FFoorrdd Service Manual Fordson Service Manual

THIS IS A MANUAL PRODUCED BY JENSALES INC. WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF FORD OR IT’S SUCCESSORS. FORD AND IT’S SUCCESSORS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUALITY OR ACCURACY OF THIS MANUAL.

TRADE MARKS AND TRADE NAMES CONTAINED AND USED HEREIN ARE THOSE OF OTHERS, AND ARE USED HERE IN A DESCRIPTIVE SENSE TO REFER TO THE PRODUCTS OF OTHERS. FO-S-FORDSON Fordson.. TR.ADE. MARK TRACTOR ~ANUAT4 tho --Flld Tank .....--.. _--.---TIll 01 tic Lc"n .. -- ..----Air WMher Flont r-···------Renr Whed Cleat I'rirn:u}' Air Pipe '1 ----·-·------Ajr Wac;her- . ...------&::11 Spring r----.. --... ---- Frlmi nf; Rod .-----Scat Pi.;!"n Pin .-... --.------.---.-.. --.- M;1in Air Pipe ____ _ .·------Throttle Control Rod ...-----iDIITeren tinl Spider I'I-;(on ______._. .... ------.... - Sediment Bult-. fferenti::lI Pinion ._- Spllrk Control Rod ...---Reflr Axle Shnft Conncctil1& Rod.---· Ncedle Valve Adj. Rod MI\['r Ch:lrnbcr A">~tlnoly __ . '001 Box 1'1" Ilm H Ing<: ______. ....___ Steering Whe:.:1 R;1di:lIN Top T:1nk ---- Sp:lrk Plu~ ______-: Trnn~mi!;!;jon HOllsing m Thr\l~t BCMing Vnlv('-­ ~;Idi.'t"r '1 "i' '1 ;lT1k Connection

R~Ji:lt·.'r -H l'~lf1 A~"l'Il1l'lr---- .-~ ('",11111\11:110[ I'ull I~t'd -"'-"-

b n [k I! ·----·JUlU

Pr:'l w !l;1!' Cnp I ".- Worm ;:lJ,W __ \Vorln Wheel

r~rnhe I Plfk.\' I 01 h;e GC:1f \1 rl'n -Tmllllrnission ShAH t (\nd \ Tn1fl~Hnh;<;I(TIl . lower Drive SharI Crank Shaft ____.___ ,.,.".,,' ... :J.~_ :tttt"\ ... m~"""" Steering Pinion --Flv Whed \ Steering Sector Olltch Assembly . Magneto COil---­ " Clutch Release Cam -Cronk Case Dratn Plug \ Clutch Lever Mn~aet------L-----Oil Sump ransmlssion Hou~ing Plate Oil Sump Drain PIll!;- Transmission brive Shaft Bevel Gear

Cross Section of Tractor-Plate No.1 Air W .I~h('r ______-,

Prllning R.)d ______-, ,...-_____ Throltlt Control Rod

...-____ SpOlrk Conlrol Rnd

NCI~d1t· Valv(' J\djmrillg r~od ___., r----- V nponz('r Rear Wheel Bushi"g _____.....

Rear Wheel Cle;!r

Cylinder Head .. '

Valve Spring CO\'t'f

Cylinder Froll! Cover

Foot Brucket r.rank Case ("",IIC')/, "lttd hut'

Transmission Housing _,,,,. t. ,.I. .~.

The Fordson Tractor-Vaporizer Side-Plate No.2 Kerosene Tank filltu CitP __..,..,..,--. h,~""r",""c,-,' ' Air Wasner Filler Cap

Coil Box __,...... __-_.., ..-...... ~ ____ Air Washer Drain Plug

I, ,,' Gasoline Tank Filler Cap I . Sediment Bulb Steering Wheel

:--...... ,. ___ Oash Radialor ..-

,. Seat F.m 'H,c:',t:.

