Fordson Major Diesel smoking and general info

8N Tim

Member
Hi everybody, today I picked up a Fordson major diesel with a GB loader. I paid $500 for it and in are area a old 9n goes for 2-4K so I figured it was a good deal Even in 2? with a small spritz of ether it started right up but it definitely smokes. It doesn?t seem to have a lack of power and doesn?t really get any worse if it?s under load or not and it doesn?t get better as the engine heats up so I?m not sure exactly what?s wrong with it. Possibly too much fuel? It has small fluid leaks everywhere it can but nothing bad enough that it can?t be used. I can?t find a serial number or year on it but I assume it?s covered up under grease and oil, does anybody know where to look on this machine? Any info would be appreciated!
 

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Check the oil level in your air filter, also look up inside at the filter screen. It may be plugged with chaff.
 
You have a Fordson Major Diesel from October/November 1955. The engine/serial number will be either under No.1 injector pipe, stamped into a flat area on the block or on the clutch housing flange behind the starter.

As Skipper says, the oil level in your air cleaner may be overfull or the suction screen may be blocked. Try running her with the air pipe off for a VERY SHORT PERIOD and see if the smoke clears. Other problems could be a head gasket fault or possibly the diaphragm in the fuel pump governor.

Do not use too much ether as this can damage the engine.
 
The drive coupling to the injector pump could be worn which is altering timing, could the cold start button be stuck in causing excessive fuelling and smoking
Also you may not be aware ... do not run engine without
Coolant even for 30 seconds or the liner o rings will be
Ruined
 
I had some time to check out a couple things on the tractor after work today. I pulled off the air intake hose and ran it for a minute and it still smoked just as bad. The oil seems to be at the correct height in the air cleaner and the filter element looked pretty clean. I don?t think the tractor has a cold start button but if I partially pull out the fuel cut off knob it drastically cuts down on the smoke. The tractors engine is covered in old oil or diesel. Almost every part on the tractor with a seal was or currently is leaking haha but not enough to drip on the ground so far. The engine doesn?t seem to have any blow by when you pull the dipstick out when it?s running. Out of curiosity why is the sediment bowl upside down? Let me know what I should do next. Thanks for all the help everyone!
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S
 
By pulling the stop out you are moving the rack in the pump and reducing the fuel being injected. There is an adjustment screw and locknut just behind the stop control that sets the amount of rack movement. A faulty governor diaphragm will cause the same sort of problem but would also cause the engine to rev up, but you do not seem to have that problem.

Your excess fuel button is in the pivot of the stop lever, that is what the little round button in your pictures is.

The next thing I would eliminate is pump timing but you may have a bit of a problem. Your tractor engine is on the cusp of a change which effected the position of the timing marks. The mark could be on the front pulley, a small notch, that lines up with a pointer bolted to the two bolts that hold the dynamo front mount. If it is not there then it is visible through a small window on the rear of the sump, just below your fuel lift pump/sediment bowl. The hole will be covered by a small metal plate held on by a stud. If you are really unlucky, (and I have come across a few), they could have done away with the front pulley marker and stamped the flywheel but then used the earlier sump with no window.


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In the second picture the clamp bolt must be below the drive shaft to be sure you are on Number 1 cylinder when the marks line up. If they do not line up, slacken the two bolts on the coupling and slide it round until they do.
 
Hey guys, The generator isn?t working at all. Should I get the original rebuilt so it is a perfect fit or just replace it?
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That's not the original anyway, I would replace it with a single wire alternator. If there is a weak link on those old rigs, it was the charging system.
 
How many amps should I look for? I found one that somebody else put on a Fordson diesel and it?s 70amps. I?m used to trucks and big equipment so that?s small to me. I?m going to be putting headlights and tail lights back on it so I want to make sure I get one with enough power to run the lights and still charge the tractor.
 

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