2021.05.29 Tractor Pic

Puzzle: https://jigex.com/rmhr

Fordson Major Diesel with Roadless conversion to narrow front.

Sharp tractor

Bucket list tractor.......love to have
one. Picture that in the hay field
pulling my New Holland baler.......

Major man, what is meant by roadless conversion? Any changes besides front end and tires. Do the gears change any?
Andy

Don't believe I have ever seen a Major with a narrow front looks good on there. Looks to set a bit higher than most majors with the wide front also.

Hi Andy,
The name Roadless was a company set up after WW1 by an ex-military man who had been involved with tanks and other battlefield machines. He patented various designs when he left the military, and set up a company to manufacturer them. The main products were half-tracks for Fordson Model N's, a lifeboat tractor to launch and recover lifeboats around the coast of the British Isles. The company also modified Case L and LA tractors to be fully waterproofed and able to work semi-submerged.

In later years full track versions of the Model N's were used on aerodromes during WW2 and with winches fitted, were used to launch barrage balloons and recover crashed aircraft.

The company imported 4WD units from Italy after WW2 and fitted them to the Ford range of tractors as well as offering kits for other makes. For many years they worked with Ford Motor Company like their competitor County Commercial Cars making tractors for forestry work and to work in sugar cane production. The Driven Girder halftracks were fitted to Fordson E27N tractors and were very popular in countries like Australia.

When Ford started to produce it's own 4WD tractors, both Roadless and County went out of business in the 1980's.

The narrow front wheels were fitted in place of the standard axle with no major modifications, on the tractor in the picture are 38 inch rear tyres instead of the more usual 36 inch.

I've got one that is under repair. It's getting there. I'm considering letting it go. Near Fargo.

(quoted from post at 08:11:52 05/29/21) Fordson Major Diesel with Roadless conversion to narrow front.

Click to expand...

Never knew that before, but it sure does make a fine looking tractor!