Oil Filler IL:~~,:,l B!i

Gear ShUter Cover

Starting Crank

Sleerlnc Ora« Link Tran~iui(»n Orain

The Focdson Tractoc-Coil Box: Side-Plate No.3 THE IGNITION SYSTEM 37 magneto allows the current to Bow through the metal parts to the metal roller in the commutator. Therefore, when the commutator roller in revolving touches the four commutato~ contact points, to each of which is attached a wire connected with a coil unit, an electrica'l current is passed through the entire system of primary wires. This circuit is only momentary, however, as the roller passes over the contact point very rapidly, letting the current Bow into each unit as the roller touches the contact point connected with that unit•. The commutator should be kept clean and well oiled at all times. What about the Spark Plugs? Answer No. 77 One is located at the top of each cylinder and can easily be taken out with a spark plug wrench after the wire connecti-on is removed. The high voltage current Bows from the secondary coils in the coil box, and in reaching the contact points in each spark plug it is forced to jump a n of an inch gap, therefore forming a spark which ignites the charge in the cylinders. If the spark plugs become carbonized or sooted, the high tension current instead of jumping between the points of the spark plugs will pass through the carbon accumulation directly to the metallic shell. This will cause the cylinder to misfire. When in this condition the plugs should be removed and cleaned. (See Answer No. 39.) . What are the indications of Ignition trouble? Answer No. 78 The uneven sputter and bang of the exhaust means that one or more cylinders are exploding irregula!'ly or not at all, and that the trouble should be promptly located and overcome. Misfiring, if allowed to continue, will in time injure the motor and entire mechanism. A good driver will be satisfied only with a soft, steady purr from the ex­ haust. If anything goes wrong. stop and fix it immediately if possible. How can one tell which Cylinder is Missing? Answer No. 79 This is done by manipulating the vibrators on the spark coils. Open the throttle until the motor is running at a good speed, and then hold dO\\"Il the two outside vibrators (No. 1 and No.4) with the fingers so they cannot buzz. This cuts out the two corresponding cylinders (No.1 and No.4), leaving only No.2 and No.3 running. If they explode regularly it is obvious the trouble is either in No.1 or No.4. Relieve No.4 and hold down No.2 and No.3, and also No.1; if No. 4 cylinder explodes evenly it is evident the misfiring is in No. 1. In this manner all of the cylinders in turn can be tested until the trouble is located. Examine both the spark plugs- and the vibrator of the missing cylinder.

Case -. Contact Point

Brush Fibre

Pull Rod. Connection

Oiler ______~~~

~knut ...... __..... __ Roller ___...... _

The Commutator-Plate No. 21 THE I G NIT ION S Y'S T E M 39

,..-______To Coil

,.-__----End 0( Ribbon grounded hem ,.-____ Magneto Coil Spool

agneto Coil Support

Flywheel Magnet--J Magnet Clamp

The Magneto-Plate No. 22 When the Magneto get. out of order-What? Answer No. 85 The magneto is made of permanent magnets and there is very little likelihood of their ever losing their strength unless acted upon by some outside force. For instance, the attachment of any electrical battery to the magneto terminal will demagnetize the magnets. Should this occur, it is not advisable to try to recharge them but rather instali a complete set of new magnets. When using an electric battery for starting, be sure and disconnect the wire from the primary contact terminal. The new magnets will be sent on a board in exactly the same manner as they should be when installed, so they will not stick together when in position on the flywheel. Great care should be taken in assembling the magnets and lining up the magneto, so that the faces of the magnets are even and are separated from the surface of the coil spool by j~ of an inch. The magneto is often blamed VII~· ;n the trouble is a weak current caused by w.!ste or other foreign matter accumulating 1.Ulder the magneto contact spring, which is . '8crewed into the side of the cylinder bloclr; this should be taken out and the foreign 8ubnance removed. LOW GEAR

