Fordson F Tractor project

[sugarmaker]

Dennis,

 Just found this! Great pictures of your Fordson Build! I had a chance to get close to one this summer. I decided to paint the one in front of our show grounds entry gate in Sagerstown PA. It is in really rough shape. I do have a picture of my dad on a family Fordson in about 1924 (he was 4 then). Even the dirt looks old in that picture! Your doing a great job and yes as someone mention you will have a lot of money in it!

BTW any updates??

Regards,

 Chris

[mmi]

only 1/2 the radiator henry put on, but your not going to work it or use crick water either

[560Dennis]

5 hours ago, sugarmaker said:

Dennis,

 Just found this! Great pictures of your Fordson Build! I had a chance to get close to one this summer. I decided to paint the one in front of our show grounds entry gat in Sagertown PA. It is in really rough shape. I do have a picture of my dad on a family Fordson in about 1924 (he was 4 then). Even the dirt looks old in that picture! Your doing a great job and yes as someone mention you will have a lot of money in it!

BTW any updates??

Regards,

 Chris

Thanks Chris  the project is slowed to a crawl . I got to take it easy. Going to have hip surgery in January  from a scooter accident. 

I will be limited till March 

[560Dennis]

5 hours ago, mmi said:

only 1/2 the radiator henry put on, but your not going to work it or use crick water either

Ya I think the technical has changed oval tube are more effective, but only a opinion I never asked Fordson house , igot it there, they have been making them for years ,that way from a custom radiator shop in Chicago . Anyway it is important if running the 234 280 Holley vaporizer ,got to get them hot. My fan only had two blade s they dad or or uncle or the previous owner cut the off , I got used four blade from Fordson house .

[560Dennis]

Lookie !????? I found the bill of sale for the tractor from Cook &Cook IHC Owosso,Michigan due November 25 1928  , when I found this I said I will never junk this tractor ,I got to put back as close to original when I took it out of the barn . I have picture some place with my uncle driving it. Unfortunately I don't have one of my father ??

[nomorejohndeere]

makes me want the Fordson for sale up the road from me

 

[sugarmaker]

Dennis,

 Thanks for the update! Good luck with your hip. The tractor will wait!

Regards,

 Chris

[lorenzo]

Cant wait to see the end results.

Keep up the good work.

[560Dennis]

I've been working on the front axle. I put in new wheel bearings and seals . Forgot to add this the bearings I got from Gerald Coulter from merissa, Il. He even saw my post in yesterday's tractors and had new old stock bearings . He gave them to me , i paid him for the shipping . 

I think the tractor are some of the most help people around give you the shirt off ther back. 

Like Biity helped me with the he fan off the super c , I have not forgot that Bitty ,thanks 

Honestly what do you think of paint applied with a brush ? 

I really feel a quality paint applied doesn't matter! 

Also in 1920 the paint for a tractor honestly was not that brilliant realistically? 

[Rawleigh99]

Dennis:  it will no doubt look better than when it came from the factory no matte how you put it on!

[sugarmaker]

Dennis,

 That front axle looks good. Must have been a good strong design from Ford. That tractor is not a lightweight! Thanks for the update.

Regards,

 Chris

[560Dennis]

First attempt to use .032 safety wire on the main bearing cap bolts .watch a few you tube videos to see how they did it. Used a per of pliers and wound it up the best I could . Threaded it into in a direction that best old assist to tighten  bolts . 

 

[560Dennis]

I well got something done one the Fordson today . 

Managed to get outside and clean 90 year old Chardon and rust off the clutch plates . Wrist is very tired .

outside plates both sides has carbon buildup. I really want to eliminate all the possibility of clutch sticking. So clean it. 

Ill show what next with the clutch .

the stuff on there comes off but have to hold scrapers just right ,

 

[rustred]

On 6/18/2019 at 10:07 AM, 560Dennis said:

First attempt to use .032 safety wire on the main bearing cap bolts .watch a few you tube videos to see how they did it. Used a per of pliers and wound it up the best I could . Threaded it into in a direction that best old assist to tighten  bolts . 

