The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

HI FROM AUSTRALIA. I HAVE PURCHASED A FORDSON MAJOR, SIGHT UNSEEN ORIGINALLY FOR A GARDEN ORNAMENT. BUT AFTER PICKING IT UP I FEEL IT HAS POTENTIAL. I HAVE CLEANED THE STARTER AND SOLENOID OUT AND IT NOW TURNS OVER. I HAD A BIT OF DRAMA WITH SPARK AND HAVE FOUND OUT THE COIL IS CACTUS AND A WIRE IN THE DISTRIBUTOR WAS BROKEN. I NOW HAVE SPARK. I AM CURRENTLY CHARGING THE BATTERY FOR IT TO SEE IF IT WILL START. IT DOESN,T SEEM TO HAVE MUCH COMPRESSION, DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT COMPRESSION SHOULD BE. WOULD ANY ONE KNOW WHAT MODEL AND ENGINE SPECS ARE. THANKS. IT HAS A FORDSON MAJOR BADGE ON EACH SIDE OF THE BONNET AND IT HAS KEROSINE POWERED PAINTED ON SIDE OF BONNET . KERO/PETROL. BY THE NUMBERS IT IS A 1954. ANY HELP APPRECIATED. I WILL PUT A PHOTO UP IF SOMEONE COULD TELL ME HOW.

You have a Petrol Fordson Major. That is a nice tractor and rather rare. I would pull the plugs and put a few shots of motor oil in the cylinders, spin it over a few times, put the plugs back in and see if the compression is better. I don't have any info on the Petrol, but some of the others on here do. Dandy Dave!

If it doesnt improve after doing what dave just suggested, see if you can get hold of a compression tester. I know that my car has roughly 150psi compression per cylinder, although if its been sat for a while, the rings may be stuck slightly. I once had an old volvo amazon which had 5!!!!! psi per cylinder when i dragged it from a hedge, with a bit of diesel and oil down the bores it slowly raised to 40psi which enabled it to start, after running for ten minutes i tested it again and they were up near 100psi.
Let us know what you find, also some pictures would be good
Good luck!

hi there does it look like this

063 by shergar3, on Flickr
a twin fuel tank and a manifold that looks like this.

i have limited data on these the best man to ask is Brian.

the contact breaker points gap .014" to .016"

petrol engine timed 9 degrees b.t.d.c
vap.oil engine 14 degrees b.t.d.c

don't know what compression it should have in psi but according to the manual the petrol compression ratio is 5.5to 1 and the vap. oil 4.35 to 1
hope this helps
wayne

HI GUYS, I WILL DO AS YOU HAVE REQUESTED. I TRIED TO START IT TODAY BUT THE STARTER SEEMS TO HAVE STUCK AGAIN. WHEN I PULLED IT OFF AND CLEANED IT OUT LAST TIME I NOTICED IT HAD ASLIGHT BEND IN THE SHAFT. I AM HOPING THAT BY LOOSENING THE STARTER IT WILL FREE UP. THANKS AGAIN. DAVE
WE HAVE CONTACT, YEAAH. I TOOK THE STARTER OUT AGAIN AND ONE OF THE BRASS LUGS THAT HOLDS THE SPRING DOWN ON THE BRUSHES WAS BROKEN OFF. NOTHING THAT A BIT OFF FENCING WIRE CANT FIX! PUT IT BACK ON AND SHE IS A GOER. I AM JUST GRAVITY FEEDING THE CARBY THROUGH A GALLON TIN AS THE FUEL PUMP IS CACTUS. THIS WILL BE THE NEXT JOB AND CLEANING THE PETROL TANK OUT. WAYNE IT IS THE SAME AS IN THE PHOTO. THANKS AGAIN. DAVE

I HAVE TRIED TO PUT A PHOTO UP BUT I CANT SEEM TO BEAT IT.