Reverse Idler Gear PLOWING GEAR (Intermediate) REVERSE GEAR

View S.howing the Four Positions and Different Sets of Gears that are Engagw-Plate No. 25 Index AIR WASHER Page MAINTENANCE Page Attention ...... 29 Cleaning ...... 58 Its Purpose ...... 29 Storing ...... 59 How it Works ...... 29 Care of Ball Bearings ...... 58,59

BELT PULLEY OPERATION Belt Pulley ...... 62 Adjustments ...... 15 Air Washer ...... 10 CLUTCH Clutch Pedal ...... 11 How Adjusted ...... 48 Cranking ...... :...... 10 How Controlled ...... 47 Fuel ...... 7 Its Purpose ...... 47 Getting Ready to Start ...... 7 How Removed ...... 47 Gear Changing ...... 13 How it Works ...... 47 Oiling System ...... 7 Radiator ...... 7 MOTOR Spark & Throttle Levers ...... 10 . Carbon - How Removed ...... 20 Spark - How Controlled ...... 15 Connecting Rod and Bearings ...... 21 Speed - How Controlled ...... :...... 15 Cylinder Head - How Removed ...... 20 Starting ...... 10,13 Motor Fails to Start ...... 59 Starting in Cold Weather...... 11 Motor Lacks Power - Runs Irregularly ...... 59 Stopping Tractor ...... 13 Motor Stops Suddenly ...... 59 Motor Overheats ...... 25,59 REAR AXLE Motor Knocks ...... 20,59 Differential ...... 49 Knocking - Causes ...... 20 Rear Axle - How to Remove ...... 49 Main Bearings- How Adjusted ...... 21 Wheels - How to Remove ...... 49 Motor..Removing from Transmission ...... 23 Care of Roller Bearings ...... 49 Piston ...... 17 Replacing Gaskets ...... 23 RUNNING GEAR Spark Plug Cleaning ...... 21 Adjustments - Steering Gear ...... 55-57 Valves ...... 17-20 Removing Front Axle ...... 55 Removing Front Wheel ...... 55 FUEL SYSTEM Vaporizer - How Adjusted ...... ~ ...... 33 TRANSMISSION Vaporizer - Its Purpose ...... 31 Its Purpose ...... 41 Vaporizer - Trouble ...... 33-34 How Removed ...... 43 Vaporizer - How it Works ...... 31 How it Works ...... 41 Gear Shifter - How it Works ...... 41 IGNITION SYSTEM Coils ...... 35,36 COOLING SYSTEMS Commutator ...... 36 Fan ...... 29 Magneto ...... 38 Its Purpose ...... 25 Magneto Trouble ...... 39 Motor Overheats ...... 25 Spark Plugs ...... 37 Radiator ...... 25-29 When to Look for Trouble ...... 37,38 BRAKE LUBRICATING SYSTEM Adjustment ...... 45 Attention Required ...... 57,58 Constructed ...... 44 Motor ...... 57 How it Works ...... 44 Transmission and Rear Axle ...... 58 Roller Bearings/Front Wheels ...... : ...... 53 1<1':1'1< 1 NTI':!) WI 'I'll 1'I':ltractors were the truly great designs, and which were only average or even worse. However there is one tractor that is almost universally accepted as a truly legendary design which played a very important role in the acceptance of tractors in the U.S. That tractor is the Fordson. Whether you think it was a good design or a bad design, there is no denying that the Fordson became the best known tractor ever built in the U.S. Many considered the Fordson to be the tractor that con­ vinced U.S. farmers to give up their sidered to be the perfect tractor, the of tractor when ever a new model be­ horses and replace them with tractors. design remained almost unchanged came avaIlable. They were often disap­ Many considered the Fordson to be the throughout the many years it was built. pointed with the product they received. biggest success story of the tractor in­ That is the legend. Some pans of it are A lot of farmers owned Mcx1el T\. l11CY dustry. But, like many things in life, the true, but much of the reality is very dif­ were waiting for Ford to ['crform the actual reality can be much different than ferent. same miracle with tractors tI,dt he had the legend. This is also true for the No one disputes that Henry Ford performed with automobIle,;. They Fordson. It is a story that is seldom told wanted to mechanize agriculture. He wanted to buy small tractor" but they today. wanted to develop a form of mechani­ were waiting for those tractors to be The legend is that Ford wanted to cal power that would replace the hard built by Ford. It was