing the fluids alone on these is around £400 in oils!

[@PungoGlenn]

I have one in my backyard that' been sitting idle for about 10 years ago. What size Battery did you use? Any recommendation on prepping it to re-start?

[@MO3MINI]

Hi Glenn, i used a 90amp 12v battery. Although it started just fine on a 75amp one. The bigger one was closer to what it would have had originally. After 10 years outside i would first check that it turns over freely. There is a small round cover on the bell housing. You can get a crowbar on the ring gear. Check the oil make sure it has no water in in. Same for the gearbox and rear axle. Drain the remaining diesel from the tank. Open the two bleed screws on the fuel filter and screw in the centre of the pump. Use the manually operated handle on the lift pump until you get diesel out the first bleed screw and close them one after the other. Then it should be ready to start. If you want to run it for long check coolant too.

[@thomascatford2627]

4D engine with pnuematic governor .they always start. sounds like the pump coupling is worn a bit

[@MO3MINI]

You know your tractors 👍 this was a lovely thing really wanted it to be mine

[@1HURRICANEH]

We have two of them, the easiest diesel engines ever to start. The best tractors ever built. Buy the way one has a reg AVX 932, could someone tell me what year that is.

[@MO3MINI]

Nice! Your tractor hasn’t been registered on the road for over 4 decades! So it’s no longer on the dvla database. So can’t tell the year. You should try applying for a log book

[@theforester3474]

Sounds like the engine needs an overhaul, is it a power major.?

[@MO3MINI]

Just a major diesel... suspect it does need a rebore. Rest of the engine is sound. 40psi of oil pressure. All the clattering is just the fact its a diesel and the injector pumps are loud

[@harveyh8137]

Of course it'll start it's a fordson

[@RANDALLOLOGY]

All the fordsons I have seen here in the USA have all been gasoline engines. Didn't know they made a diesel.

[@MO3MINI]

Quite popular engines here in the 50’s and 60’s... not sure if the engine in this is a ford design but a lot of machines used Perkins diesel engines. Simple. Noisy. Reliable 👍

[@thomascatford2627]

@@MO3MINI its defo a ford engine one of the best fitted to all types of plant etc 4D

[@thomascatford2627]

petrol engine models were very scarce in the uk . the ford thames trader had the same engine A 4 cyl petrol or a 4cyl diesel .the heavier traders had 6cyl engine of the same design

[@Jan46]

it has a leaky valve

[@MO3MINI]

Could well be.. it did sit for two decades with no exhaust and the manifold pointing up. Could just been a little rust on the seat. Could be a burnt valve i suppose

[@harveywarrender9402]

Thats a early fordson major

[@bobroberts9298]

Would you sell it ??

[@MO3MINI]

Not my tractor. Was just getting it out of the barn for the owner. Tried to buy it but it just holds too many memories for him to let go. Sounds like its going to be restored

[@jameslindley924]

Who ever is coming to demo the shed could drag it out in 5 mins with the machine !!

[@MO3MINI]

Access is barely wide enough to get the tractor out onto the road... barn is be taken down by hand. They have no heavy equipment coming to site. And it was far more fun to drive it out!

[@lukesfarm2062]

Would you have any interested in selling it?

[@MO3MINI]

Sorry wasn’t mine... if he’d have sold it the tractor would be in my garage now lol. Was just getting it running so we could get it out of the barn

[@kennethbrewer1743]

I want one but I don't like the Simms injection pump.

[@MO3MINI]

Whats up with the Simms? Its a bit noisy granted but we later discovered this tractor has sat for 27 years untouched and if id put a battery on it would have started straight away 🤷‍♂️ i can’t grumble 😅

[@alexanderheath6662]

Nothing wrong with Simms injection pumps!

[@garywinterbottom6073]

Think the dpf is blocked or egr valve.lollollol

[@MO3MINI]

Haha doubt you’d a new tractor running so easily after 20 years unused!

[@elmerpridham7294]

Your missing the draw bar .

[@MO3MINI]

Was removed in part 2 to gain access to the back axle drain plug... gearbox has a bad seal and all the oil had run into the axle. Drained it and topped the gearbox up. It was then too heavy and awkward to get back on so left it off

[@johnbowen2963]

THAT HAS A STUCK INLET VALVE

[@MO3MINI]

Either that or a burnt valve... interestedly the owner comment on how it sounds exactly like he remembered. So clearly been like this for 2 or 3 decades! It did have a badly cracked exhaust manifold and one hell of an exhaust leak too

[@sumanmondalsuman7635]

HP