New owner/member - a few questions

I am now the proud owner of a te20 (petrol and tvo)- a bit battered and bruised, but complete. I managed to get her running this weekend (new plugs, leads, dizzy cap, hose to carb). The first start for sometime and So exciting! I have a couple of questions. I thought I would post these here in case these are common problems, could save some time eh.

First, she starts within half a dozen tries from cold with the choke. Warms up quickly and doesn't lose any oil or water and sounds ok at tickover. A problem that I am having is that I cannot get her to run evenly at higher revs (only using petrol at the moment). When I try to drive at a constant speed she sounds rough - she keeps going but 'exhaust noise' and power to the wheels is up and down - she should run smoother than this. I have a list of things that I could check, but wondered whether this is common ailment needing a simple fix.

Also, I cannot find how to date her. I have tried a few sites online, but the serial number doesn't seem to match.

Any help would be much appreciated, Cheers, ray

I didn't think there was a TVO version of the TE20 (Continental engine), but I may be wrong? Are you sure it is not a TED20 (Standard engine)? You appear to be in the UK, so you may well own either a TE20 or TED20.

What is the data plate serial number? The data plate is reveted to the dash above the steering wheel.

If the data plate is missing, what are the vertical numbers on the right side of the transmission housing here:



The surging problem may be a governor adjustment or governor fault. You can't guess the governor adjustment, you will need the tractor service manual or one of the guys may post governor adjustment here, after we determine whether you have a TE20 or TED20. (I can't post governor adjustment details as I am not at home with access to my manuals.)

Bob from Oz

Many thanks for your help Bob,

I will certainly check out the governor. But before doing so, I am thinking about double checking the spark from the ht lead and dismantling/cleaning the carb? I'm new to tractors, so a bit of a learning curve.

The serial number on the plate is TE13109
The number on the housing is 95590 BA37692

It is definately petrol and tvo and I have been informed that it is a standard engine. Hope this makes sense. I have tried many times to date her, with little success.

Cheers, ray

Ray

Ferguson tractor serial number TE13109 should be a 1947 model and would have the Continental engine, not Standard engine. The 80 mm bore Standard engine was not available until (I think) around Ser No TE77000 1949, thus all early Ferguson tractors were fitted with US made Continental Z120 engines.

If your tractor is fitted with a Standard engine, the serial number would be TEAXXXXX (straight petrol) or TEDXXXXX (TVO engine), not TE prefix.

Here is the Standard engine from my 1953 TEA20:



If you had the earlier 80 mm bore Standard engine it would be identical except for the oil filter which I think was vertical on the early Standard engines. Note the position of the oil filler, coil and distributor.

On the Standard engine, the engine number is stamped into the block between the coil and distributor. I forget where the Continental engine number is located, think it is on a separate tag riveted on and the number will start with "Z120-xxxxx".

I may be wrong but I don't believe the early Continental engine TE20 tractors were available as a TVO version? If it were a later TVO tractor it would have a two compartment fuel tank with a change over tap between the two compartments. I would not get excited about TVO, I think it is illegal to make TVO in the UK due to taxes (?), however a TVO mix is three parts kerosene to one part standard petrol.

I can't make any sense of the transmission housing numbers you quote, although I don't know when Ferguson started casting dates into the housings. Just last week I saw a TE20 in Florida with "22 5 8" (22 May 1948) cast into the housing (in smaller numbers than my TEA20 above), so I know that by 1948 the castings were dated. (The transmission on my TEA20 above was cast 6 July 1953).

Re check your engine identification and confirm which engine you have as it appears you have a 1947 TE20 with Continental Z120 engine.

Bob from Oz

Hello Bob
Can you help me identify my fergie Please, she is
a grey petrol I know she is some kind of a 20 and
I don't know what year she is, the ID plate is
missing I have only a engine number sc109499e only
to work with,I have just stripped the engine down
to find a cracked piston with STD stamped on it so
I guess this means std bore,The rings where all
damaged, So I was thinking of doing a engine re
sleeve,
If you could help me, That would be great or if
you could steer me in the right direction that
would be great too,
Cheers from Sam(Australia)

(quoted from post at 02:54:09 09/04/11) Hello Bob
Can you help me identify my fergie Please, she is
a grey petrol I know she is some kind of a 20 and
I don't know what year she is, the ID plate is
missing I have only a engine number sc109499e only
to work with,I have just stripped the engine down
to find a cracked piston with STD stamped on it so
I guess this means std bore,The rings where all
damaged, So I was thinking of doing a engine re
sleeve,
If you could help me, That would be great or if
you could steer me in the right direction that
would be great too,
Cheers from Sam(Australia)

Click to expand...

This page should help a bit: http://fergusontractors.org/fena/wp-content/uploads/Tractor-Identification1.pdf

Many thanks for your help here. Some progress has been made. The engine now runs better due to a carb overhaul. I have double checked the engine type with various sources and all show that it is a standard engine. To be honest I am still alittle confused about why the serial number has a TE prefix. If I find a solution, I will let you know.

Cheers, Ray

Sam. Sorry I missed your 4 Sept post.

As you are in Australia it is 99.999% sure you have a TEA20 or TED20. I don't believe any TE20 (Continental engine) Ferguson tractors were imported to Australia.

I think that engine number is an 85 mm bore engine - John (UK) could confirm.

What is the casting date of your transmission housing, see the photo above with my post of 31 August?

The good news is that you can buy a full engine overhaul kit for that engine: pistons, rings, sleeves, bearings, gaskets etc for around $450 from any Sparex or BareCo Dealer. I don't know of any 4 cylinder engine one can overhaul at that parts cost - most Jap engines cost more for a top end gasket kit!

I usually buy from MD Machinery in Melbourne.