well known that free farmers from the hard physical la­ physical labor that had always been a many farmers would not buy a tractor bor that had always been a part of farm­ part of farming. Ford was interested in until that tractor carried the Ford name. ing. The method he chose to use was developing tractors before he started de­ By 1915 Ford finally concluded that the development of a small, low cost veloping cars. Experimental develop­ Ford's tractor would have to be designed tractor that every farmer could afford ment work on tractors started in 1908. from the start as a tractor built heavy to buy. He wanted to mechanize agri­ This was only slightly over a decade af­ and strong enough to do all kinds of culture the way his Model T had mecha­ ter tractors first appeared in the U.S. field work. The auto tractor was not up nized personal transportation. The Ford first wanted to combine parts from to the job. Ford had seen pictures of Fordson was quickly developed to help Ford cars with the stronger parts needed the Wallis Cub and decided that his European farmers meet the agricultural for field work to develop an auto trac­ tractor should also use the unit frame production emergency of WWI I. Ford tor. This would have been a faster and construction. His engineers developed next sold the Fordson at a very low price cheaper way to develop a tractor, but it a tractor using this approach. There, during the 1920's so that every U.S. was an approach that never could have were still problems, but it was clear that· farmer could afford to own a tractor. succeeded. These light duty automobile progress was being made. Ford an­ This allowed these farmers to mecha­ conversions simply could not handle the nounced he would sell a tractor and that nize, reduce their production costs, and stresses and strains of hard field work. he would sell it for $200. " eventually lead to a financial recovery ll1is was a problem that Ford's engi­ The tractor project was close to de­ from the Agricultural Depression of the neers could never solve using an auto­ veloping a rnarket"hle product in 1916. 1920's. Many believed that Ford didn't mohile conversion. Fifty tractors were sent out for field test­ make any profits Oil the Fordson so he By 191J it was app;\rent that there Ing that year. 11K tractor W;lS now car­ could keep it's price low enough to al­ was a large market out there Just wait­ rying the Fordson look and had acquired low Ford to achieve his goal being the ing to huy a good, small, low cost trac­ the Henry Ford and Son name. Ford man who mechanized U.S. agriculture. tor; a prodllct which the newly emerg­ Motor Co. stockholders would n()t sup­ And, like the M()del T, once Fmd's en­ in!~ indllStry had so far LtIlnlto develop port the trdClor proJect, S() llenlY set gineers had developed wh;lt hlfd (on- FalllH'rs eagnly ordned ;\ lot of this type lip an()ther C()l1lpaliy.to d() th;\t Joh. Ali- THE FORDSON ... per tractor. 111at was a lot of money ill is possible th.lt a longer ,devciopment those days. Ford made a lot of money time might have resulted in a much bet­ other Ford Tmctor Co. had acquired the selling the 6,000 tractors the contract ter Fordson tractor. rights to use the Ford name for its' trac­ called for. No one ever goes so for as to By late 19 17, Fordsons were being tor. Ford could not, or would not, usc claim that Ford did it just for the money, shipped to Europe and the U.S. pro­ the Ford name on his tractor. Eventu­ but the implication is definitely there. duction line was moving towards full ally I-Ienry Ford and Son would become It is commonly thought that capacity. Ford's publicity campaign Fordson, a name which would be car­ Fordson's design changed very little talked about the great contribution that ried on Ford tractors for over 20 years. once the design reached the production Ford was making towards the war ef­ But the continuing field tesling stage, but this isn't trlJe. Jack Heald, fort. European