ploughmyfield.com

I’ve been round to see a friends Tractor. It hasn’t run for a year or so and the green moss is staring to grow on it. Mike says he had it running a couple of years ago.

Mikes Tractor

It has the plate TE-A130359 so originally it was a straight petrol. I originally went to look at the tractor several years ago as it has most of the lighting kit. I have been researching the plough lamp bracket as I’d like to go back into production with a repro version. Mikes tractor still has the bracket, but not the rear number plate bracket.

Cyclops Light and one side light

Bonnet Up

I keep on trying to get Mike to sell me the one side light he does have. The other has been broken off at some point. Mike still accuses me of taking it. 

As I started to look round the tractor I found it more and more interesting. It has at some point been converted to TVO I think. why do I think this. Well there seem to be a lot of shims under the head gasket. About 5mm worth. This would make the bore 85mm instead of 80mm.

Interesting Engine

It looks as though it has the remains of the back of the manifold shield you normally see on a TE-D. I don’t know what a TE-A or TE-D exhaust should look like so I can’t tell you if this is the right one.

It has the cross over switch to change the fuel supply from petrol at startup to TVO once warm. I didn’t look at the dash to see if it had a temperature gauge!
So I have no idea why it has a diesel Fuel tank fitted.

The exhaust elbow has a support bracket on it. I’ve never seen that either.

And I’m not sure if this as a 12Volt dynamo? can you tell me, please leave a comment below.

There will be more pictures of the lighting kit which I believe was fitted when the tractor was new in the lighting page to the right.

Thanks Mike for letting me get the information I need. Watch this space for plough lamp brackets on sale soon.

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I’ve updated the lighting page. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment to this post. click on the comments button just below this post and check out the new lighting section on the right.

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Me Ploughing

I’m feeling a little sad with the tractor not working at the moment so I’ve posted this video of my ploughing last year. This is what I’ll be doing once I get the engine rebuilt

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Phil's completed 30 cwt trailer

I was passed  some information today about a supplier of Ferguson trailer parts and complete trailers.

The company is Fergie Trailer Shop   and is owned by Phil Kolbe. I made an enquiry about the side rails for a ferguson 3 ton trailer. Phil responded quickly and I hope will be able to help me friend.

The products Phil supplies are quality items and I know he’s spent a lot of time making sure the items he produces are as true to the originals as possible. I wish you well for the future Phil. 

The company started by producing a 30cwt reproduction but it looks as though they are branching out into the 3ton trailer aswell. I would say get in touch if there is something you are after as they have more itms than are listed on the website!

When communicating with Phil don’t forget to mention you saw the advert on ploughmyfield.com

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I now have an engineering company working on my design of the Ferguson/Lucas wing mounted number plate holder, that came as part of the Lucas lighting kit check out the Lucas information in the lighting page, link on the right. They should be ready to post by the middle of next week (first week in Feb 2009). I have added a button on the right hand side for you to take a look at the product and order one. I have already had a lot of interest.

Comments
I think I have fixed the comments section of the site so you can add a comment to any of the posts.

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Thanks to all of you for sending me an email to say you are all still alive out there.

There seems to be a problem with the add a comment section of the website which I’m looking into. So that’s why no one has left a comment.

I have this morning placed an order for number plate brackets. I will get an ordering webpage setup and I will then be taking orders for the parts. No news on the plough lamp brackets yet. I’ll have to finding someone who is willing to make them but the last time I did this it proved to expensive.

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I’ve been tinkering with the website tonight as well as rubbing down the inlet manifold. If there are any problems with any of the pages, something missing or something you’d like to see on the site then please get in touch.

Forthcoming web stuff, 
I’d like to put a page together of restoration tips,
No one is leaving any feedback on the site so I’d like a age on how to use this new site,
You can’t go any where at the moment without hearing the words credit crunch. so I’d like to do a page on tips to save money whilst restoring.

Number Plate holders

I’ve asked a local engineering company to give me a quote to have another batch of number plate holders made. I still get one or two people emailing about them.  If you are interested in one please email me. and I’ll send you an email back telling you there ready when they come into stock.

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 The rocker cover is now in place, I’ve added gasket sealant to the top side of the gasket which is made of cork. hopefully this means I can remover the rocker cover with gasket attached to check the timing once the engine has run in and replace it again. Someone told me I should do this, check the tappets after running in. I’m not sure how long I have to leave it before I check then. If anyone knows please drop me an email. It really is starting to look like an engine. I’m now working on the air intake and the venturi section which is rather rattle. At some point I will have to give the block a coat of primer grey before I add to much to it and I can’t reach all the hard to reach corners.

Rocker Cover on

Manifolds inlet/exhaust to be added next

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I’ve cleaned and repainted the rocker cover, another aluminium part. I used original Ferguson 50 year old gaskets to assemble it back together. I’ve masked the two badges on the side one saying gap 12″ and the other talking about the standard motor company. These won’t see the light of day until the final coat of paint has gone on.

Original Ferguson Gaskets

Ready to Paint

I’ve get 6 nuts left over already and they are in box marked rocker! Oh well I’m sure I’ll have more and for now I’ve got to work out where these go. On the up side I have had one bolt from the start that I didn’t have any clue where it went. I now know it attaches the water pump to the housing.

