My week this week! My workshop videos

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

Phil, the pins on the topper are probably category 1 which are smaller diameter compared to category 2 pins. If you change the pins to category 2 (often bolt on) you don't need the bushes which will be easily lost!

Robert Butler

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Thats what I was going to do Robert, but they have been welded in!! You can buy the new shaft guard, but £70 for two bits of plastic pipe?

Edited By Phil Whitley on 01/08/2021 15:46:05

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

I work on the air filter and pre cleaner, fix the dodgy handbrake, which has been a pain since I bought this tractor , and work towards the three point linkage removal, remove the tow hitch and link arms, and start to free them all off using the dreaded Blowlamp of death, alternately known as the Flamefast Brazing hearth! In part 6 (out now!) We continue with the air cleaner get the hydralic/transmission drained and the filter out, what a mess!!

Phil, Some rain, some shine, in the East York Shire!

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

I appear not to have posted this one, sorry to have missed it out!!

The Fordson Major project. The second half of the week, I get more painting done, and continue with the recalcitrant sheared bolt removal, it may get drilled yet, but I will get the hole in the centre! Next attempt I will use the 3phase extension to bring the tig into the main workshop, mig another nut onto the broken stud, then heat the little lump in the casting where the bolt is with the tig torch! At least we are going forwards not backwards!

Phil, Cloudy, humid, and waitng for the ww2 bomb to go off in Goole, East Yorkshire,

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

The last time i had that problem, I used a die grinder & took the whole centre out without any thread damage. Spent a long time doing it but got there in the end. It is way too deep to weld to now. From memory I made a small piece of tube & inserted the die grinder inside it , so not to damage the threads.

Steve.

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

Phil the "plastic pipe" also includes bearings to permit the shaft to rotate and allow the guard to remain stationary. In that context not so expensive. The category 1 pins can be cut off, drill holes and weld in replacement category two pins, the pins are extremely hard wearing so mild steel may not be up to it. Category 2 equipped implements are far more common.

Robert

 

Edited By Robert Butler on 02/08/2021 12:46:53

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

Phil, Tractor Oil Universal (TOU) was used for engines, gearboxes (which often served as a reservoir for the hydraulics) and hydraulics. The idea was to save the farm workshop being stocked with varying grades of oil and hence reduced the cost by facilitating purchase of larger quantities of one oil. Worth checking with an Agricultural Engineer used to working on tractors of a certain age.

Robert

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Hi Robert, That is more or less what is going to happen, if you can still get TUO! It is very confusing, all the internet info says you must use straight mineral oils for all the compartments, no addatives! not even detergent in the engine oil! The engine is straight 40 mineral, the gearbox is straight 90 mineral, no hypoid or EP. Originally Fordson specified an 80 or 90 weight oil for the rear transmission which is also the hydraulic reservoir, but then decided later that straight 30 or 40 (depending on whos account you read) could be used in the transmission case/hydraulics, so I think I will go for 40 in the engine and transmission/hydraulics and 90 in the gearbox!

Phil

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Parts 7&8

Fordson Major rebuild, the hydraulics and rear transmission case. I removed the top cover, and realised there was 3" depth of black sludge in the bottom of the transmission case, and this had remained after 30 litres of "oil" was drained off! I set on cleaning it with kerosene, and by the ends of day one I was beginning to see the castings, and the unmarked gears etc. Thankfully there seems to be no grit or metal in the sludge, as the fordson does have a good filter, and two magnetic plugs before the pump! We have a wander in the field, and get the 2cv tractor up there…..eventually!

Phil, thunderstorms and a wet start to the Harvest, in the East York Shire!

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Work on the Fordson Major E1A continues. I bite the bullet and remove the PTO gearbox, and it is a good thing, because both it and the gearbox were full of black sludge, everything gets a good powerwashing out and we use the weldanuton technique to get a sheared bolt out! I put on overalls, and elbow length gloves!, it was hot, but it kept me more or less clean! Part 10 out now at https://www.youtube.com/user/philhermetic/videos

Phil, Some rain, some shine, in the East York Shire!

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson Major rebuild parts 11 and 12.

Rebuilding the hydraulic pump for the Fordson Major E1A. Not hard, but cleanliness and an O ring kit are essential, and patience, quite a bit of patience! Hydralic pump and most ancilliaries get refitted, and I add a hot gunk parts washer to my wish list! Part 12 available now at https://www.youtube.com/user/philhermetic/videos Phil,

August is the new September in the East York Shire!

