Ferguson Tractor Jack

Came across your website on the net and was blown away by the depth of information and work put into restoring your Fergie ….well done I have found it very informative.

My son and I have 4 vintage tractors at present which we show occasionally in Scotland included within which is now a Grey Ferguson TED 1950 a picture of which is enclosed. The tractor is by and large original and includes full original cyclops light kit and number plate / light , ferguson hour meter , stanhay handbrake (picture enclosed) , original pattern tyres and an original ferguson rear view mirror.

We are feeling our way with Fergusons , this tractor had been stored for a number of years however I understand that one or two of these bits may be quite collectible.

Keep up the good work

Regards
Richard Bennie

I’ve always been tinkering with cars and oily things, as I kept on fiddling with the tractor every time I went round Mike asked me to have a look one day. So I did.
 

When I found it it was in a similar state to as it is now, all green and mouldy.

We cleaned up the paint work as best as possible then stripped the top off the engine.

The bores had water in them, and the engine oil was milky with water.

We assumed that this was due to the exhaust being missing so the rain had filled the cylinders through the open valves as these were messy as well.

After talking to Mike we set about trying to clean it all up without carrying out a major overhaul.

The bores were filled with light oil, and gradually the engine was rotated backwards and forwards to scrape the bores clean, surprisingly they seemed to be in OK condition and the gunk/corrosion was not actually in the bore material, more sort of on the surface.

The valve’s were cleaned up and refitted – no lapping or anything was carried out.

Oil and filter were changed for new.

All refitted with new gaskets.

The carb was stripped and cleaned and rebuilt with a new gasket kit.

The plug’s were new as were the HT leads.

We started the beast using a battery booster pack connected to the battery leads, and then hand-cranked it. I think we also used my old land rover’s battery at one point – but it never started using the switch.

It took quiet a while and a lot of sweat to get it started the first time, after that it started after the first couple of attempts.

There is no key for the ignition, but it does work – just use a screwdriver to turn it.

We moved it backwards and forwards as far as the garden allows and I think the brakes worked then.

All the gears seemed to work, and the rear hydraulics lifted OK, and fell under weight (me or Chris) which I think is normal?

After running it for the first time at tick over, we changed the oil again to hopefully flush out the remaining moisture.
 

Starting on the switch;

I’ve tested the starter and it spins on the bench, I think we tested it via some jump leads on the tractor and it span the engine but slowly.

I therefore presumed it was the starter switch that was at fault or needed adjusting, that was my next task before winter set in!

The linkages for the Carb are slightly dubious, I reconnected them as they were, but they never seemed right as there is no way to force it back closed – it seemed to rely on gravity and friction to close the throttle. No diagrams that I had showed that area in detail unfortunately.

Missing parts; No there’s no battery for it. The air box and hose are in the battery space I think. I definitely have the Starter motor which does run and turns the engine – but slowly.

If there are any other parts that I’ve removed (I cannot remember anything else off hand though) they will be in Mike’s garage on the shelves on the left hand side as you go in.

I’ve not touched the gearbox or hydraulic unit’s so the oil is presumably very old!

Phew, hopefully some of that was useful to you.

I’m glad you knew what the head spacer was for, it confused me when I did the head so I just assumed it must have had some work done to the block at some point. I put it back under the assumption that it ran with it before so it’ll run again. Presumably removing it would help it run on petrol?

Oh, we pumped loads of fresh grease into all the ball-joints and steering linkages as well, they seemed to be serviceable!

Is there really a squirrels nest in the bell housing? Or is that Mike winding me up!!

I did try and persuade mike to build a pergola to give it some protection and me some shelter. I do find myself perusing e-bay looking at Fergies now……..

We also aimed to get it to a show, the Venture Scouts in Woodseats organise a pretty good show in June and they asked for it to attend – sadly I ran out of time to get it roadworthy.

All the best,

Sandy.

 
forgot to say, I also fitted the new exhaust and elbow, a new glass filter bowl + gasket.

The manifolds were shot blast and painted with high temp paint although you can not tell now!