SummaryThis one will be the ongoing story about my first own tractor, I chose a Fordson Super Major that started life in Dagenham Essex in September 1961, it was first registered in Sweden on April 1962, it still has the original engine which even though being a tad slow to start when it's awfully cold outside seem to be in good working order, no "bleeding" of oil here and there, no water in the oil and after a bit of work which can be seen on the pictures later on it no longer thins the oil with diesel

SummaryThis one will be the ongoing story about my first own tractor, I chose a Fordson Super Major that

Latest update: 00:08am Saturday, April 10th 2010

started life in Dagenham Essex in September 1961, it was first registered in Sweden on April 1962, it still has

Anyway, here we go:

the original engine which even though being a tad slow to start when it's awfully cold outside seem to be in good

This is what the old man looked like when I got 'im, on November the 1st 2009

working order, no "bleeding" of oil here and there, no water in the oil and after a bit of work which can be seen

This is not far from home, during the "bring him home" tour(which was 90km and took the best part of the 1st and

on the pictures later on it no longer thins the oil with diesel

2 hours of the 2nd november)

Latest update: 00:08am Saturday, April 10th 2010

New home, sweet home... In the old barn at my father's farm

Anyway, here we go:

Christmas gifts anyone? Since I'm relatively poor my father bought me some goodies(all except the truck starter

This is what the old man looked like when I got 'im, on November the 1st 2009

which I got from dad's cousin)

Ford world series Force exhaust.

?width=300&height=400

This is not far from home, during the "bring him home" tour(which was 90km and took the best part of the 1st and

My neighbor works as a laser operator, so after some measuring and drawing in solidworks I ended up sending him

2 hours of the 2nd november)

drawings of these things, to the right are the parts for an alternator mount, utilizing the alternator found in a

New home, sweet home... In the old barn at my father's farm

Volvo 240

Christmas gifts anyone? Since I'm relatively poor my father bought me some goodies(all except the truck starter

This is the 3D-model of my drawbar and upper 3pt lift reinforcement

?width=676&height=400

which I got from dad's cousin)

Ford world series Force exhaust.

?width=300&height=400

Amongst all the other things that got stripped off

My neighbor works as a laser operator, so after some measuring and drawing in solidworks I ended up sending him

December 8th 2009, a bit naked...

drawings of these things, to the right are the parts for an alternator mount, utilizing the alternator found in a

Paint really makes a difference

Volvo 240

This replaced the original Temp/oil/gen clock, the orange indicator is my turn signal indicator.

?width=676&height=400

This is the 3D-model of my drawbar and upper 3pt lift reinforcement

?width=676&height=400

If all you have is two wrecked front cowls and a MIG-welder, sure you could make one that's acceptable?

Amongst all the other things that got stripped off

Twisting, bending, welding and forming sheet metal is one of my favorites... The "bulge" is where my turn signal

December 8th 2009, a bit naked...

switch will reside.

Paint really makes a difference

Painted, "grill"'ed and lit up, since I would never put a loader on this tractor I placed the headlights wide

This replaced the original Temp/oil/gen clock, the orange indicator is my turn signal indicator.

?width=676&height=400

apart, high up...

If all you have is two wrecked front cowls and a MIG-welder, sure you could make one that's acceptable?

A severe case of "frost bite" perhaps?

Twisting, bending, welding and forming sheet metal is one of my favorites... The "bulge" is where my turn signal

Dis-assembly of the hydraulic system... or part of it, getting the flow control valve, spring and the "plug" out

switch will reside.

using a piece of wire loom through one of the bores inside.

Painted, "grill"'ed and lit up, since I would never put a loader on this tractor I placed the headlights wide

The original spindles looked like this, no wonder I thought it was hard to steer straight...

apart, high up...

Dad bought me this, the "universal fits all majors hydraulics kit", it lacked a few parts but those weren't that

A severe case of "frost bite" perhaps?

hard to get(and I got lots of O-rings leftover that actually came to use a little here and there)

Dis-assembly of the hydraulic system... or part of it, getting the flow control valve, spring and the "plug" out

The hydraulic pump with new seals, waiting to be re-assembled

using a piece of wire loom through one of the bores inside.

Drilled and tapped a 3/8 pipe thread for my return pipe

The original spindles looked like this, no wonder I thought it was hard to steer straight...

Assembled and painted stuff

Dad bought me this, the "universal fits all majors hydraulics kit", it lacked a few parts but those weren't that

Raised PTO in place

hard to get(and I got lots of O-rings leftover that actually came to use a little here and there)

The pump and the plumbing is back where it belongs

The hydraulic pump with new seals, waiting to be re-assembled

If you don't have a gasket set, you make them

Drilled and tapped a 3/8 pipe thread for my return pipe

Re-assembly of better looking parts

Assembled and painted stuff

"New" old spindles, in much better condition and picked from a power major that had led a much better life(with

Raised PTO in place

an owner that knew to maintain his machinery properly)

The pump and the plumbing is back where it belongs

I got myself the proper SPE4A75S model pump and gave it a little love

If you don't have a gasket set, you make them

Proper hydraulics, at last...