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson Major Rebuild part 13, we clean out the top cover, refit the piston, cylinder and valve block, and refit it to the tractor, along with the PTO gearbox and the PTO shaft, and quite suddenly, it is a who;e tractor again…..more or less!! Part 14, out now at **LINK**
Phil, Dull all week, but a warm and sunny Saturday in East Yorkshire

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

Phil, I've sent you a PM

Robert Butler

[Jim Young 2Participant @jimyoung2]

Phil, the apples are falling off the cooking apple tree!

your rust remover……is it just crushed apples ?

Thanks

jim

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson Major Steering box strip and rebuild. Parts 15&16. 1955 E1A Fordson Diesel Major. In Part 16, out now, I finsh the steering box and refit it to the tractor, and get some paint on! Part 16 out now at https://www.youtube.com/user/philhermetic/videos

Phil, in definitely autumnal East Yorkshire

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson E1A major rebuild Part 17 strip and rebuild of the front steering and kingpins (steering swivels) It is not pretty, but all is repairable! luckily the parts I do need are all available, and not expensive, which is amazing for a 1955 tractor!! Part 18, out now at https://www.youtube.com/user/philhermetic/videos

Phil, In humid and hot East Yorkshire!!

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson E1A major, Only one video this week chaps, because we did a "poo" run on Moday afternoon, and the workshop power was off on Wednesday! I get the wheels finished in two coats of primer each, and then onto the kingpins/steering swivels. I put the extra grease slot on the RHS and then start the LHS, but find when I get the nuts off the bolts, the bolts are seized in the axle, It all makes life interesting, and I get it all in bits by Friday, and show the process of fitting the kingpins to the new bushes if you don't have the factory reamer available! (Video scheduled for release at 4pm GMT)

Phil, Warm and wet in East Yorkshire

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson Major rebuild, finishing off the steering swivels/king pins, and the track rod and drag link, and Richard turns up with my kitchen unit so I spend a couple of days fitting kitchens and plumbing! YUK. but I plough on and get it more or less finished. It will really make a difference to be able to wash the cups and fill the kettle in the same room where I make tea!

It's still warm and sunny in East Yorkshire!

Phil

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson E1A major, rebuilding the drag link, refitting the wheel;s, rebuilding the horn, and paint on Friday so it has the weekend fror drying. I also get the tea room sink plumbed in, and the worktop fixed down!

Phil, in wet and windy East Yorkshire.

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson E1A major Rebuild. So we get more paint on, in order to fit the seat, and the radiator, and then find that despite all my efforts, new Dynamo refuses to output a single volt, even though I have polarised it and it is brand new!, then I go to change the fuel filter, and find that there isnt an element in it! Things can only get better….I hope. Still it did start and run perfectly, so cleaning the bowl out and putting a filter in it can only make it better!

Phil, in a Glorious Indian Summer in East Yorkshire

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson E1A major, Rebuild, I get the tractor running and wash it down outside, then back in the workshop, back wheels and mudguards off, and start on the final frontier, the respray!

Phil, In warm and Atumnal East Yorkshire

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson E1A major, RebuildI A short week (and a late upload due to impromptu family get together) but much gets done, I get the final rusty tinwork off, and off to the sanblasters along with the back wheels, and get the body of the tractor into Empire blue, next week, welding the tinwork!

Phil, Workshop heatin on in East Yorkshire!

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson E1A major, RebuildI The last batch of sandblasting comes back and gets painted, I nearly start the welding repairs, and make up some speaker brackets. Next week, welding rust to holes!

Phil, in warmly pleasant East Yorkshire

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson E1A major, RebuildI The front cowl A challenge of complex curves and missing metal! I go through the process of replacing the missing metal, and slowly but surely, what was a piece of rusty metal which in a good light (but the less light the better really) aproximates what Ford put there in 1955!

Phil, late Autumn and a little chilly in East Yorkshire

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

Fordson E1A major, Rebuild. I repair and reassemble the bonnet, and get the first mudguard repaired, thanks to a lot of Cardboard aided design. It is begining to look like a tractor again.

Phil, in wet and windy, but not cold East Yorkshire

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