I have a Fordson Major 4 cyl.it has a big bucket loader on it runs but needs injectors clean good shape great back tires . I want to trade it for a motor cycle (Harley) or a nice road bike or sell if interested I live in upstate N.Y. my name is Kane kanekh@yahoo.com or call 518-567-4713 need to get rid of it within 2 weeks .
the noise from the injector pump is normal for fordson majors of all variatys but you can buy silent cuplins for them its only when there is execive play in the cuplin is when it wants changing hope this helps
My uncle has two of them, one with a fork attachment on the back. They're both still in everyday use. Indestructible machines. They don't make 'em like they used to!
My father had a Fordson Major until 45 years ago. This video gave me back a lot of memories like the starting lever on the left, gearshift, stopbutton and even the sound is the same as I remembered.
Thanks for reviving my childhood memories with this excellent video!
my dad had a super major 5000 painted gray and blue after the ford takeover. i think it was a 64. may have been the last year it was built. it had a roll cage, bellypan and a lewis steel winch... he pulled logs with it for years.. strong old tractor.. yours is very nice.. hold on to it.
I think what some people dont realize is a cold start is not nesisarily in cold weather, but an engine that has not been started and warmed above the ambient temperature.
I owned a fordson major until I sold it two years ago in county cork Ireland on my uncle's farm. It was badly rusted but I am sure the man I sold it to restored it. It has a belt pulley that ran a ransom jefferies thresher box . It good see old tractors running once again like the fordson major especially here in the USA
we have a fordson major gas. it was my grandfathers, then my fathers, now i have it. and it still turns a 7 foot finishing mower quite nicely. and it always starts, probably would start in -100 if the temps ever got that low.
To cold start the Major you push in the excess fuel button on the injector pump. Then you use the compression release to start it. You release the compression then when the engine is turning over fast, you then engage the compression and O'l smokey comes alive!!
They're great rigs, we have two Fordson Majors, a 1954 FMD, and a 1961 (i think) Fordson Super Major. The Super is nice because it has the diff lock. We've pulled alot of trees with these gurls and they never quit. Start every time!
Just saying that you have the wronge front wheels,you have the light wheels but you should have wheels with 4 spokes,the wheels with 4 spokes act as weights but it dosnt matter,the reason they put lighter wheels on it is that it makes easyer to steer it
My dad served his time with Ford and we're about to begin restoring a Power Major. The body work is a terrible mess but the engine is of course in top condition.
My dad's told me some horror stories about people trying to start the 4D engine after a rebuild but forgetting to connect the vacuum governer pipe. Cue a massive bang as the engine revs itself apart.
Does anyone have any experience of power steering kits on Majors? We're thinking of fitting an aftermarket one.
nice to see an old major i helped to build when i worked on the final line at dagenham they were shipped to jacksonville for the states used to build 220 a day then for all over the world and for cork in a knock down kit for the irish to put together did you have much restoration to do to yours
No, it didnt need much when I bought it. The engine had been rebuilt by the previous owner, I put new rear tires on and a new exhaust elbow, then painted it, and thats pretty much it.
Not quite as awesome as a Doe Triple-D. They're made from two Super Major skid units joined together to make a twin-engined, 4-wheel drive articulated tractor. Very rare and amazingly powerful. Thanks for the very interesting video.
my dad had one of these for a while. didnt work out. we put a deposit on it and man allowed us to take and use we learned so much about it. it was owned preveisly and rolled over. it was a loader. um it needed new jugs pistons w/ rings with this being a english unit it was hard to get parts for none of these are the same not enterchangable so it was returned and forgoten about. still sitting the way we left 5 yrs ago. we still have a water pump and i think starer we bought somwhere.
I have a 1962 Super Major Diesel up here in Norway, and it has the same clicking noise from the fuelpump as your tractor. Did you find out why it make this sound??
Both, this tractor and the other one u have seem to perform extremely well for a tractor that is over 50 years old!!! nice job at keeping it running from the looks of it as well :)
Hello I have tyhe identical tractor in Swansboro NC and love it. But it needs a lot of repairs. wondering if you had a good source for parts? Best place i have found is out of England and the shipping will kill you.
I havent had to buy much parts for the Major except an exhaust elbow, which I ordered, but cant remember where. You might want to do a google search for Yesterdays Tractor website, they have links to different parts houses.
Showed this to my brother who has a '63 Super Major. He says...
"Tell the man in America if you can get in touch..
There is a cold start device on the injector pump - push the stop control in - throttle wide open - either push button in on stop control arm on injector pump,or pull the arm out. One or the other of it.