 

there is special pliars for twisting safety wire. I use them at work a lot on all overhead equipment. .

[James R Williams]

On Friday, March 2, 2018 at 7:51 AM, 560Dennis said:

This is the hot set up !  Custom made Wisco piston ,  about 60 percent weight reduction over cast iron pistons ,

4.08 bore X 5 inch stroke ,

 

I'm restoring a 1921 Fordson F.  Engine block is at machine shop, expect 30 thousand over, to clean cylinders up. Being told I well need costume made pistons. How well did the Wisco piston perform in your Fordson F ?

[560Dennis]

On 8/23/2019 at 7:17 AM, James R Williams said:

 

I'm restoring a 1921 Fordson F.  Engine block is at machine shop, expect 30 thousand over, to clean cylinders up. Being told I well need costume made pistons. How well did the Wisco piston perform in your Fordson F ?

If yours is a 4 inch bore then you can get over sized pistons like had in mine that measure 4.0375 . We’re you get them is a challenge. Mine are shot and have top ring groove cracked broken .? they will be used if you find them , I have one only I saved I don’t know why ? 

Sorry do to other issues I have not worked on it since May ,sad but true .let know if you need any help . Also talk to Sue at Wisco

My pistons measured 4.0375 rough so this engine was reworked . My bore was 4.06 so it took it out to .08 for clean up ,that’s were Wisco came in. 

i had a set of Chevy rings .08 over , v8 rings were cheaper buy half the four cylinder. 

Called a lot of  people for pistons nobody has them. You can bore out to 4.125 but again you will have to find and use used pistons. 

Also I go slow , it takes me a while to get things done. 

Rosewood machine can help also Duane Helman is the guy to that to about Fordson ,he has around 500 tractors ? 

Duane says they can  run with very sloppy pistons. Compression is low .

But I had these already made , I think I did the right thing, by having them made , 

I had the engine at Duane’s for the flywheel magnet recharging. He immediately notice my cam and flywheel gears were shot. Said if I did not replace them ,it would sound like it had a nock. So better look at yours. Also my engine had a short oil tube which cause the gears to wear out . He got the length tube . 

Also my magnets ? were weak only 3 to 4 pound pull to release. When Duane got done charging I had 8 to 9 or more pull. It’s a must do .cuase I had one magnet that was broke. Could not see it cracked in half. 

Best to buddy up with someone that know these tractors like Duane . Will save you many tears. 

 

 

[sugarmaker]

Dennis,

 Good to see you at the Pioneer Steam show this summer! HOT! Did you find your vaporizor? I have a picture of my dad on a Fordson  in about 1923 or 24!  My Great uncle was a dealer in over your way.

Regards,

 Chris

[560Dennis]

On 8/27/2019 at 10:39 AM, sugarmaker said:

Dennis,

 Good to see you at the Pioneer Steam show this summer! HOT! Did you find your vaporizor? I have a picture of my dad on a Fordson  in about 1923 or 24!  My Great uncle was a dealer in over your way.

Regards,

 Chris

Like to see your pictures . 

No no vaporizer ,yet I’ve got a lead , just got to come up with the money. 

We moved to Madison, I got to get the drainage projects completed before the mudsoon arrive in a couple of weeks ???

if you see a vaporizer though holler 

[AngrySailor]

I just had to try and post as a guest and ask, have you run this engine yet? I honestly think that 0.002" is NO WHERE near enough clearance for this engine.  With no oil pump or filter you need room to allow oil in and for debris to pass.  I recall the Fordson manual for crankcase inspection stating to remove the oil pan, lay on the ground under the tractor and wiggle the crank up and down as the test procedure.  Then, if it moved MORE than 1/8" remove shims... now that's way too much for a new engine but... Does your machine shop deal with old equipment because 0.002" is on the tight side even for say a 350 chevy with pressure oiling and filtration... If it were mine I would shoot for at least 0.010" -0.015" and keep the rod clearance to the higher side compared to the mains. JMHO, and nice work otherwise.