You need to go to a site like Photo Bucket, load your photo there and then paste the link here using the "Img" tabs. You will need to size the photo so it will fit the page first. Dandy Dave!

looks like you have the petrol tvo model e1adkn.
have scaned a page out of the manual hope it helps

scan0001 by shergar3, on Flickr

regards wayne

THANKS AGAIN WAYNE. THAT WILL COME IN HANDY. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO UPLOAD PHOTOS THROUGH PHOTO BUCKET BUT IT STILL HAS ME BEAT. COULD I SEND SOME PHOTOS TO SOMEONE WHO IS A BIT MORE SWITCHED ON IN THE PHOTO SENCE. AND GET THEM TO PUT THE PHOTOS UP FOR ME. THANKS AGAIN DAVE

That looks better. All I did was removed 1 set of [img] from your post.

Looks like a typical Aust model with the solid cast rear wheel centres. Don't let one of these fall over because you'll never lift it or stop it from falling. Don't even try
Whats the gadget on the front?
Good luck with the ol girl. Keep the questions coming, cause we love questions and photos.
Kiwi Kev

THANKS FOR PUTTING THAT UP. ALL I CAN SEE IS THE BACK END OF THE TRACTOR. I CANT SEE THE ONE WITH THE POST HOLE DIGGER ON THE FRONT. I WOULD AVENTUALLY LIKE TO FIND THE AUGER TO SUIT. IT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK. AND MY MISSUS THINKS IM MAD. DAVE

YEAH WORKED IT OUT THANKS TO KIWI KEV. ENJOY THE PHOTOS.
DAVE

You do seem to have the hang of posting pictures now. cool
I've never seen a post hole digger like that one before. It would certianly be good to see it in operation.
The tractor looks to be reasonably good condition, rust wise. What is the badge on the left rear guard.
Kiwi Kev

IT IS A OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS PLATE FOR KEROSINE MODEL.
THE POST HOLE DIGGER HAS A PLATE ON IT ROBLEY POWER POST HOLE DIGGER, GEELONG.
DAVE.

christojo wrote: AND MY MISSUS THINKS IM MAD. DAVE

Just tell her it's not you mate. It is the rest of the world that's Mad.

Not for nothing, but when the women folk find that these old tractors have value, their attitudes change. (Sometimes to Sell it, Sell it ,Sell it.)

Just tell her, "All in good time my Pretty." Just keep telling her it is worth more when it is restored and keep playing with it. Never admit that it is ever done and ready for market. And if Jr. gets attached to it, It will never leave.

My ex complained about my collecting, and that's why she's my ex. ... Dandy Dave!

Christojo,

That's a nice Major.
Can you tell us what the tool on the front is and the how it works?

nice looking tractor, apart from the surface rust on the tin work she's not in bad condition .
nice find keep us posted on how you get on

wayne

ITS A POST HOLE DIGGER, THE BELT SPINS IT AND THE HANDLE ON THE REAR GAURD WINDS IT DOWN. ARE THE BELTS ORIGINALLY LEATHER OR RUBBER ON THESE? HEY DANDEE DAVE, I COVERED BY TRACKS WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I BOUGHT IT FOR THE LITTLE FELLO AS A XMAS PRESENT. GIVES ME ABOUT 18YRS TO PLAY I RECKON.
DAVE

christojo wrote: HEY DANDY DAVE, I COVERED BY TRACKS WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I BOUGHT IT FOR THE LITTLE FELLO AS A XMAS PRESENT. GIVES ME ABOUT 18YRS TO PLAY I RECKON.
DAVE

Smart Move. . Saw a T shirt a while ago. It read, " My wife said that if I bring home one more tractor She is going to leave. God I'm going to miss that gal." Dandy Dave!

GOOD ONE, I AM GOING TO GET THE FRONT FLAT TYRE FIXED TODAY. A FRIEND OF MINE GAVE ME HIS OLD LAND CRUISER TYRES. SO HOPEFULLY I WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE IT FOR A DRIVE AROUND THE YARD SHORTLY. I AM ALSO TAKING IN THE PETROL PUMP IN. HOPEFULLY I WILL BE ABLE TO GET A KIT FOR IT.
DAVE

http://s1179.photobucket.com/user/chris ... 7.mp4.html
Hi guys, I have put up a link to see the finished tractor. I found a bonnet for it and video shows the " Romney power post hole digger" working. The handle on the rear gaurd lifts the post hole digger up or down.
Enjoy Dave