Target Audience:
Owners, operators, mechanics, and restorers of Fordson Major and Super Major tractors.
Value Proposition:
Essential for accurate parts procurement, ensuring correct fitment and originality for maintenance and restoration projects.
Essential Resource:
Indispensable for identifying and ordering replacement parts, reducing downtime and ensuring proper repair.
Historical Significance:
Documents the parts for highly regarded and historically significant tractors from the mid-20th century.
Primary Coverage:
Fordson Major (1952-1960)
Secondary Coverage:
Fordson Super Major (1960-1964)
Additional Coverage:
Fordson Super Major (1965)
Estimated Page Count:
Multiple hundred pages (combined manuals)
Type:
Parts Catalog / Parts Manual
Format:
Printed Manual (implied by description)
Engine Components:
Cylinder head, block, pistons, crankshaft, camshaft, valve train, cooling system, lubrication system, fuel system components, exhaust system components.
Transmission And Drivetrain:
Gearbox, clutch, PTO (Power Take-Off), differential, rear axle, final drives.
Chassis And Frame:
Front axle, steering components, rear wheels, drawbar, hitch components.
Hydraulic System:
Hydraulic pump, control valve, lift arms, hydraulic cylinders, external hydraulic connections.
Electrical System:
Starter motor, generator/alternator, battery, lighting components, wiring harness (may be diagrammatic).
Bodywork And Controls:
Dashboard components, controls, fenders, operator station elements.
Identification Of Parts:
Detailed breakdown of all replaceable parts with corresponding part numbers and identification codes.
Assembly And Disassembly:
Visual guidance through exploded diagrams for part identification and potential understanding of component relationships.
Part Number Reference:
Crucial for ordering correct replacement parts.
Depth:
Component-level identification and part sourcing. Primarily focused on 'what' part is needed, not 'how' to repair or install in detail. Augments repair manuals for precise part specification.
Digital Format Quality:
N/A (Printed manual described)
Clarity:
All text and images are clear.
Diagrams:
Includes numerous exploded diagrams.
Binding:
Standard professional binding for manuals (assumed)
Paper Quality:
Durable paper stock suitable for workshop environments (assumed)
Engine Type Major:
Fordson Four-cylinder Diesel (e.g., based on Perkins P4 common in early models, later Ford variants)
Engine Type Super Major:
Ford 4.2 Litre Four-cylinder Diesel (e.g., 4DL series)
Typical Horsepower Major:
Approx. 44-52 PTO HP (varies by specific engine variant and tuning)
Typical Horsepower Super Major:
Approx. 52-56 PTO HP (varies by specific engine variant)
Injection System:
Indirect injection (often CAV DPA or similar rotary pumps)
Gearbox Type:
Manual transmission, typically 6-speed (4 forward, 2 reverse) or 10-speed (with reduction gears) in some variants.
Pto Speeds:
Standard 540 RPM PTO, some models may have 1000 RPM options or dual-speed PTO.
Clutch Type:
Single-plate, dry clutch.
Wheelbase:
Varies by model and configuration, typically around 84-88 inches.
Operating Weight:
Approximately 4,500 - 6,000 lbs (2,040 - 2,720 kg) depending on configuration.
Engine Oil Change:
Typically every 100-200 operating hours or annually. Specific oil type and capacity would be in a service manual, but the parts manual would list the oil filter part number.
Transmission Oil Change:
Typically every 500-1000 operating hours. Parts manual lists transmission oil filters if applicable.
Engine Oil Type:
Diesel engine oil, SAE 30 or 10W-30/15W-40 depending on climate and specific engine recommendation (e.g., API CD or later equivalent).
Hydraulic Fluid Type:
Tractor Transmission Oil (TTO) or Universal Tractor Transmission Oil (UTTO) compatible with Ford specifications, often a 10W-30 or 134D specification. Parts manual may list the hydraulic filter.
Common Wear Items:
Clutch components, brake linings, hydraulic pump seals, starter motor, generator/alternator, diesel injection components (e.g., injectors, pump). The manual is critical for identifying these replacement parts.
Corrosion And Sealing:
Common for tractors of this age to experience leaks at engine, transmission, and hydraulic seals. Parts manual lists all relevant seal numbers.
Manufacturer:
Ford Motor Company (Tractor Division)
Major To Super Major Transition:
The Super Major was an evolution of the Major, featuring upgraded engines, transmissions, and hydraulic systems, particularly the introduction of the more powerful 4.2L diesel engine and the Select-O-Speed transmission in later variations (though this manual likely focuses on the more common manual gearbox for the Super Major).
Production Period:
Fordson Major: Early 1950s to 1958/1959. Fordson Super Major: 1958/1959 to 1964.
Manufacturing Locations:
Primarily Dagenham, Essex, England.