tractor manufacturers showed there were still problems with director of the Fordson Tractor Club, didn't see it that way. The flooding of the tractor's design. Despite major de­ studied a lot of Fordsons, and a lot of their market by all those cheap Ameri­ sign changes, the tractor's ignition, car­ Fordsons parts and technical literature; can tractors de.stroyed the newly emerg­ buretion, and overheating problems still and found that a lot of changes were ing European tractor industry. European remained. Its' lightweight construction made before production of wartime designed tractors may have been as good did not provide satisfactory performance models ended. A lot of major changed as or even better than the F6rdson, but for some heavy tillage work. It has been had to be made before production could they couldn't compete with the low said that Ford was ready to abandon the even start. Some of these changes were prices resulting from Ford's assembly line design and starr all over with an en­ made in an attempt to solve the serious mass production methods. It would be tirely new tractor design; but the chang­ problems that had shown up during field years before tractor manufacturing. ing European agricultural situation re­ testing. Other changes were made to would re-emerge in Europe. Even then, sulting from WWIIchanged those plans. simplify the design in an effort to re­ a lot of those tractors would come out By 1917 Ford was announcing that sev­ duce production 'costs to the rock bot­ of factories that Fmd had started in Eu­ eral thousand Ford tractors would be tom minimum. That promised $200 rope. These would be building improved built for European farmers to use to raise price was still floating around. Some of versions of the old Fordson. Ford would food for the war effort. these changes were improvements. Un­ always control part of the English trac­ It's at this point that reality and the fortunately too many of the changes tor market. It probably would have hap­ popularly accepted story differ substan­ were steps backward, and would even­ pened anyway, but there is not doubt tially. The popular view is that Ford's tually cause problems that would stay that all Ford's wartime tractor aid newly developed tractor was gratefully with the Fordson during its' entire life. speeded up the process. welcomed by Europeans who were fac­ For some reason, Ford never made the U.S. farmers began receiving ing potential widespread food shortages. design changes which might have cor­ Fordsons in 1918, but it certainly wasn't Reynold Wik discovered substantial his­ rected these problems. Without the war­ the good deal that they had expected torical evidence that tells a very differ­ time pressures to quickly finalize the de­ to receive. A government permit, gov­ ent story. Ford had fiercely opposed the sign so that production could begin, it ernment supervision of the Fordson's war. His peace activities had made many in Europe very mad at Ford. Ford engi­ neers could have probably placed a much better tractor on the market if they had been given more time to de­ velop a new design based on what they had learned from their field test. In­ stead Ford suddenly made an agreement to sell a lot of tractors to Europe, and these tractors would. have to be deliv­ ered within a relativ~ly short time. To further complicate the situation, plans to set up a European tractor factory never materialized. All these tractors would have to come from a U.S. fac­ tory. These were the tractors that farm­ ers had been waiting for years to buy. It is unclear why Ford chose this approach to introduce his new tractor. European pressure to quickly deliver the new trac­ tor created a lot of problems that might have been solved had more develop­ ment time been available. Ford had talked about selling those tractors close (0 cost price to aid till' war ef(ort, hur the aertlal cOlltrau allowed a $50 pro/It Model N Fordson. ENGINEERS & ENGINE....,

