The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Hi all just been to see a super major thats for sale off a neighbour, and noticed where the transmission brake is normally found, There isnt one there and no place for one just a circle on the casting, did they sell supers without one or has some body changed the gearbox? or is it not even a super major hows the best way to tell

all majors had a transmission brake - the likelyness is someone has taken the "handbrake lever" therefore just leaving the casting where it was attached ! and if it's a super - one easy way - has it got disc brakes ?! and a diff lock pedal going through the right hand side brake cover ?! that would make the back end a super - maybe upload a pic ?! might help us out !

regards; mike

I think woodcutter is saying is that there is no handbrake there, and never has been. The circle in the casting for the handbrake lever has not been cut out.
My Major is the same, but mine was exported to Aust. Could be an option, or had a replacement gearbox fitted from a Major. Does this SM have the locking latch down by the brake pedels?
Kiwi Kev

mmmmm well never seen a major without one ! - be interesting to see a pic - mmm well my npsm has the pedal locking latch brake thing - and a transmission brake so all bit confusing - but mine is not an export ! so is uk spec

yeah it has disc brakes and diff lock pedal and it has the brake catch, it just dont have a trans brake or never has nor has a place for one , i asked the owner about it and he said when he bought it he asked the previous owner and he said it had always been like it. so i was just wondering was it an original feature or is the tractor a bitsa, i would of taken some pics but ive only got a basic phone/camera

Don't know about the Supers, but the New Major had been sold sometime without the trans brake. Mine has non.

I have a new major and a new perfomance and both is without handbrake

It must have been at option for export models

well defo a super back axel - oh ok - thanks henk - didn't know that - as far as I'm awear all supers had both brake systems - but dont know about the early ones - what did te industrial transmission have ?!

According to Allen Condie, from 54 on the hand brake could be deleted by special order. I do believe it was a special order to have it installed in the export tractors.

Pat

Thanks pat - you learn something new everyday !! So only exports from the factory could have come without the brake - not ones sold in the uk for standard sale.

as it's only down the road from me, if i get a chance il get him to get it out the shed and take a couple of photos, but if we can agree on a price i may just buy it, not really sure what it's worth and i dont want to offend him any ideas on price it's had new wings and a paint job and tyres and he said it's mechanicals are good

woodcutter wrote:Hi all just been to see a super major thats for sale off a neighbour, and noticed where the transmission brake is normally found, There isnt one there and no place for one just a circle on the casting, did they sell supers without one or has some body changed the gearbox? or is it not even a super major hows the best way to tell

Hi
My 52 ish petrol major here in Canada has no park brake just a circle cast on the casing. The very early ones didn't have handbrakes in the U.k either. I think all my other export majors here have the whole for the lever in the side and that is filled with a core plug, and the 2 holes for the brake ratchet are there with 2 plugs filling them also.

Did the tractor have live pto (2 stage clutch) fitted. if it didn't it could be an early major gearbox and casting as live pto gearboxes only fit in from about 57 ish castings onwards( just before power majors came out). The casting date code would confirm what this casting is.
The position of the clutch rod that goes through the housing is also further forward on a non live only casting pre 57 ish, so if you have a live drive already measure that rod location and compare the two the later casting would take either gear box.
I wonder if maybe an industrial application didn't have the levers and hole and its a casting from something like that even but never had any to know .
Those would be my guesses , I think it needs more info to get a confirmed answer
Regards Robert

Hi all it's been a while, Bit of an update on this major I think owner want's to sell so maybe buying/picking it up at weekend is there anything I should look for to make sure it's a good one, is there any way of telling if the block is ok etc, any info appreciated

Ive got some numbers, Wondering if anyone can help me out with dates
engine number s842533
rear casting where trumpets bolt to E1ADDN 4025 T1M29H But the H at the end bit hard to read could of been m
gearbox D16T Is all I could find
so any help apreciated

Looks like a Fordson ASP or a Fordson Bitsa!

Engine number looks like a June 1972 if I am reading the data right from the link above.
Rear casting is October 29th 1962
Gear box is April 16th 1952, That is why you have no transmission brake.

I had my suspicions of a bitsa when I first saw it, but it was so local [walking distance] and has very little wear on linkage, axle etc pedals are all tight and engine runs sweet it's as if it's never done any real work I couldn't refuse. and if I ever feel like putting a 6 cylinder in I wont feel guilty of cutting and welding if I get chance il post some pictures up. cheers for the help

Got the major out for a play today but left hand brake was binding so I thought no problem strip it down and clean it up, but the inner disk was seized on shaft, not sure how everyone else gets them out so made a puller I think I'm going to need new actuator as well as disk as mine we'll corroded and my lift arms are stuck up
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