Knocking noise 1961 Fordson super major.

Paul Craven

New User
Hi everyone. I am new to tractors. I have just purchased a 1961 fordson super major. It starts great and has no knocking noise. When warmed up it starts knocking which is worse at higher RPM. It stops at tickover.
Do any of you experienced owners have any idea as to what it could be.
Do you think this is rod knock?
Regards Paul.
 
Majors. do have a characteristic noise but knocking
Would be a bit drastic but it could be knocking
Is it smoking a lot ?
 
No it doesn't smoke and starts OK. The knocking gets worse under load and increasing RPM. It doesn't knock when first started from cold but starts after aprox 1 to 2 minutes.
 
Sounds like big end bearings, have you checked the oil pressure? Majors do have a
characteristic clatter from the injection pump drive but it is not a knock.

I would investigate as soon as possible to avoid Major problems.
 
(quoted from post at 10:11:17 03/20/21) Sounds like big end bearings, have you checked the oil pressure? Majors do have a
characteristic clatter from the injection pump drive but it is not a knock.
Thanks for the advice.
I will investigate as soon as possible to avoid Major problems.
Thanks for the information, I will check the oil pressure.
If it is the big ends, will the pressure fall when warmed up.
Would the knocking be more pronounce when the engine warms up?
 
(quoted from post at 10:11:17 03/20/21) Sounds like big end bearings, have you checked the oil pressure? Majors do have a
characteristic clatter from the injection pump drive but it is not a knock.

I would investigate as soon as possible to avoid Major problems.

Thanks for the advice I will check the oil pressure. Will the pressure drop as it warms up, and what should the pressure be? Would the noise become more pronounced as the engine warms up?
How do I check if it is the injection pump?
Sorry to bombard you with questions but I am new to tractors 🚜.
 
If it is the injection pump drive coupling it will be a clatter rather than a knock.
Warming up would not affect it. If it knocks when warm and when you apply revs it
sounds like problems on the crankshaft eg. big ends.

Try slackening off each injector pipe and see if it stops on one cylinder. I would not
run for too longer because if it is crankshaft problems, you are making matters worse.
 
(quoted from post at 23:13:34 03/20/21) If it is the injection pump drive coupling it will be a clatter rather than a knock.
Warming up would not affect it. If it knocks when warm and when you apply revs it
sounds like problems on the crankshaft eg. big ends.

Try slackening off each injector pipe and see if it stops on one cylinder. I would not
run for too longer because if it is crankshaft problems, you are making matters worse.

Thanks for the advice, it'smuchappreciated. Looks like I have some work to do. Do you think I would get away with just changing the bearing shells, and can it be done with the engine still in the tractor?
 
You can get the sump off without taking the engine out by taking the wishbone and
track rod off. Watch out for the bolts in the clutch end that go from front to back
under the side channels. The sump is very heavy and needs a bit of a wriggle to get
down.
Taking the engine out is not too bad, you need good blocks to stand the gearbox
safely and so means of lifting. I strip them down by undoing the side channel bolts,
wishbone etc and running the front away on the axle. That leaves the engine
suspended. Then take the head and sump off which makes the block much lighter. Then
you have to have a lift of some sort to get the block out. I have used a
tractor/loader, pallet fork or engine crane. Back in the day we used to back our van
over the engine, then drop the jack, take the last two bolts out and drive away, the
reverse when putting it back.
 
Thank for taking the trouble to go through this. I think I will take out the engine.
I will let you know what I find.
Regards
Paul.
 
This is only a suggestion , before removing engine
Find out availability and cost of parts
It might work out cheaper to get parts from uk
 

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