Re-assembly of better looking parts

And with good tools the work is a breeze

"New" old spindles, in much better condition and picked from a power major that had led a much better life(with

Changing the pedal shaft seals since they weren't weeping but rather "bleeding", no obvious play in the bushings

an owner that knew to maintain his machinery properly)

tho

I got myself the proper SPE4A75S model pump and gave it a little love

Changed the PTO seal before filling the rear up with oil

Proper hydraulics, at last...

The original seat had seen it's share of action and I had another seat in mind and constructed this

?width=676&height=400

And with good tools the work is a breeze

The parts for it

Changing the pedal shaft seals since they weren't weeping but rather "bleeding", no obvious play in the bushings

Welded up and testing the fit out

tho

Regardless of how battered and bruised this seat looks, it's very comfortable and also has electrical heater

Changed the PTO seal before filling the rear up with oil

elements in both the seat and the back rest

The original seat had seen it's share of action and I had another seat in mind and constructed this

?width=676&height=400

Quite some possibilities... and it came off an old golf-course lawn-mower, got it for free, me like lots :D

The parts for it

Drawings of new knobs for the valve chest(for those that wonder what "hitta på en bra radie här" means, in

Welded up and testing the fit out

english it would be something similar to "figure out a good radius here")

?width=720&height=417

Regardless of how battered and bruised this seat looks, it's very comfortable and also has electrical heater

And about a week later, machined by one of dad's old work mates

elements in both the seat and the back rest

Sometimes buying these connectors can be a royal pain, if you find one that fits the cable you can be sure the

Quite some possibilities... and it came off an old golf-course lawn-mower, got it for free, me like lots :D

screw-hole is abnormally large and the head of your screw will fall through it, that's why I made my own ones

Drawings of new knobs for the valve chest(for those that wonder what "hitta på en bra radie här" means, in

from brass and soldered the cables to it

english it would be something similar to "figure out a good radius here")

?width=720&height=417

I did off with the broken pipes and replaced them with hard and reinforced rubber hoses instead

And about a week later, machined by one of dad's old work mates

3D-model of the trailer outlet bracket

?width=671&height=400

Sometimes buying these connectors can be a royal pain, if you find one that fits the cable you can be sure the

Laser-cut, bent, welded up and painted

screw-hole is abnormally large and the head of your screw will fall through it, that's why I made my own ones

Part of the electrical system's innards

from brass and soldered the cables to it

Upper connection for my engine heater

I did off with the broken pipes and replaced them with hard and reinforced rubber hoses instead

And the lower one

3D-model of the trailer outlet bracket

?width=671&height=400

A sensible start button, turn the key on and the button lights up, press it to start the engine and once the

Laser-cut, bent, welded up and painted

alternator starts charging it will dim indicating "Do not press me"

Part of the electrical system's innards

The view from the seat

Upper connection for my engine heater

Paint and a bit of sanding later

And the lower one

The circlips didn't want to stay put and the throttle shaft moved up and down rather than increasing or

A sensible start button, turn the key on and the button lights up, press it to start the engine and once the

decreasing the engine speed, so I fixed that up with split pins instead, now it won't budge

alternator starts charging it will dim indicating "Do not press me"

Also took the time to fix my leaking return line up, one of the brass banjos was entirely loose and all were

The view from the seat

leaking, number four injector was also leaking between the "foot"(lower that is bolted to the head) and the

Paint and a bit of sanding later

"head"(upper hexagon bit) part, so while having all of the pipes and connectors off anyway I torqued it down and

The circlips didn't want to stay put and the throttle shaft moved up and down rather than increasing or

it seems to have worked just fine

decreasing the engine speed, so I fixed that up with split pins instead, now it won't budge

Reinforcements to withstand forest (ab)use

Also took the time to fix my leaking return line up, one of the brass banjos was entirely loose and all were

CNC-machined bolts for the upper part of the 3pt lift...

leaking, number four injector was also leaking between the "foot"(lower that is bolted to the head) and the

The heart of the electrical system completed, relays and everything is fused off

"head"(upper hexagon bit) part, so while having all of the pipes and connectors off anyway I torqued it down and

Corrected what I regarded a design flaw in the stop control, now it is firm and exact rather than "flimsy"

it seems to have worked just fine

After being taken for a little trip I shot this photo outside, engine idling, my dog badly wanted to ride with me

Reinforcements to withstand forest (ab)use

Hard-to-melt-candy, we took a good look of the original stabilizer chains and dad and I ordered these instead

CNC-machined bolts for the upper part of the 3pt lift...

Well, steering wheel knob and a "flamethrower", I am equipping my major with thermostart

The heart of the electrical system completed, relays and everything is fused off

The rear end is beginning to look like something

Corrected what I regarded a design flaw in the stop control, now it is firm and exact rather than "flimsy"

A small handmade fuel valve instead of the outlet bleed screw on the filter(previous owner had wrecked the

After being taken for a little trip I shot this photo outside, engine idling, my dog badly wanted to ride with me

threads anyway), the outlet from this one will be used to fill up the heater tank if necessary

Hard-to-melt-candy, we took a good look of the original stabilizer chains and dad and I ordered these instead

And here's the heater tank as well, two pipes at the top; one from the valve on the filter and one from the fuel

Well, steering wheel knob and a "flamethrower", I am equipping my major with thermostart

return, pipe on the side goes to fuel tank and the long pipe going out the bottom goes to the heater plug

The rear end is beginning to look like something

Now we're getting somewhere...

