The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Hello

I have the possibility to buy the Roadless 4WD parts from a Major. Will it fit on a Super Major?

Any changes between the transmission and rear end?
I belive there is a change on the front axle trunnion pin, will it cause problems?
Any changes on the length from transmission to the front axle?

This are the items of my concern.

Anything else to think of?

Kjetil

Hi Kjetil, You are correct about the front mounting pins, you can bore out the holes in the axel mounts or make bushings to press into mounting holes in the tractor, the later is probably preferable. Tractor Length should be the same.
Things to get with the package……PTO shaft and shifter shaft that goes into the transmission, they are longer than stock. Clutch pedal is roadless only. The foot boards will need to be modified and the brake lock…..you may just want to go without. The output shaft and bearing locknut from the transmission may be modified as well, mine was ground back about ¼” to allow clearance for the transfer case drive gear that slides onto the rearend input shaft.

Pat

Shifter shaft, top left, output shaft center



PTO shaft bottom, input shaft and drive gear center



always check for a bad pumkin in rear housing.

The front trunnion pin is only changed on the very last New performance super majors. The grey winged ones.
Earlier supers had same pin as all majors before.

Sandy

You may also have to check the rear axle ratio. There was a high and a low speed ratio on New Performance Supers.

The Roadless new performance super major used a modified/new drop box. Still interchangable but may help identify the age of unit.
If serial number is still stamped on front axle plate you can find out fullbuild spec from www.roadless.co.uk, you can still get most parts...at a price.
They are not much fun to drive without power steering, so worth budgeting for this too.
Check condition of propshaft sliding joint, these are know to wear badly. Also condition of torque limiting clutch. Half shafts are known to break and are ££££ to replace.
Trouble with things like Roadless and County conversions, they were more expensive when new and were probably worked a lot longer and harder than their cheaper 2wd counterparts. Consequently they are often quite worn out by this stage in life!
Good luck

It looks like a Selene transferbox to me. The friction unit is on the propellershaft on a Selene and on the transfer flange on a Roadless.

Grani, you bring up a good point. I have always assumed my unit is a Roadless , the tag was missing when I got it, there was no torque limiting clutch on it, and it is different than the gear cases in the Roadless manual I have… I just assumed my unit was an earlier or later version than pictured in the manual. The biggest difference probably being the shifting mechanism, in the Roadless manual they show the shifting assembly in a cover bolted to the top of the case, my unit has a shaft through the back and no access from the top of the housing. Can anyone clear this up for me?

Pat

The difference that shows the most is that Selene has long bolts from the gearbox through the transferbox and all the way to the rear axle unit. The Roadless tranferbox has separate bolts for the gearbox and for the rear axle unit. Roadless transferbox lengthens the tractor more than the Selene unit does.