20-85 dates designated

Donald Tregunno · Jan 31, 2016

We have the original TEA 20 our grandfather purchased new, the date was around 1947, the serial number 001266, matches the date.
I do remember the 20-85 logo on the front hood, (long gone now). Can anyone confirm the dates for the 20-85, or was it a 20-40 logo on the hood??
This thing has turned into an heirloom for the family and one of us will probably restore it. Most of it is original, some replaced tin work due to a fire.

Thanks.

Tony in Mass. · Jan 31, 2016

on the page you hit before clicking onto this forum, one of the choices is 'serial numbers'. Yes, seems to be a '47. An 85? so you in Canada?

samn40 · Jan 31, 2016

It will be a British built tractor ...Come back to me if you need further help dating it or need parts...
Sam

Richard L · Jan 31, 2016

The 85mm engine was not introduced until S/N 172501, which was in 1951. Can you double check the serial number of the tractor? On the engine is the oil fill spout at the front of the block or at the rear of the block?

Donald Tregunno · Feb 1, 2016

(quoted from post at 17:11:03 01/31/16) The 85mm engine was not introduced until S/N 172501, which was in 1951. Can you double check the serial number of the tractor? On the engine is the oil fill spout at the front of the block or at the rear of the block?

Richard, I will check location, I believe it is sort of center, will take pic. the original hood had a decal 20- something, as in 20/35 or 20/?? That is the memory test part. Cast number on block is 500608M on right side as you would view from seat.

Grandfatherjim · Feb 13, 2016

The engine in an early TEA20 had 80mm diameter pistons. In later years they upped the diameter to 85 and so to differentiate they became known as the 20-80 and the 20-85, which I don't think was ever the official name, yet tractors (maybe only in the US?) did show up with decals showing 20-85. I haven't seen any with 20-80 but it sounds like they existed.

Bob (Aust) · Feb 15, 2016

...so to differentiate they became known as the 20-80 and the 20-85, which I don't think was ever the official name...

That seems to be a name given only in the USA only. It was certainly unknown in the rest of the world.

Don, you may not have a TEA20 (British Standard engine) but you may have a TE20 (US Continental engine) if the tractor was built in 1947 in the UK.

Here is the 85 mm bore Standard Motor Co engine fitted to my June 1953 TEA20:

If your engine looks different, you may have a TE20.

Another way to check is whether the block is cracked - if cracked it will be a Continental, if no cracks, it will be a quality British made Standard Motor Co engine.

Bob in Oz
'53 TEA20

Bob (Aust) · Feb 15, 2016

Don

If you have a 1947 Ferguson tractor with Serial Number 001266, I think you have a TE20 with US built Continental engine.

You definitely do not have a TEA20 with 85 mm bore engine:

[b:e44185e23c]Ferguson TE20 [/b:e44185e23c]:
Continental Z-120 gas engine 23,9hp - 4 cyl - 81mm x 95mm.

[b:e44185e23c]Ferguson TEA20[/b:e44185e23c] (TEA20-80) up to serial # 172598:
Standard gas engine 23,9hp - 4 cyl - 80mm x 92mm -

[b:e44185e23c]Ferguson TEA20[/b:e44185e23c] (TEA20-85) after serial # 172598
Standard gas engine 28,2hp - 4 cyl - 85mm x 92mm -

The hood side flashes don't mean much as it appear different side flashes were fitted by distributors in each country.

Have a look on the right side of the transmission to see if your tractor has casting dates which will confirm the date of manufacture:

"[b:e44185e23c]6 7 3[/b:e44185e23c]" = casting date 6 July 1953.

It probably rolled out of the UK factory, all shiny in Ferguson grey, about 10 to 14 days after the casting date.

Bob in Oz

Tony in Mass. · Feb 16, 2016

I'll tell ya Bob, most yanks never heard of TEA's, never mind TEA 20-85, which I get the hunch was -yes, a British made engine/ whole tractor- for the Canadian market only. The ones we see in the states- like mine, were probably a special order from the UK, for what reason I would have no idea- but most likely eventually showed up from yank farmers attending auctions and sales in Canada- there was never a duty or restriction on farm stuff- as long as it wasn't covered in cow s#$%! The border people prefer to see things steam cleaned or pressure washed.
Now that I am further south, I think my TEA20-85 will be what I drag to events, since it is probably the first and only that most locals ever saw.

Tony in Mass. · Feb 16, 2016

Is it just me? I can't upload photos unless I am in classic view. Anyway, the tag on the dash has in in a nutshell.

20-85 dates designated

Donald Tregunno

New User

Tony in Mass.

Well-known Member

samn40

Well-known Member

Richard L

Well-known Member

Donald Tregunno

New User

Grandfatherjim

Member

Bob (Aust)

Well-known Member

Bob (Aust)

Well-known Member

Tony in Mass.

Well-known Member

Tony in Mass.

Well-known Member

Similar threads