Auction Major

nisse

Member
There is a tractor coming up on auction on Saturday was hoping to get some questions answered. I know very little about the the Fordson's how can I tell which model it is? Which model have live Pto and Hydaulics? The power steering seems to have a lot of play at the linkage with the cylinder, is this common? How will the tractor handle with full bucket? Looking at this to be an acreage tractor using bucket to clean tree lines and other chores, possibly as a backup small square baler tractor too. I hopefully attached a link to the sale.
Thanks,
John
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Looks like link did not work. Here are a couple pictures.
Thanks,
John
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The loader covers most of the tractor so it is a bit hard to identify. It looks like a Fordson Major Diesel from around 1952 to 1958. It is unlikely that it will have live hydraulics or PTO but is just possible. Check under the footplate on the clutch side. There should be a bracket around the clutch pedal with two holes in it that prevent the pedal from moving its full travel. Should have a pin across.
 
Thanks for the reply, here is a pic of the clutch pedal, kind of hard to see for the bracket. How will the tractor handle with the bucket on it? Approximate weight? How hard is it to find parts?
Thanks,
John
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No, that one is not a live clutch as far as I can see, the bracket is under the footplate and the clutch pedal goes through it. There is then a pin that goes across the bracket preventing the clutch from going to the bottom of its travel. This means the PTO is constantly running when in gear until you take the pin out and let the pedal go to the bottom.

You may find your loader has a separate, engine driven pump and is not plumbed into the tractor.

if you are using the rear linkage or a brush hog on the PTO then you may find an overrun clutch is an essential. The lift/PTO will stop working when you de-clutch but there will be enough energy in the rotating blades to keep the tractor moving even with the clutch down. I use my Major on a brush hog with an over run clutch and it works fine, but be carefull.

Tractor weighs about 3 ton plus the weight of that loader which looks very heavy but a good strong one. Steering should be OK if the power steering is working.

Parts for the tractor are easy to get over here in England and can be got over on your side of the pond but remember, you are buying a tractor that is over 60 years old. They are built like a tank and with carefull looking after, could see you out. :0)
 
The loader is ran off a separate pump from the front of the crank. My only other concern is there seems to be quite of bit of play in steering linkage and may have been cobbled together, is the steering rebuild able? The auctioneer states the tractor needs to be jumped to be started but I think that should be a minor fix and maybe will keep price down.
Thanks,
John
 
While a bit unclear, it looks like the engine cover emblem of the type used on Fordson Super Major. The front emblem is missing, leaving an empty hole. The last model, the Fordson Super Major 5000 had a decal label, although, there may have been both types.
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Looks like a Super Major to me. I have owned two of them and they are reel work horses. I noticed it have aux. hydraulics under seat. Does it have a diff. lock pedal on right rear side of foot rest? Loose front end linkage is common on a tractor of that age but is repairable.
 
It does have one pair of remotes under the seat, couldn't find picture that showed diff lock area.
Thanks,
John
 
It does have the super major hood, although the description makes it sound like it's possibly not original. I'm not sure the seller knows exactly what it is.
Thanks,
John
 
Looks like an older Major diesel to me, The Supers had a different hyd system and had an instrument panel under the steering wheel. However it appears it has a raised pto with a shifter on it, a highly desired option for the time. I spent a number of years on a Power Major. (loved that tractor)
 
Think it is a BITSA as far as tin work is concerned. No Super or Power Major had the lower dash panel and, although the Power Major had the same style hydraulic lift, it had the steering wheel mounted dash panel.

Missed the raised PTO though, a very good option to have, enables you to take the PTO out of gear and leave the hydraulics running. Not quite the same as a Live tractor but a good "second best".
 
Thanks for all the help, I bid the tractor up to 2900 plus there was 10 percent buyers fee and 7 percent tax, just not room in the budget right now. Will have to keep an eye out for other Majors though, seems it would have fit my needs well.
Thanks,
John
 

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