Fordson Major mystery

I recently bought a Fordson Major with the not uncommon mysteries attached. It came without a V5. There is no number plate or signs it's ever had one.

So I set about trying to find the serial number - looked around injector number one, the stater motor, the firewall plate in the battery box. There is a plate in the battery box but it is just operation instructions. I could not find a six or seven digit serial number anywhere. I wonder if the tractor was fitted with a Ford Trader replacement engine at some time.

The numbers I did find are as follows:

On the block there is the number: EIADON 6015G
Number under the seat: B245
On the exhaust manifold side of the engine at the rear: 4E
Behind that on the transmission: C175

Please see attached photos

I need a serial number to send to DVLA to check if the tractor has ever been registered or get them to issue a new V5.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice it would be very much appreciated.

Not on transmission, just behind the starter?? facing up should be a hand stamped number.. some have three numbers, model, date and serial number??

Does look like the engine was made in feb 1962 if I read that one number correctly.

Hi.
What you have is a Fordson Major BITSA (Bitsa this, Bitsa That). The main part is a Fordson Major so that would date it no later than August 1958, if it had been a later model it would have had the dash panel under the steering wheel. It has, at some time, had a new cylinder block as the fuel lift pump is fitted as it would be on a New Performance Super Major but you have a Fordson Major injection pump. Judging by the valve cover and cylinder head the engine would have been after 1955. The instruction plate on the fire wall was deleted around this time, certainly after 1958.
The casting code you show dates from February 24th 1958, the "5" at the end is a slightly eroded letter "B". You should find other similar codes on the rear axle, trumpet housings, but an easier one to find is above the gear selector plate. You would need pictures of all these for the DVLA and a letter certifying and verifying the date codes from a registered source. Try the Ford and Fordson Association, Pat Pawsey will be the man you need.

A casting code of C15B would be March 15th 1958. Ford did not use a final number in their codes until after June 1963. By 1958 the serial number would have been stamped under No.1 injector, had it been an industrial engine from a combine or similar there would still have been a number there starting with an "S". That is why I think it has had a new block fitted and the person who did the job did not re-stamp the serial number.

Hope this helps. I have surmised that you are in the UK or Ireland although some of your pictures give the impression of Australia. :0)

Brian.

Thanks very much Brian, that's given me a good start in trying to get my Major on the road. Not sure why some of the pics came out "Australian". Computer incompetence on my part no doubt.

This Major had been in a shed and not run for eight years. No surprise to Major owners - after checking fluids and half a can of diesel, I jumped on, rolled it out of the shed and it bump started immediately. Great sound too!

I guess the "Bitsa" nature of my Major was born out of good old farming pragmatism rather than more abstract notions of provenance or authenticity. Personally, I like that. It's all part of their story. Tractors are made for work after all. And I intend to continue to use the Major for farming as I do with my 1972 David Brown 780. These old tractors still have their uses for smaller jobs - they're fun to tinker around with, easy to maintain and a lot more manoeuvrable and lighter on the ground than my huge John Deere 6230 with its annoying electronics.

I'll follow your kind advice and get some more numbers and contact the Ford and Fordson Association. Hopefully they'll have come across the no serial number problem before and can help me clear the hurdles of DVLA in getting this old girl her first V5 in 50 years.

Many thanks again

Nick

Thanks sotxbill. I've had a good look around the starter and couldn't find any numbers. As you can see in the pics someone has fitted a toolbox next to the starter. Do I need to remove
it to get to the where the number might be lurking?

must be the same problem I had with my Major. no serial # in the usual places. turns out that the front half of mine is a Power Major (serial on the back half), and Super Major rear (serial# on the block). between the help on this forum, and an old time area Ford tractor mechanic I met who knew the tractor, the mystery was solved.