Also the belt pulley is 2 speed just change from high to low ratio"
ah you say about the clicking is it a simms pump? if yes the clicking is a common simms thing. we have a nuffield with a simms and she clicks. all simms i have seen click. so thers no problem.
well because i have a john deere 214, but i need a real tractor. i can get almost $1200 dollars for it. what do you think i should do, sell it or use it
If i were you, I'd keep the 214 and use it. A good lawn tractor is hard to come by, especially a classic. I was lucky to find my Massey Ferguson. So yea, keep it, and keep it in good shape.
Well, you could probobly get an unrestored Farmall Cub for 1000 or so, maybe an 8N Ford in pretty foul shape. You wont be getting much tractor for $1000. I had a Cub I bought for $1500, and put another 7 or 800 in it getting it right.
All the fordsons over here in england make that clicking noise from the fuel pump. some are very loud so I shouldn't think it is anything to worry about. it might just be the model of pump.
I have a 1955 fordson major (love it to bits)my starter motor wasn't the best so i replaced it with a modern 1 from a ford cargo (small truck) it bolted straight on its made a massive difference to its starting, you have a very nice major very reliable tractors
Very nice video mate. We have 52 and 56 Majors. The 56 has a cold start button on the side of the injector pump to give an extra bit of diesel on start up. They are not in as good condition as yours is. Here in Australia the Fordsons were a very popular workhorse and many are still in regular use like ours. Good to see rare machinary being preserved all over the world. Best of luck.
And very well done it is too. The driving sequence brings back memories. I recall that we often had problems starting the Fordson on the cold and frosty mornings so we'd start another tractor, which might have been a Dexta, and then used that to pull-start the Fordson. In my first week the engine on the Fordson died on me one morning in the middle of a field. I wasn't the most popular employee when it was discovered I'd run out of diesel. Well - I was the new kid. How was I supposed to know?.
Running out of diesel is never fun. The tank, bowl, injectors and lines in this tractor were bone dry when I bought it. That was a job to get it going. We basically ran it on ether to pump the air out of the lines.
When I left school in Scotland my first job was working on a farm and driving a Fordson Major just like this. However, if I'd taken as long as this to start it in the morning I would have been sacked.
I bought a 54 FMD in '03 at auction. Our mechanic was amazed when he heard how nice the engine sounded. We run it very little except during hay season, when it pulls the rake, hay wagon, and powers the hay elevator to the barn loft. It starts like a charm after 8 months down. For some reason my wheels were painted yellow instead of that reddish-orange. Nice video; can't wait until it warms up so I can fire up Mr. Blue.
They are supposed to knock ping rattle, lope up and down on the governor at idle etc. In my experience, when they ran smooth, they didn't have any power! My father had 7 of them, most had Sherman loaders and backhoes, couple of em' were just farm tractors just like that one
nice tractor i have a 56 and a 58
jdmcka 8 months ago
I have a Fordson Major 4 cyl.it has a big bucket loader on it runs but needs injectors clean good shape great back tires . I want to trade it for a motor cycle (Harley) or a nice road bike or sell if interested I live in upstate N.Y. my name is Kane kanekh@yahoo.com or call 518-567-4713 need to get rid of it within 2 weeks .
kanekhoyt 10 months ago
the noise from the injector pump is normal for fordson majors of all variatys but you can buy silent cuplins for them its only when there is execive play in the cuplin is when it wants changing hope this helps
macfletcherhotmail 10 months ago
My uncle has two of them, one with a fork attachment on the back. They're both still in everyday use. Indestructible machines. They don't make 'em like they used to!
kazimann 10 months ago
thanks for uploading this vid, it really helped :=)
lachlanb18 11 months ago
My father had a Fordson Major until 45 years ago. This video gave me back a lot of memories like the starting lever on the left, gearshift, stopbutton and even the sound is the same as I remembered.
Thanks for reviving my childhood memories with this excellent video!
Adri from Holland
acdezwart 11 months ago
All Major pumps click
blueovalcraig 1 year ago
You should make more videos with the Fordsons i'm going to make some.
TheDexta1958 1 year ago
the head of the injection pump is worn out
olejonnyrustbakken 1 year ago
Comment removed
jfjuarezr 1 year ago
England made the best tractors!