A small handmade fuel valve instead of the outlet bleed screw on the filter(previous owner had wrecked the

Well, this wednesday(march 31st 2010) dad picked me up these

threads anyway), the outlet from this one will be used to fill up the heater tank if necessary

The very same morning my friend Martin had dropped this package off in my post box

And here's the heater tank as well, two pipes at the top; one from the valve on the filter and one from the fuel

A local firm called Industry Service let me use one of their mills, for as long as it took me to mill the inward

return, pipe on the side goes to fuel tank and the long pipe going out the bottom goes to the heater plug

facing surface on the inlet manifold flat

Now we're getting somewhere...

This is what it looked like after I drilled the holes and mounted the flange

Well, this wednesday(march 31st 2010) dad picked me up these

I also just happened to have another cracked inlet manifold to salvage a less worn throttle plate and shaft which

The very same morning my friend Martin had dropped this package off in my post box

were quickly transplanted into my inlet manifold, the picture of my old throttle plate is the second one here and

A local firm called Industry Service let me use one of their mills, for as long as it took me to mill the inward

I think you all can spot the wear quite easily

facing surface on the inlet manifold flat

This is what the thermostart system looks like on my tractor now...

This is what it looked like after I drilled the holes and mounted the flange

Thursday the 1st of April I went to dad's cousins farm and picked up my pair of less rusted rear wings from a

I also just happened to have another cracked inlet manifold to salvage a less worn throttle plate and shaft which

power major, they have a few bulges more than the current ones but they haven't rusted off near the rear axle

were quickly transplanted into my inlet manifold, the picture of my old throttle plate is the second one here and

Friday, April the 2nd was my dad's birthday so we all went there to celebrate and enjoy ourselves, got a bit

I think you all can spot the wear quite easily

bored after dinner when everyone watched TV so I went out and fiddled for a few minutes, this thing is going to

This is what the thermostart system looks like on my tractor now...

be a linkage for the raised pto lever, hack about three fours of it off, weld the small "ear" onto it and then

Thursday the 1st of April I went to dad's cousins farm and picked up my pair of less rusted rear wings from a

place the actuator on the floorboard next to the lift lever.

power major, they have a few bulges more than the current ones but they haven't rusted off near the rear axle

What happened on Tuesday, April 6th:

The plan was to remove the old fenders and get started with the internals of the brake housings but first I just

Friday, April the 2nd was my dad's birthday so we all went there to celebrate and enjoy ourselves, got a bit

had to hitch up the old Transport Box and take a test drive, my dog just had to come along

bored after dinner when everyone watched TV so I went out and fiddled for a few minutes, this thing is going to

Stripping off the rear wings and the old cab supports

be a linkage for the raised pto lever, hack about three fours of it off, weld the small "ear" onto it and then

My current right brake housing, the actuator lever support ear broke off during disassembly, found out why after

place the actuator on the floorboard next to the lift lever.

I took a good look at it, someone broke it off earlier and then welded it back(but doing a less than stellar job)

What happened on Tuesday, April 6th:

The plan was to remove the old fenders and get started with the internals of the brake housings but first I just

And here's the left one after some time spent swearing and sweating together with dad who operated a iron bar

had to hitch up the old Transport Box and take a test drive, my dog just had to come along

lever on the wheel shaft while I tried to lever the inner brake disc off the shaft

Stripping off the rear wings and the old cab supports

Drive shaft housings, these will be scrubbed with a rotating wire brush and either painted or oiled with linseed

My current right brake housing, the actuator lever support ear broke off during disassembly, found out why after

oil(as will all non-painted metal to inhibit further rust)

I took a good look at it, someone broke it off earlier and then welded it back(but doing a less than stellar job)

The brake components, waiting for degreasing and new brake pads

And here's the left one after some time spent swearing and sweating together with dad who operated a iron bar

I'll have to weld some fresh metal into the "new" old wings, the supports were filled with mud

lever on the wheel shaft while I tried to lever the inner brake disc off the shaft

Drive shaft housings, these will be scrubbed with a rotating wire brush and either painted or oiled with linseed

This is how I left it Tuesday evening, disassembled while waiting for parts

oil(as will all non-painted metal to inhibit further rust)

The brake components, waiting for degreasing and new brake pads

For convenience I'll post all movies here below all the picures

I'll have to weld some fresh metal into the "new" old wings, the supports were filled with mud

This is how I left it Tuesday evening, disassembled while waiting for parts

For convenience I'll post all movies here below all the picures

This clip is shot when I picked the tractor up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGurQL16jEk

First test drive on the road: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2SIXZhmY-Q

Trying out the hydraulics and the re-designed stop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pan_9IuR9c

A first test of the newly built thermostart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9r3wiHJIhQ

Starting him up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwj3tuhQZv0