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Hi John,

Your email really cheered me up today, Thank You. I know people are looking at the website (309 yesterday)but  communication from you readers is a little on the thin side. As for the donations page well no one’s thought ploughmyfield is worth a £1 to help running costs.

I don’t have a spare Diesel engine lying around sorry. Take a look at YouTube to see the v8′s and other engines people have fitted to fergies. Are you a member of FoFH? if not join £15ish and you can get on the forum and ask hundreds of people. Colin Taylor do you know of anyone I know you live over the water? please send me an email or can I put John in touch with you directly.  

Work still to do.

Next Jobs,
Rocker cover- wash, dismantle,  clean, assemble, mask, etch primer, undercoat, 
Exhaust Manifold- degrease,wash, clean,  high temperature Paint – black. 

Block - 
Sump plug-  gasket, fit
Sump filter – clean, undercoat, fit
Block- seal (pump x2, dip stick, front cover, Manifolds, Injectors, Water pumps, starter), clean, clean gasket compound, primer, paint 

Control Linkages,
Decompressor,
Inlet manifold,
Air filter,
Fuel Lines,
Fuel FIlters,
Fuel pump,
Fuel Compressor
Oil Breather,
Water Pump,
Fuel Tank,
Starter,
Dynamo,
Wiring,
Front axle frame, 
Front axle assembly,

Podcasts
I’ve been loving the farming today Podcasts from the BBC. 15mins in the car on the way to work of farming topics.
Farming Today Website 

And I notice the Yorkshire post does a weekly farming related podcast as well.

Yorkshire post Weekly farming podcast

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Not much to say in this one. I’ll let the photo’s speak for themselves

Start of Today

The lineup

It took about 20mins to get the clutch lined up.

Engine In

So much still to do. but today it feels as though I’ve reached a milestone.

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I finally got into the garage tonight. Christmas seems a long time ago. I’ve been so frustrated at not being able to spand a couple of hours in the garage.

My main priority is to get the engine attached to the tractor.
I’ve re attached the cover for the valves which has the oil filler and breather attached to it. It looks great. I can’t wait until the whole  tractor looks a nice new shiney coat of grey.

Cover bolted in place

In order to add the engine I started cleaning around the outside of the bell housing. I wanted to clean so far away from the engine but I didn’t want to repaint the whole gearbox section. I want the tractor back together and running I start tackling more restoration.

Bell housing without paint

The section directly behind the engine is full of mud and oil. Its to fiddly to get in and clean once he engine is in place so I’m doing it now.

Starting Mechanism needs cleaning

More to come as I want the engine in by the end of this weekend.

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I had a sudden panic whilst replacing the thrust bearing on the clutch. The housing is not symetrical.  The arms that the springs connect to Which way round should it go?

Thrust Bearing Holder

So I went trawling through the photo’s I have taken when I took the tractor apart. A piece of advice take as many pictures as you can before and whilst you are doing anything. I found the photo I needed. I’m going to put a page together tip for restoring and before you start restoring. Taking photo’s will be on the list.

Archive clutch thrust picture

The housing gasket that connects the engine to the gearbox section tool about an hour to remove. I have to remember it is made of alloy and will require something to stop the galvanic corosion occuring.

I still have lots of cleaning up to do with this middle section. It is looking a lot claener though. I don’t want to remove any paint as it’s just the engine I’m working on for now. The main aim is to get it all working again. Then i can start stripping paint.

The next few pictures are a reminder to me what need doing.

Clean gasket surface

Housing from above

Housing from the side

Closer side view

And this is what I am trying to get back to. This was the tractor just before I started taking it apart.

Before

And finally, here is the best picture I could get of the ferguson model that comes with the magazine that has been launched. Its a small model so the photo isn’t great. It is a very detailed model. How accurate it it I also don’t know as I’ve researched TE-F20′s mostly.

Tractor Model

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I have had so much trouble getting 5/16″ spring washers. Most of the covers (sump, timing cover, valve cover) on the diesel engine use 5/16″ UNC threaded bolt for a 1/2″ across flats spanner or socket. I ran out of 5/16″ spring washers I decided to replace the washers as its hard to clean the old ones, I tried 3 places to get some replacements! They could all sell me M8 spring washers. I explained that if I had wanted M8 I would have asked for M8! I should have known really that B&D bolts my usual supplier of bolts was the place to go. when I asked Andrew said “did I want a light or heavy weight spring washer”. How refreshing.

M8 ID=8.55mm   5/16″ ID=8.05mm  that’s .5mm difference.

I’ve left the valve cover / oil filler and breather cover that goes on the side of the engine in the degreaser over Christmas it is another alloy part. It came out nice and shiney so I’ll be heating it up in the oven and giving it an etch primer later today.

lock washer sizes

 Next jobs starting tonight,

I want to attach the engine to the tractor so in order to do this… I need to.
Cleanout the inside and outside of the clutch housing.  Its full of oil from when the seal at the back of the engine split.
Replace the clutch thrust bearing.
Clean up the bolts and 1 stud that hold the engine to clutch housing.
Work out how I’m going to lift the engine and move it into the correct position/height.

Ferguson Tools
I’ve added a Ferguson Tools page below on the right. Information about the Britool tools originally available when the tractors where supplied new.

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