HAZZASIB 1 year ago
My father has one of those.
shartne 1 year ago
my dad had a super major 5000 painted gray and blue after the ford takeover. i think it was a 64. may have been the last year it was built. it had a roll cage, bellypan and a lewis steel winch... he pulled logs with it for years.. strong old tractor.. yours is very nice.. hold on to it.
whb1965 1 year ago
the idea is that you make tractors for youur self and we make tractors for our self
FunOnTheFarm7 1 year ago
is this really cold start,try again minus degrees below C -20
akdsur 1 year ago
I think what some people dont realize is a cold start is not nesisarily in cold weather, but an engine that has not been started and warmed above the ambient temperature.
bigguy6100 1 year ago 5
i have the same problem on my mf 35 the fuel pump /diesel pump its kliking its the head on the pump thats broken
olejonnyrustbakken 2 years ago
does anyone know if these engines are of any value
hhch69 2 years ago
I owned a fordson major until I sold it two years ago in county cork Ireland on my uncle's farm. It was badly rusted but I am sure the man I sold it to restored it. It has a belt pulley that ran a ransom jefferies thresher box . It good see old tractors running once again like the fordson major especially here in the USA
neil7025 2 years ago
we have a fordson major gas. it was my grandfathers, then my fathers, now i have it. and it still turns a 7 foot finishing mower quite nicely. and it always starts, probably would start in -100 if the temps ever got that low.
UncleBubbles94 2 years ago
she's a happy little diesel
kerrstuartaxefireman 2 years ago
stop stealing our tractors
FunOnTheFarm7 2 years ago
To cold start the Major you push in the excess fuel button on the injector pump. Then you use the compression release to start it. You release the compression then when the engine is turning over fast, you then engage the compression and O'l smokey comes alive!!
psp406 2 years ago
Nice tractor!! does it not have glow plugs???
troykirwan 2 years ago
They're great rigs, we have two Fordson Majors, a 1954 FMD, and a 1961 (i think) Fordson Super Major. The Super is nice because it has the diff lock. We've pulled alot of trees with these gurls and they never quit. Start every time!
nusdaddy 2 years ago
A friend of mine had one of these and it would start in any weather condition without the need for preheat or ether.
douro20 2 years ago 3
A very good video. I really enjoyed and you demonstrated it very well. we have a 1955 fordson major.( Austarlia )
spyfox14 2 years ago
I have a 1955 too,mine is an E1A DKN
keithmcgrath 2 years ago
we also have a massey ferguson 35 4cly diesel and a nuffield 4/65. What tractors do you have?
spyfox14 2 years ago
This Major, Fordson Dexta, MF 175, MF 275, 2 Farmall 140's and an Allis Chalmers CA
bigguy6100 2 years ago
Comment removed
FunOnTheFarm7 2 years ago
I also have a Ferguson 20 diesel,2 Fordson Super Majors,a David Brown 880 Selectamatic and a Leyland 270
keithmcgrath 2 years ago
I know where I can get one of these but it needs a engine!!
goldie103103 2 years ago
Im on about the E1A front wheels
keithmcgrath 2 years ago
Its a export model though so it wont be the same a British Major!!
goldie103103 2 years ago
Ya,I agree
keithmcgrath 2 years ago
They do a good job at ploughing though!!
goldie103103 2 years ago
ya,I painted my Ferguson 20 on Saturday
keithmcgrath 2 years ago
Oh yeah, how did it go?
goldie103103 2 years ago
turend out great and thanks for asking!!!!
keithmcgrath 2 years ago
Just saying that you have the wronge front wheels,you have the light wheels but you should have wheels with 4 spokes,the wheels with 4 spokes act as weights but it dosnt matter,the reason they put lighter wheels on it is that it makes easyer to steer it
keithmcgrath 2 years ago
My dad served his time with Ford and we're about to begin restoring a Power Major. The body work is a terrible mess but the engine is of course in top condition.
My dad's told me some horror stories about people trying to start the 4D engine after a rebuild but forgetting to connect the vacuum governer pipe. Cue a massive bang as the engine revs itself apart.
Does anyone have any experience of power steering kits on Majors? We're thinking of fitting an aftermarket one.
bigkahuna355 2 years ago
we have a power steering on our Super Major,what do you want to know?we have another Super Major and a Standard Major
keithmcgrath 2 years ago
The first few Majors were built in cork, down by the marina not the later ones.. MF35x is hard to beat.. I have a 6 cylinder Super Major
IrishHitman79 2 years ago
hi bigguy
nice to see an old major i helped to build when i worked on the final line at dagenham they were shipped to jacksonville for the states used to build 220 a day then for all over the world and for cork in a knock down kit for the irish to put together did you have much restoration to do to yours
wgaat 14 the old ford pensioner
wgaat14 2 years ago
No, it didnt need much when I bought it. The engine had been rebuilt by the previous owner, I put new rear tires on and a new exhaust elbow, then painted it, and thats pretty much it.
