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Ford Guy Bought the TO30 (Please Don't Tell Anyone)

L

LarryMaine

Member
Well, I bought the 1954 TO30 today. Asking price was $2000, I got it for $1800. Came with Brush Hog, Blade, FEL with bucket, tire chains and manuals. Don't tell anyone on the Ford Forums, they may not let me back on after this buy. Tractor runs and sounds fine, hydraulics work fine lifting the brush hog, and it stays in up position. On start up, just a minor puff of smoke, but exhaust is clean when running. No oil in water, no water in oil or hyd fluid. Wheel bearings seem fine, and steering is nice and tight, almost like new. Rear fender skins rusted out need replacement, and hood and dog legs need some attention. Also needs a replacment front grill. When I add up the value of the implements, all of which I actually needed, I think I paid $100 for the tractor. Not going to use the FEL, it is way too big and heavy for the Ferg, but the bucket is perfect for my Ford 850 for snow removal, and the blade is a nice one that pivots and reverses. Will get it towed to my house next week, so will have some questions after that. Regards to all who suggested I go ahead and buy it.
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Congratulations on a good buy. Here are some thoughts on it.
1. That metal seat is uncomfortable. Get a padded cover for it.
2. When you use the blade on your driveway, don't try to hold it at the right height. Push the hydraulic lever all the way down and let it drag. If you try to use the control it will make humps and hollows and every time you try to get rid of them they will get worse.
3. Make sure there is an overrunning clutch on the PTO when you use the brush cutter. If not, sooner or later it will push you into a tree or building.
4. If you ever plan to take the tractor into the woods, put some kind of bumper on the front. The tractor is narrow and short enough to work your way between trees but you will likely need a bumper to push something small out of the way.
 
Looks like you found a good one!

Something you will want to check, the front axle pivot bushing. Prone to wear
through the bushing and the pin will cut into the axle housing, especially
having had a loader on it.

Best catch it before that happens.

Also keep a good shifter boot on it. Water will track down the shifter into the
transmission.

If it has been 12 volt converted, be careful and deliberate with the starter. Always be sure the engine has completely stopped (not on a compression rebound) before hitting the starter. Be sure the timing is correct, keep it well tuned so starting is easy. Plan your starts so not to be starting and stopping. The starter is fragile, the nose cone can break from the higher voltage, and the flywheel gear takes a beating. The gear can also be driven back on the flywheel away from the stop flange, it presses on from the back of the flywheel. If that happens, it can be pried back on through the starter hole.
 
Thanks to all, the tips were all useful. Front Pivot Pin issue is endemic to the early Fords as well, not an expensive fix but absolutely necessary. Loader apparently was not on the Ferg for long, which explains why the bearings and steering are all still tight. Info on starter was particularly useful, had no idea they were that sensitive on the Ferg. Am starting to really look forward to getting it home and learning and working on something new. Obviously lots of similarities to my Fords, but also some interesting differences. It is cool to learn how different engineers around the same time period resolved issues differently. Water is always also an issue for the early Fords, both leaking in from trans, but also a lot is a product of normal condensation (particularly here on the coast of Maine). Have started going thru all the manuals, and will use the forum archives info search before I start asking too many questions on this forum. Thanks to all, as always, Larry.
 
That looks to be a great deal for 1800$, the tires look descent. It already has a 22 volt conversion, the only other thing Id check is to see if it has electronic ignition or points. If it still has points Id convert it to electronic youll not regret it!
 
No worries Larry, I can keep a secret - You already know I have a Ford 841 gasser but I also have a TO-35 Diesel. Fords and Ferguson are very similar in the earlier years and shared many parts. Both are great tractors and are easy to work on.
 
Hey Larry, I spend time on the Ford forums too. But I won't tell either. I have two Fords, a 2N and a NAA plus a '50 TO-20.
 
To me the ferguson were better than the N tractors this from a guy that has had 6 Fords from an 801 to a TW15.
 
Steve, regarding the ring gear being pressed on from the back of the flywheel, the TO20/TO30 service book has this note:

[b:654c4848f0]Note: On TO tractors produced [i:654c4848f0]prior[/i:654c4848f0] to
Serial No. 10282, the ring gear is mounted
to the engine flywheel from the rear.[/b:654c4848f0]

If his TO30 has the original engine then he shouldn't have an issue with the ring gear being driven off by the starter as it would have a serial number greater than 10282.
 
Do not forget, the Ferguson was designed by the Ford Motor Company. Harry Ferguson nicked the plans.

Runs and ducks behind big blast wall :0).

Do not tell anyone, I have two TE 20s and a Nuffield 4/65 that was designed by the Harry Ferguson design team.
 
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