Fordson E27N serial number

[Rowan Corney]

I have a Fordson Major tractor that has been under tarpaulin for 18 years. I am looking for the serial number but the only numbers i can find are on the left hand side of the engine, in this format: (Dashes not on the engine.)

--E27N6015---------
--------------L27C----
---Fordson------NL--
-----4 ------------------

Any ideas where the serial number would be and what these numbers mean? Thank you in advance .
 

[cdmn]

The serial number should be on a metal plate attached to the front of the firewall. It also could be stamped on the engine block toward the front, just below the head gasket, or on the bell-housing near the starter.

6015 was Ford's casting number for engine blocks. The E27N in front says it was for the E27N. Other numbers might relate to the date of pouring or the ID of the wooden casting pattern. (They probably had many duplicates)
 

[Rowan]

Thank you, sorry to ask so many questions but where is the firewall?
 

[cdmn]

Sorry I was thinking New Fordson Major. On the E27N, the plate is on the rear fuel tank support, facing the front.
 

[Rowan]

Thank you, I'll have a look.
 

[Rowan]

On the rear fuel tank support, on the left at the front side, i found a bolt on plate. On this, it said Fordson tractors, high speed top gear and a number. I thought this number would be 6 digits but it is seven, is it the serial number? Her is the number... 1090848
 

[Mike Farmer]

That No makes it 1948. I dont have enough info to date it more precisely than that. However if you wish to play guessing games then:- 1st E27N of 1948 was #No1054094 and the last was #No1104656 so at a straight guess I would say yours is Mid to end October 1948. But that really is just a guess. The High Speed Top gear is a 7.8:1 ratio.(The Low Speed was 4.9:1)For their time they were reasonable tractors but they were seriously hard work to use all the engine weight right down on the front axle and no power steering.I used one recently and it nearly crippled me just to reverse a trailer into the barn.Good Luck MTF
 

[richardinnz]

October 1948 will be pretty close, the cylinder block was poured on 27th September.
E= English. 27 = horsepower, N= Tractor.
L27C is the pouring (casting) date of the cylinder block, all the major castings on the tractor will have a code and the casting dates should all be within a few weeks of each other, unless athe engine has been changed at some point in time.