Looking at a TO-20

T-Nason · Oct 18, 2022

Hey yall,

Going to look at a TO20 this weekend. I grew up with a 9n which
was a handy tractor around the place, missed the utility type
tractor. Ive heard people say before the blocks with the wet
sleeves were prone to cracking. Ways to prevent this? Is there
any quirks thats worth noting with these tractors?

phil(va) · Oct 19, 2022

Cracks were usually from running too hot (no temp gage or broken gage). Biggest quirk is oil filter is inside the pan, which is hassel.

Duner Wi · Oct 19, 2022

Two quirks the salesman may not have pointed out.
You can set the parking brake by pushing down on 2 wheel brake like to stop, but place your toe on locking pawl and you set you brake for parking.
The individual wheel brakes you can activate by pulling up on the individual levers with your fingers.
This is very helpful when your are pulling a load with both front wheels off the ground. Lean forward to hold steering wheel with your chest so wheels are pointing in direction you want to go when front end returns to earth. I have both TO20 and 9N for over 50 years. I like my 9N but love my Fergy.

Mad Farmer · Oct 19, 2022

(quoted from post at 09:49:51 10/19/22) Two quirks the salesman may not have pointed out.
You can set the parking brake by pushing down on 2 wheel brake like to stop, but place your toe on locking pawl and you set you brake for parking.
The individual wheel brakes you can activate by pulling up on the individual levers with your fingers.
This is very helpful when your are pulling a load with both front wheels off the ground. Lean forward to hold steering wheel with your chest so wheels are pointing in direction you want to go when front end returns to earth. I have both TO20 and 9N for over 50 years. I like my 9N but love my Fergy.

I don't have my TO20 going yet. I've got to educate myself on the brake setup.

Steve@Advance · Oct 19, 2022

Main thing to consider is the age. Unless you happen to find someone's baby that has already been gone through, expect to find lots of problems!

The block cracking is likely caused from freezing, possibly overheating. If you can, crack the oil drain plug lose, look for antifreeze.

The oil filter in the bottom of the oil pan is a real pain, especially if the pan is damaged.

They had problems with the crank thrust bearing failing.

The flywheel starter gear is put on from the back, the starter tends to work it back, especially if converted to 12 volt.

No live PTO, so it will need an overrunning clutch with a mower or anything with spinning momentum.

The front suspension is too light for a loader, no power steering either.

Unless you're attached to this model, a TO35 Deluxe is a nicer, newer tractor, many improvements. Same basic model, just more modern. Still too small for a loader though.

Bruce(OR) · Oct 19, 2022

Tie up the brake rods, (to the steering wheel) remove all slack.
Raise back of machine.
Tighten brakes until they don't turn.
Back off 3 or 4 clicks until they turn.
Untie brake rods.
Are they off the floor boards now?

Dan S (NY) · Oct 20, 2022

Regarding the flywheel starter gear, not all of them were put on from the back. From the Ferguson Service book:

[b:654c4848f0]Note: On TO tractors produced prior to Serial No. 10282, the ring gear is mounted to the engine flywheel from the rear. If the ring gear has become dislodged or needs replacing, no attempt should be made to install a new ring gear on the old flywheel. Instead, a new flywheel, Part No. Z-120 C-4020 should be used.[/b:654c4848f0]

Given that 60,000 TO20s were built, and possibly some of the rear mounted ring gear flywheels being replaced during their lifetime, who knows how many of the first 10,282 TO20s still exist with rear mounted ring gears.

jvin248 · Oct 21, 2022

.

Sometimes the antifreeze in the oil is from an overhaul where the sleeves were not seated well as debris was scraped down under them during install.

There's a youtube channel 'bundy bears' video doing a rebuild and talks about it/shows where it happens. You'll find a lot of useful videos on that channel for refurbishing TO Fergusons.

.

Northvale PA · Oct 31, 2022

I have one. I replaced the ring gear several years ago and it slid backwards. I split the tractor in June, I tapped it back, took a steel punch and put some dings in the flywheel to keep it in place.

Looking at a TO-20

T-Nason

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phil(va)

Well-known Member

Duner Wi

Well-known Member

Mad Farmer

Well-known Member

Steve@Advance

Well-known Member

Bruce(OR)

Well-known Member

Dan S (NY)

Well-known Member

jvin248

Member

Northvale PA

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