New to me TEA20

[baldrick56]

Hi All,

first time poster on here, complete newbie to tractors of any kind (unless you count the time at about age eight that someone plonked me on the driving seat of a Grey Fergie) and looking for some advice on my recently acquired TEA20 (only taken me 54 years to get back in that seat!). I also recently got a (very) secondhand trailer to go behind plus (new) 3PL tow bracket with ball. Rigged this up for first time yesterday and in the aftermath realised I was doing it wrong - thought that I could just move the quadrant to set the right height for the tow hitch. Found that it would be OK while tractor at rest but as soon as I dipped clutch to put it into gear the 3PL 'sunk' to the ground. When under way I had to keep adjusting to stop it rising or sinking - if it goes to the top the trailer frame articulation is too much and my new bracket looks un-new now where the trailer frame grinds on it over bumps.

It seems the Fergie system is designed to be either 'in the ground' or fully raised? I have seen there's a mod available for 'Position Control' so I'll be investigating getting one of those. In the meantime can someone please give me a couple of pointers to possible other issues? {aka "idiot questions"}:
I've noticed that 3PL instantly sinks when ignition turned off - do they all do this or should it stay put for a while?
same thing happens when dipping clutch (as above) - at least when there's a load on the linkage;
3PL equally quick to lift when engine started, by the time its fired and you swivel your head around, its at the top;
when 3PL was raised yesterday I thought I heard a slight 'chattering' noise coming from the hydraulic unit - is this normal?

The oil level in the transaxle is OK by the dipstick - not sure how old it might be but I think the last owner changed it relatively recently.

Thanks, Rob

 

[tractorsam]

Your issues of sinking and raising are pretty normal,
they weren?t designed to hold a certain height. As to
the leak down when shut off, also normal although
yours does sound a touch rapid if it falls as soon as
you hot the clutch. I suspect you?re generating quite
a bit of heat.

For the oil in the rear end, it?s probably ok unless it
looks milky in which case you have water in it (very
common) and should change it.

There are a couple of things you might do to
improve your hitch without investing to much time or
money, the first is sway bars to limit side to side
movement, the second is a setup using a pair of
chains to prevent it dropping below the desired
height. Best of luck, Sam

 

[baldrick56]

Thanks Sam - good idea about the limiting chains, I might give that a go. Regards, Rob

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Two things can solve this problem right away. First and simplest a pair of fixed stays , these are Ferguson accessories made to fix the lift in one position , perfect for towing and a transporter or carry all . The second , a little more complex but infinitely more convenient is a position control . Look up Fergie Positioner on the net , I can thoroughly recommend this .

 

[John Deere D]

Welcome to the "YT" group...... baldrick56

When I purchased property in 1974 there was included with the property a TEA-20 Ferguson that the owner had owned since new. He had one thing to say about the Tractor..."TOUCH NOTHING on this TRACTOR BOB, until YOU HAVE STUDIED THE OPERATORS MANUAL,SERVICE MANUAL, and parts catalogue"

I own and operate both a TEA-20 as well as a Ford 2-N. I always use the parts as per pics that hold the DRAW BAR STATIONARY when and if I'm towing anything that is not an implement. eg... Trailer

I ALWAYS MAKE SURE the PTO IS NOT OPRERATING / TURNING when and if I have the lift arms locked stationary!!!! Three point control lever is then always in the DOWN POSITION! SAFETY CHAIN # 4 was suppled to be attached so as operator NEVER moves three point lift lever if PTO is operating and the below devices have the lift locked in place.

These parts are the same parts that work on the TE-2O..TEA-20...TO-20...TO-30...2-N..9-N...8-N

#2...180-493-M1 Upper STAY DRAWBAR
#3...180-494-M1 Lower STAY DRAWBAR
#17..181-841-M1 Stay BRACE
#16..181-843-M1 HOOK BOLT
#35..181-775-M91 STABILIZER BRACKET RIGHT SIDE
.....181-776-M91 STABILIZER BRACKET LEFT SIDE
#34..181-778-M1 STABILIZER LINK
#15..181-842-M91 DRAWBAR EXTENSION

Bob..

 

[John Deere D]

Pis of TEA-20
NEVER place anything inside HYD COMPARTMENT if and when equipment is operating....

Bob...

Bob...

 

[Charles in Aus.]

In my opinion the best position control available , I really do think that every Ferguson should be fitted with one . For the cost , safety benefits ,reliability and discrete design there really is no comparison .

http://www.fergy.com.au/positioncontrol.htm

 

[baldrick56]

Thanks Charles, I've emailed supplier about the positioner but the stay would be a good short term solution while I psyche up for the task of tinkering with the hydraulics.

 

[baldrick56]

Thanks Bob,
the stay bars would fit but my 3PL bracket would get in the way of the part marked "1" in the diagram - but I guess this isn't necessary if I have the bracket doing the same job (mine is a 'Hayes Products' bracket from a supplier in Victoria Aus).

 

[baldrick56]

Thanks again Bob,
This info is so much better than my "Haynes" manual I waited three weeks for to turn up from UK. If I need to drop oil level to do the inspection I take it that the hexagon headed plug next to the gear lever is the refilling point? (Haynes woefully silent on this subject!) Seems odd to have a filler above the 'max' level but I guess I've just worked on too many cars in my time

 

[John Deere D]

Quote"
I take it that the hexagon headed plug next to the gear lever is the refilling point?


Yes.......

Bob...

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Visit this site Baldrick , you will be pleasantly surprised .
https://www.greyfergieforum.com/
Quite a few Australian contributors.

 

[baldrick56]

Thanks Bob, thanks Charles,
Now got myself a copy of the 'Instruction Manual' which is worth its weight in gold
It has added a bit to my general level of confusion however since the third paragraph in the IM says "Do not attempt to pull from the top link connection." {presumably high on the list 'cos its important}.
Now if the stays are fitted as in the excellent photo above {repeated in the IM} and if I've a trailer full of rocks bearing down on the hitch thats going to convert to a "pull" at the Toplink will it not? even using the slasher will pull on the toplink as it tries to rotate around the lower links as it is raised up.
I'm probably missing something :?