4000 Major??

[Dave in MS]

There is a 4000 major for sale not too far from me, but the owner has no clue as to what he has. I'm having no luck finding specs for the 4000 Major on line. While typing this, he just called me with the serial number, if anyone can decode it, I will be most appreciative. <S0765410>
This is the listing with pics: http://jackson.craigslist.org/grd/2226506815.html
 

[KFD68]

The Craigs list link isnt working but this is a Ford 4000 Major



Built in England & USA 1965 to 1968. 3 cylinder diesel or gas engine rated 58HP gross.

Very early ones had 7F & 2R gears [hi & lo] with 4th lo & 1st hi same gear speeds]

Later true 8 F & 2R gears. Independent pto. Inboard disc brakes.

Optional gearbox is Select-o-Speed clutchless gear change on lever below steering column with 10F & 2R - AVOID THIS GEAR BOX NO SPARES AVAILABLE TODAY.

VERY reliable and powerful tractor in its day, still used widely Worldwide and spares available in US from New Holland dealers.

BEWARE Ford had problems with porous engine blocks, and most replaced with new improved block with X X raised castings on sides which are good blocks.
 

[Dave in MS]

Thanks for your reply KFD68. That's good info. I just checked the link and the listing has been removed. I'll contact the seller tomorrow and find out if the tractor has been sold.
 

[Mike Farmer]

Just a passing comment. Ford had porous problems with all the blocks from the start of the E1A series. A friend who specialises in Fordson restoration for a living reckons that about 40% of blocks from 1952 onward are throw away. MTF
 

[Fordfarmer]

Why consider them throwaways? Local dealer would install sleeves if/when problems developed. All my Fords are over 7000 hours now; only one has had porosity problems. It was sleeved and has had over 4500 hours put on it since.
 

[Majorman]

Majors did not have porosity problems any more than all other wet sleeve designs. Our local J-D dealer, IH dealer and Nuffield dealer all had to replace cylinder liners due to cavitation.

After a number of years the seal groove could wear at the bottom of the liner but most Ford dealers would repair it with ease.
 

[Dave in MS]

It's all moot now, since some collector from Texas bought it sight unseen and is sending a truck to pick it up. Thanks to everyone on here, I at least managed to get some education on the Majors.
 

[Mike Farmer]

Hi I agree with you that this is not only a Forson problem. Providing its only the groove or porosity around the groove then you are absolutely right. I've successfully repaired them by pumping in 'bathroom silicon sealant' into the back of the groove before replacing the seals and resleeving. However a lot of them now have been 'done' more than once and I am reliably informed that quite often as a result of the long term porosity, pieces of the original casting comes away with the liners. That would be more than just difficult to repair. As ever I am interested in anyones opinion on this, cos I'm still learning. MTF
 

[Majorman]

We repaired them by fitting an "o" ring in the groove, sliding in the seal end of a sleeve, cut off to just above the machined surface, then building the groove up with "Molecular Metal". When this hardened, remove the cut down sleeve and "O" ring and you have a perfect seal groove.

This repair lasts for many years, I have been repairing Major blocks like this since the 1960's.

The later Super Majors had a second "O" ring at the top of the liner and the problems were reduced, but after 50 plus years you must expect a few problems.

This problem is not really the same as the later porosity problem which is due, in part, to the short stroke, "knocky" engine in the '000nd series.

There were some casting quality problems too. We had tractors with "hard spots" in the bores when new, which honing would not remove. These appeared after around 300 hours. We were fitting sleeves into new tractors to cure it.

There is a fine article on this problem from Cat. who also suffered from it in some models. It is on the internet but I do not have a link to it. It is well worth the read.
 

[Mike Farmer]

Hi thanks for that, Its certainly a method I never considered, Its possible to do a weld repair but the work incurred in getting the casting shape and the seal groove correct is very time consuming and leaves a lot to be desired. However I now have one more arrow. MTF