[560Dennis]

On 8/23/2019 at 7:17 AM, James R Williams said:

 

I'm restoring a 1921 Fordson F.  Engine block is at machine shop, expect 30 thousand over, to clean cylinders up. Being told I well need costume made pistons. How well did the Wisco piston perform in your Fordson F ?

Over sized pistons were 4.0375  were stock . Mine had these in it before it broke a rod. My engine  was shot. 

no have not got it together , recovering  from surgery and moved , just getting back to the project . Have to overhaul clutch assembly , and  put engine on the  transmission . 
Talk to Sue at Wisco she will work with you get what you need. I can’t say where to have your shop finish  bores at and what rings to use , my engine builder takes finished piston a and finish bores to size needed. I just know as I turning it over it feels as it should. . No data ,it just the feel . It good to go .

[560Dennis]

21 minutes ago, 560Dennis said:

Over sized pistons were 4.0375  were stock . Mine had these in it before it broke a rod. My engine  was shot. 

no have not got it together , recovering  from surgery and moved , just getting back to the project . Have to overhaul clutch assembly , and  put engine on the  transmission . 
Talk to Sue at Wisco she will work with you get what you need. I can’t say where to have your shop finish  bores at and what rings to use , my engine builder takes finished piston a and finish bores to size needed. I just know as I turning it over it feels as it should. . No data ,it just the feel . It good to go .

 

On 10/29/2019 at 7:02 PM, AngrySailor said:

I just had to try and post as a guest and ask, have you run this engine yet? I honestly think that 0.002" is NO WHERE near enough clearance for this engine.  With no oil pump or filter you need room to allow oil in and for debris to pass.  I recall the Fordson manual for crankcase inspection stating to remove the oil pan, lay on the ground under the tractor and wiggle the crank up and down as the test procedure.  Then, if it moved MORE than 1/8" remove shims... now that's way too much for a new engine but... Does your machine shop deal with old equipment because 0.002" is on the tight side even for say a 350 chevy with pressure oiling and filtration... If it were mine I would shoot for at least 0.010" -0.015" and keep the rod clearance to the higher side compared to the mains. JMHO, and nice work otherwise.

thanks for your comments . 
http://hartsmachineservice.com/home.html   They did the rods for me , my engine builder Gardner performance spec the clearance. 
 

 

[560Dennis]

Working on the 234 Holley Float assembly . I discover that I have a masterpiece of ingenuity, of most likely Great Depression influences motivation. Looking close at the construction of the nozzle cap ,and the needle sleeve. They are made of wood. They are hand ? made and I’m confident that they must have worked . The float was missing when I got the vaporizer, it maybe been made of wood , don’t know .

I got the vaporizer from a local fellow ,he said he got it In Canada ?? . So I better get more details when I visit him to get the replacement  float. 
I never notice the valve , I thought it was just stripped , but when it came out. I just had to take the time to marvel at the determination of the farmer ?‍? to get this tractor operating. Looks like the valve retainer was made with a pocket knife ❓
l wish I knew more  about who did this . 
please comment . You ever thought or seen anything like it❓?‍♂️

[sugarmaker]

Dennis,

Glad you found your vaporizer.

Wooden parts in a old antique carb? Never heard of such a thing? As you say they must have been desperate to get a tractor functioning! And if the parts were close to being the right shape, maybe it did run pretty well? You know gas is not that smart, to tell if its wood or steel!

Regards,

 Chris

 

[560Dennis]

5 hours ago, sugarmaker said:

Dennis,

Glad you found your vaporizer.

Wooden parts in a old antique carb? Never heard of such a thing? As you say they must have been desperate to get a tractor functioning! And if the parts were close to being the right shape, maybe it did run pretty well? You know gas is not that smart, to tell if its wood or steel!

Regards,

 Chris

 

Actually that wood needle valve still has an excellent fit , if I can’t find one I’ll use it . 
ya depression engineering at it best . And it worked 

[Whats in the barn ?]

I have learned that dont use clear like automotive paint and just use single stage. Like they use too years ago my uncle use to tell me. He worked for Massey Harris during the late 30s. And he said they had no clear back then. When people do that it looks too shiny.. Up to you ??