ploughmyfield.com

Yes it has been a long time since my last update which was more of a “note to self” (Thank you for the comments Vicky). I have been busy DOING not writing about doing. Christmas has come and gone along with new year, Donald Trump is in the White House, and I’ve been busy.

Not so Original Mudguards

I have finally finished installing the new, old mudguards which on closer inspection did not come from a Ferguson TE-20 tractor produced in England. They have rivets rather than nuts and bolts and they sure look old but to the trained eye there is something about them that just isn’t right.

The square pattern of rust around the bolts on the left mudguard and the “fresh” paint all the way up to the top bolt indicate to me that this had a lighting kit added very similar to the Ford Ferguson or I have seen that the French build Standard-Hotchkiss tractors also had this style of rear lights and indicators.

Ford Ferguson Lights

(French Built Standard-Hotchkiss Ferguson Example)

French Built Standard-Hotchkiss Ferguson Example

Oh and the last reason I think they aren’t genuine Ferguson mudguards, The holes to put the bolts in where not in the centre of the lower frame but way off to the side. With the help of Fred I managed to get some more appropriate ones added. From the picture at the top of the page I think you’ll agree they look the part even if deep down I know they aren’t quite right.

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TODO

1. 4 holes to drill – Mudguard frames
2. Mudguard write up some more
3. blast wheel extension kit + coat in beeswax to protect (write an article) – fit
4. Lower Link arms  – rivet on brackets
5. Lower Link arms – turn down bolts, make sleeves
6. Bolts from Matt 3.75″ – fit Brackets
7. Gearbox – make parts,  (how do you eat an elephant! a bit at a time)
8. Send out wanted note with pictures – gearbox parts

Below: Picture from a tractor advertised on eBay showing the  A-TE-118 brake extension parts fitted in place.

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The world has truly gone mad. I found this after checking the results of my online auction site tonight. This (probably A4ish) piece of paper made more money than a whole and complete Ferguson implement. If only I’d have lived closer to the seller!

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I told my son he should have asked for a Ferguson as he’s always underneath his John Deere tractor fixing one thing or another. Isn’t it said that children mimic the actions of their parents? My son must have it in his head that all I do is spend time underneath my Ferguson tractor fixing it! Still I could think of worse things to do in life to pass one’s time.

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The list of Ferguson accessories is growing. I can now add to the list a set of dual wheel spacers number A-TE-79 and more importantly original extension nuts that hold the first wheel on and provide the spacing to attach the second set of wheels to.

This now brings the list of Ferguson accessories to 14 (A-TE-59, A-TE-61, A-TE-66, A-TE-68, A-TE-70, A-TE-79, A-TE-87, A-TE-90, A-TE-92, A-TE-F93, A-TE-109A, A-TE-118, A-TE-,128 and  A-TE-130).

I fear some on the list will be unobtainable by me, I refer to a set of Tyre Tracks number A-TE-113. The Tyre Tracks along with the Hours Meter A-TE-A93 and the Epicyclic reduction gearbox A-TE-118 are to my knowledge the only 3 accessories with their own dedicated manual. This may be due to there complexity in fitting to the tractor and the need for a greater explanation.

For a full list and to interpret what the numbers mean click on this link: Accessory list

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This is more a note to myself as a memory jogger.

I have purchased a right and left front Bracket of which I think is one of the Ferguson Accessories (although a few front bracket types were fitted to TE-20 tractors. (photo’s to follow)

The item E. from above is a bolt, .62″ in diameter x 3.75″ long And I need 4 of them to hold the Front Brackets on.

The track width on the front must be set to 52″ wide.

As a second reference The bracket was also fitted to the game flusher.

Also to note it has a pin through the lower hole attached with chain and linch pins.

Here the bolt is detailed as item 4 62FBH375B which means

62= 0.62 inches or 5/8″ thread diameter

F =  Fine (UNF)

BH =  Bolt Hex

375 = 3.75″ long

B = Parkerised

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Ferguson MkI, II and III Hitched in a line

Thanks to Fred for sharing this series of photography of the Mk I, II and III hitch attached to the underneath of the transmission housing of your TE-20 tractor.

In the picture above The MK. I hitch is on the left hand side, MK. II hitch in the middle and the MK. III on the right. The only thing in common with all three is the position of the bolt holes to attach them to the tractor.

The MkI on the left latches into place on the brackets under the tractor with the spring on top meant to held the hook in place. The hook I’m reliably told kept jumping out so it was changed to the MKII with a pin through the end of the hook holding it in place permanently. The MkI hitch also has two shafts sticking out either side with holes in to add linch pins. In the later hitches a separate pin was used to go through a hole half way up the hitch.

You can see above the full configuration of the MkI automation hitch. The t-bar (item 6) is also unique to the MkI hitch as the ends have a smaller diameter than the later MkII t-bar. It also has linch pin holders attached to the bars.

The MkII hook size is small the than the later MKIII hitch. I’m not sure when the MkIII hitch was introduced. The MkII is definitely a TE-20 era design but I’m not the MkIII was an FE-35/MF-35 product or was introduced before 1956?

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It was Ashover Show on Wednesday 10th August. A 26 mile drive for me across some of Derbyshire’s fine moorland roads, the heather is starting to turn purple.

Oh and my drive (26 miles there, 26 miles back) was of course on my Ferguson tractor in the glorious sunshine, why would you want to be anywhere else?

Far to many photo’s for me to post here so they are on my Flickr site. Two beautiful original examples a TEF and a Continental converted to TVO with an official Ferguson kit!

Link to look at all the photos here

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I made a drawing for this clip back in 2011, so that I could get a friend to make one for me. I had a request for a drawing the other day and I couldn’t find it on the website. only a picture. so I’m adding the drawing new just in case anyone else wants to manufacture an authentic clip.

To download a PDF file of the image above click on the link below

Download a PDF of the TEF Battery clip here

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As much as I love collecting Ferguson implements I love to see them working even more. So when I had the chance to put back to work a rear mounted Ferguson mower 5A-EE-B20 (Sometimes referred to as the Bagpipe mower, as it looks like a set of Bagpipes when not attached to the tractor) I jumped at the chance. So when a friend said he needed to cut down the thistles in a couple of fields he owned and did I know anyone with a mower I stepped in. Luckily I had such a mower stored in a barn in Durham.

No wonder these mowers got replaced by a better model, this one was a nightmare to setup. I should imagine once it was on the tractor you’d leave it there as long as possible. It was definitely NOT a 2 minute job to attach it to thew tractor. But saying that it was probably much faster than the alternative a horse powered mower or even worse hand powered scythes.

A blade on the mower kept catching on the shim at the near end of the bar. We discovered the blade tooth was cracked and was catching. Roger found a bag of original mower teeth and rivets. Soon the offending tooth had been replaced. the mower ran smoothly after the fix.

You can see in the picture above how much the tooth on the left has been warn or sharpened compared to the now tooth on the right. The new mower tooth had originally been manufactured in Sheffield as you can see from the box. I bet that company is no longer in existence?

A couple of pictures below of the mower in the vertical transport position. I have left the swath board in Durham after removing it before transporting back to sheffield. Next time I’m up I’ll fetch it back and attach it. Still for cutting thistles I’m sure it isn’t an essential item.

Here is a Video of the mower being tested in the workshop, then out in the field.

Tags: 5A-EE-B20, REAR MOUNTED MOWER.