bigguy6100 2 years ago
I don't think they were made in England I think they were made in CO.Cork and I live in Buttevan't CO.Cork
keithmcgrath 3 years ago
They were made in Dagenham England
bigguy6100 3 years ago
Some were made in Endland and some were made in Cork and you have a nice 303 rifle
keithmcgrath 3 years ago
That was the Fordson Standard N from 1929- 1932!!
goldie103103 2 years ago
they were on the Fordson Major Standard too,It was after the Fordson Major E27N
keithmcgrath 2 years ago
Yeah, nothing light on the Fordson N!!
goldie103103 2 years ago
cool
goldie103103 3 years ago
very nice, i also have a 54, nicer looking than mine but it runs well, smokes about as much. wonderful tractors
rhettcale 3 years ago
I have 3 majors 2 super's and 1 power major they are lovly tractors
keithmcgrath 3 years ago
I bet the super majors are awesome machines.
bigguy6100 3 years ago
They are and great for pulling
keithmcgrath 3 years ago
Not quite as awesome as a Doe Triple-D. They're made from two Super Major skid units joined together to make a twin-engined, 4-wheel drive articulated tractor. Very rare and amazingly powerful. Thanks for the very interesting video.
jozg44 3 years ago
Ive seen the Triple-D's. Amazing
bigguy6100 3 years ago
My Dad has 2 of these, I've started to restore a power major, the clicking noise on the injector pump is normal. Still lots of parts on ebay uk.
good luck,
Keith in Ireland
kitwith5bits 3 years ago
my dad had one of these for a while. didnt work out. we put a deposit on it and man allowed us to take and use we learned so much about it. it was owned preveisly and rolled over. it was a loader. um it needed new jugs pistons w/ rings with this being a english unit it was hard to get parts for none of these are the same not enterchangable so it was returned and forgoten about. still sitting the way we left 5 yrs ago. we still have a water pump and i think starer we bought somwhere.
mchl8 3 years ago
fast tractor I like it. Mint!
thegetupkid7609 3 years ago
I have a 1962 Super Major Diesel up here in Norway, and it has the same clicking noise from the fuelpump as your tractor. Did you find out why it make this sound??
Btw: Really nice looking tractor You got
kjetilB71 3 years ago
Both, this tractor and the other one u have seem to perform extremely well for a tractor that is over 50 years old!!! nice job at keeping it running from the looks of it as well :)
matts6887 3 years ago
Very strong tractors, most of the fishermen in my village still use FMDs to this day, they just keep on runnin!
mickeymoose76 3 years ago
Hello I have tyhe identical tractor in Swansboro NC and love it. But it needs a lot of repairs. wondering if you had a good source for parts? Best place i have found is out of England and the shipping will kill you.
vladlvs69 3 years ago
I havent had to buy much parts for the Major except an exhaust elbow, which I ordered, but cant remember where. You might want to do a google search for Yesterdays Tractor website, they have links to different parts houses.
bigguy6100 3 years ago
Hi there from the UK
Showed this to my brother who has a '63 Super Major. He says...
"Tell the man in America if you can get in touch..
There is a cold start device on the injector pump - push the stop control in - throttle wide open - either push button in on stop control arm on injector pump,or pull the arm out. One or the other of it.
Also the belt pulley is 2 speed just change from high to low ratio"
Guess you already had this worked out anyway.
All the best
Brian
airstream456 3 years ago
THAT'S A VERY NICE TRACTOR.
BLAKEYBBLAKEY 3 years ago
congratulations, very nice video! i have a one Ford Major in Brazil!
5parafuso 3 years ago
ah you say about the clicking is it a simms pump? if yes the clicking is a common simms thing. we have a nuffield with a simms and she clicks. all simms i have seen click. so thers no problem.
massey4255 3 years ago
It is a Simms.
bigguy6100 3 years ago
taht explains it then
massey4255 3 years ago
pneumatic governed
massey4255 3 years ago
how many implments do u have for the major
mimiumes 3 years ago
We use the plow on it and a disc.
bigguy6100 3 years ago
my dad has got a fordson dexta which i'm learning to drive
mimiumes 3 years ago
Very user friendly tractors.
bigguy6100 3 years ago
I got a 1960 fordson dexta located in Lincolnton ,NC. Very stong small tractors
jamey88 3 years ago
Yes they are. Do you ever take your Dexta to shows, or just use it?
