Will it start? Abandoned Fordson Major Diesel - First start in 20 years!

[@apuuvah]

We got MF135 and Fordson Super Major. Both legends and VERY common still! Last forever with Basic maintenance. Fordson is VERY common in Finland. A tank!

[@B0BB0Y45]

A great video, that very satisfying feeling of a first start of any vehicle after many years. Well done, more please.

[@MO3MINI]

Going back tomorrow to hopefully move it for the first time in 20 years

[@fordsonsandfarming7935]

I’m thinking about buying a major next year, because it was the first tractor I ever got to drive so it’ll bring back some amazing memories, but I’m hoping to get something similar to the tractor you’re working on.

[@andrewfoote322]

Ha-ha! I was yelling at you "Cold start button! Cold start button - on the injector pump! Jesus, use the bloody cold start, why don't you!" Fact is, I bought an abandoned 1951 E1A, and used to fight with the damned thing until an old boy, a retired farmer, saw me struggling to get the tractor started, and kindly educated me in the finer points of early Fordson diesels. Interestingly, unrestored but keeping an eye on essential maintenance, I used that machine pretty much every day for ten years until I sold my 'hobby farm'. The tractor I gave to my nephew who uses it on his Northamptonshire property to keep the grass down in the paddocks. Still running well - looks like sh*t - and at 72 years old, is still a reliable work horse.

[@MO3MINI]

Thankfully someone did tell me about the cold start button. So on day two i found it and got her running. I lost contact with this one. I suspect sadly it’s just rotting away again. I tried to buy it. But owner could not see past the sentimental attachment he had to his grandfather. I hope he has kept it dry and in this condition. Had it of been mine I would never restore it

[@hubertrobinson8825]

I remember those fordson majors in the 70s I use work for citrus company in central america repairing those they had about 25 of them great machines like masseys they never die

[@WeeShoeyDugless]

Well done. I ought to have told you that the cold start button releases as soon as the engine starts up and needs pressing in each time if it stops. You will probably find it wont even need it once it has been ran a few times, she sounds as though she has reasonable compression which will get slightly better as the valves bed in after sitting so long, maybe a sticky ring or two also. I wouldnt bother stripping it any further though, a change of all fluids and filters, a good going over with a grease gun and she'd be ready for a days work. Hardiest tractors ever made, we used them in the woods (and still do) for over 60 years (dad bought his first new one the year I was born) and the abuse they can take is quite extraordinary 👍👍

[@MO3MINI]

Ah that explain the harder start the 2nd time around. It would have stayed running that time but i chickened out and tried to get it to idle too soon. I think it might have a cylinder down on compression. But with a longer run and a bit of heat in the cylinders im sure it will sort its self out. Im not intending to do much more too it now. Just have to back it out and on to a loader and its off to another storage place. Wish it was mine! Id drive it the 10 miles home 🤣

[@timewellnick]

If you look under the seat on the right hand side of the hydraulic top, there is a plug. If you take this out, you can screw a hydraulic fitting and hose into it to fill the gearbox up. It has a permanent hydraulic feed when the pto is engaged. Thats how I fill mine up, it takes a few months to drain back into the backend!

[@brianboland9723]

Great job 👍. Hoping you’ll have a clip of its first movement out into the daylight 🙂

[@MO3MINI]

Certainly hoping to. I have been asked to back it out and drive it onto the transporter. We should get the date booked for that soon.

[@BensWorkshop]

Good work!

[@617bw9]

You need a better battery. Not enough power to turn over to fully combust the diesel. Been there many times !

[@rosco4659]

I've just started tinkering with one these myself, it's been sat around 15 years under cover. I waiting for a new starter solenoid to arrive. The one I'm working has exactly the leaks on the axle.

[@MO3MINI]

Awesome! Ive enjoyed the challenge of this one as im not a diesel man! The gearbox leaking into the diff is a pain! I just hope it hasn’t all leaked back into the engine as we are waiting for the transporter. Have fun! Make sure you film it 👍

[@Kake84]

👍

[@colin_5839]

Very Cool! This belongs in one of those cold start videos lol!

[@MO3MINI]

Haha definitely.. looking forward to a longer run. It should smoke that barn out quite nicely. And i need to remove the exhaust to clear the roof so it will be loud!

[@clearprop]

Great stuff - so good to see her running. Rebirth is imminent! 👍

[@MO3MINI]

Yep hopefully she’ll be restored 🤞

[@jackpumpkinpatch2119]

Trying to do the exact same thing right now 🚜. Starter has been cleaned, fuel is being delivered to the engine and she keeps trying to start but not getting there

[@MO3MINI]

Have you put the rack into ‘cold start’ position. It delivers more fuel to the engine for cold starting. Follow the cable from the stop pull switch on the dash down to the injector pump. There you will see the lever on the rack. It should have button on that lever push it in and the rack moves in more to allow more fuel for starting 👍

[@jackpumpkinpatch2119]

@@MO3MINI Thanks. Got there in the end, took a few goes, let her cool down for an hour and she started perfectly 👍

[@MO3MINI]

@@jackpumpkinpatch2119 awesome. Any videos?

[@jackpumpkinpatch2119]

@@MO3MINI sadly not, will do next time

[@overdrivechamp3433]

close to starting then disengages the starter😂, just hold it until it starts

[@hfraat25]

Good job it did not start get the oil round the crank

[@michaelduncan5948]

Good job well done, will start faster with the excess fuel button in, I know you did put it in but once she started it would then need in again

[@MO3MINI]

Ah i didn’t know it needed to be pressed again. That would explain the slightly harder start the second time.

[@igorgarciafernandez9361]

Fordson is the Ebro ?

[@igorgarciafernandez9361]

In Spain is Superebro

[@mrrooter3630]

It sounds like the choke was still on a bit

[@MO3MINI]

Diesel engine with a choke? Hard of emergency shut off plates in the inlet manifolds but not a choke on a diesel engine. Will have to look into that

[@mrrooter3630]

@@MO3MINI some people call it a stopper. It's a little knob you pull out to stop the engine (or push in on a David brown). If it's not pushed in fully the engine runs a bit off like that.

[@MO3MINI]

The stop on the major pulls the rack closed. There is a flap in the intake but it seems to be linked directly to the throttle linkage

[@mrrooter3630]

@@MO3MINI oh. I remember on one a friend Had (can't remember was it a diesel, power or super major) there was a stop on the Sims pump. Don't know too much about majors as I only really deal with masseys and David browns.

[@tonyblackie3277]

Hey great job getting it going :) Haven't heard someone blaspheme so much tho :( Please do think about who you are talking to - both us and Him.

[@fuzzwack1]

Did you buy it from the the old guy?

[@MO3MINI]

Sadly not. Its been in his family for decades. He needs to remove the barn so the tractor needs to be moved. They can’t get a vehicle down the side of the house so he asked me if i could get it running and drive it out.

[@michaelanthony3816]

Your idle is to low hold the key for a count of 8 with about 200 More rpms.good luck

[@michaelwalsh9145]

Why were you laughing when it almost started?

[@MO3MINI]

Never been excited before? Lol

[@jonnyre83]

Euro -8d temp 🙉