bigguy6100 3 years ago
real real neat tractor dude :D
fordwillkillyou 3 years ago
I'll have more videos of it whenever my internet is back online again.
bigguy6100 3 years ago
Nice tractor :D
crown01 3 years ago
well because i have a john deere 214, but i need a real tractor. i can get almost $1200 dollars for it. what do you think i should do, sell it or use it
tootiebeish 3 years ago
If i were you, I'd keep the 214 and use it. A good lawn tractor is hard to come by, especially a classic. I was lucky to find my Massey Ferguson. So yea, keep it, and keep it in good shape.
bigguy6100 3 years ago
o. well than wat do you think i get for $1000 that is in the category of a tractor
tootiebeish 3 years ago
Well, you could probobly get an unrestored Farmall Cub for 1000 or so, maybe an 8N Ford in pretty foul shape. You wont be getting much tractor for $1000. I had a Cub I bought for $1500, and put another 7 or 800 in it getting it right.
bigguy6100 3 years ago
Are you willing to sell this tractor? i need a tractor and i only have $1000.00
tootiebeish 3 years ago
If you had $3000 more than you have now, we might have had a deal. You'll be hard pressed to find a medium sized diesel for $1000.
bigguy6100 3 years ago
what i mean is is there a pedal that makes the tractor move what makes it move?
K1ll3rM4st3r 3 years ago
It has a manual transmission, so it has the gear selectors and a clutch.
bigguy6100 3 years ago
where is the accelerator im not to sure on tractors though i love them i don't own any but i like watching them where is it?
K1ll3rM4st3r 3 years ago
Look at about 2:12 or so, that lever is the accelerator.
bigguy6100 3 years ago
All the fordsons over here in england make that clicking noise from the fuel pump. some are very loud so I shouldn't think it is anything to worry about. it might just be the model of pump.
angamoos 3 years ago
I have a 1955 fordson major (love it to bits)my starter motor wasn't the best so i replaced it with a modern 1 from a ford cargo (small truck) it bolted straight on its made a massive difference to its starting, you have a very nice major very reliable tractors
majortrev 3 years ago
Very nice video mate. We have 52 and 56 Majors. The 56 has a cold start button on the side of the injector pump to give an extra bit of diesel on start up. They are not in as good condition as yours is. Here in Australia the Fordsons were a very popular workhorse and many are still in regular use like ours. Good to see rare machinary being preserved all over the world. Best of luck.
pitman342 3 years ago
And very well done it is too. The driving sequence brings back memories. I recall that we often had problems starting the Fordson on the cold and frosty mornings so we'd start another tractor, which might have been a Dexta, and then used that to pull-start the Fordson. In my first week the engine on the Fordson died on me one morning in the middle of a field. I wasn't the most popular employee when it was discovered I'd run out of diesel. Well - I was the new kid. How was I supposed to know?.
Bassmanbbn4 4 years ago
Running out of diesel is never fun. The tank, bowl, injectors and lines in this tractor were bone dry when I bought it. That was a job to get it going. We basically ran it on ether to pump the air out of the lines.
bigguy6100 4 years ago
When I left school in Scotland my first job was working on a farm and driving a Fordson Major just like this. However, if I'd taken as long as this to start it in the morning I would have been sacked.
Bassmanbbn4 4 years ago
Yeah, I figured I'd describe the tractor to those who don't know what a Fordson Major is.
bigguy6100 4 years ago
Nice vid. Look after those Fordsons, they aint cheap anymore
Geardai 4 years ago
I bought a 54 FMD in '03 at auction. Our mechanic was amazed when he heard how nice the engine sounded. We run it very little except during hay season, when it pulls the rake, hay wagon, and powers the hay elevator to the barn loft. It starts like a charm after 8 months down. For some reason my wheels were painted yellow instead of that reddish-orange. Nice video; can't wait until it warms up so I can fire up Mr. Blue.
swampfarmer 4 years ago
sounds great!! nice tractor
ptokish 4 years ago
My grand uncle's got exactly the same
uscar17 4 years ago
They are supposed to knock ping rattle, lope up and down on the governor at idle etc. In my experience, when they ran smooth, they didn't have any power! My father had 7 of them, most had Sherman loaders and backhoes, couple of em' were just farm tractors just like that one
carlbesola 4 years ago
the old english fordson major fuel pumps always use to tick!
tractorboy262 4 years ago
sounds good i like it so how much hp dos it have
allenjanoch 4 years ago
The FMD had right around 34.2hp on the drawbar and 38.5hp at the belt
bigguy6100 4 years ago
looks like it runs good!
gajda1984 4 years ago