THE FORDSON ... I') I Ii Oil. ;lIld ()Ill' of the Ixst kept ,,'. krl'IlCl'. hH\1 was sclhng 70,000 (ll erets by the rest of the U.S. farm lin­ 100,000 Fords()llS annllally during those use, and $750 were needed to obtain chlllery indllstry. TIle industry would years. 111at wa5 60 to 80 percent of the the tr;lCtor. 11H~ middlemen were not rathn hengines they which remained with the Fordson dur­ However, there was one significant dif- put in their tractors than Ford was ing its' entire lifetime. But Ford never made major changes to the Fordson's design which might have solved these problems. It remained for other manu­ facturers to develop, build and sell the parts which corrected the Fordsons ma­ jor problems. Some companies were very successful doing that. By 1918, annual Fordson tractor pro­ duction climbed to over 34,000 units. This number was 26 percent of the U.S. tractor market, a share that gave' Ford first place standing in the U.S. It was a position Ford would hold until U.S. pro­ duction of Fordsons ended in 1927 .But anyone reading the farm press of the day would have never known this. 111e Fordson was sometimes mentioned in news stories, but it was never shown in Ford Motor Co. ads during WWlyears. Some of the suppliers of parts for the Fordson did show the tractor in their nds. Ford dealers did some local ndver­ tising. But anyone reading the farm magazines from the WWI years would have had a difficult time discovering that dw Fordsoll evell existed. It W;IS A ur~ full-tuck version of Ih .. wulime Model N. til(' IlIOst popular seiling !r"ctor frolll ENGINEERS & ENGINL.<) ... -'-)~~~?() THE FORDSOH Fordson's design problems continued 'n 1.1ll"s{o wne a lot .of different pans. plgovernor. A charging (or an entire ttactor. TIle com. system and poor carburetor design 0(­ lot o( companies sold replacement gOY. panics which survived made their OWIl ten made the Fordson hard to start. TI1C ernors for the Fordson. TIle Fordson's price cuts, but none o( them even came power robbing worm gear final drive engine used a thermo syphon cooling close to matching the Fordson's low made the tractor noisy and hot to ride. system. It was a low cost system to build. price. IHC led the counter attack ill The Fordson was a light tractor which but did not always provide adequatc the price war with its' combination of ;t was poorly suited for heavy tillage field cooling. Other companies sold wat('r tractor price cut combined with ,I frel" work. But the Fordson's most seriolls pumps that could be mounted on till' implement. But its' strongest weapon problem surely was its' tendency to rear Fordson's engine. The Fordson's enginc was its' claim that it was selling a supe­ up and flip over backwards if a solid used a splash lubricating system, cer­ rior tractor. But it was the Fordson's underground obstruction was hit. The tainly not the best system for lubricat· low price which would continue to sell Fordson killed people. Wik pointed out ing a heavy duty engine. Oil pumps for the most tractors for the next few years. that there was a growing public demand a pressure lubrication system were avail­ Ford's competitors also began introduc­ to stop production of the Fordson as able. The Fordson's engine used the coil ing new, more powerful, much improved early as 1922. Ford claimed the prob­ ignition system that had been used for new tractor models to chaHenge the lem was caused by careless operators. In years on the Model- T's engine. This Fordson. In the end, this was the ap­ reality, the reason for the problem was made starting difficult. Other compa­ proach which : proved to be the most the Fordson's design. Instead of using a nies offered high tension magnetos and successful. The Fordson's low price drawbar which was attached to the bot­ distributor ignition systems; replacelllent found it more difficult to compete tom of the tractor at a point in front of systems that delivered better pencH­ against these better tractors even though the rear axle, the Fordson's hitch point mance and made starting easier. The they had higher price tags. By the mid was a small" casting bolted on to the Fordson's carburetor and air intake de­ 1920's, Ford needed an improved new bottom of the back end of the final dri ve sign did not sufficiently heat and va­ model to remain at the top of the trac­ housing. Ford probably chose this de­ porize kerosene under cold conditions. tor market. Instead the Fordson re­ sign to lower production costs. How­ This also made starting difficult. Better mained in production, and an aggres­ ever, the extra downward pull from this carburetors and manifolds were sold by sive advertising and sales campaign was location would have increased the rear other companies. The worm gear final started. wheels' traction, a definite gain for a drive robbed a lot of power and made By 1924, it was only too clear that light weight tractor. For some reason the Fordson hot and noisy to ride. Con­ the Fordson was facing an entirely dif­ this design fault was never corrected by ventional bull and pinion rear ends ferent tractor market. A lot of Ford Mo­ Ford. could be installed in the Fordson. Users tor Co. ads for the Fordson suddenly This brings up one of the most puz­ claimed this change converted the appeared in the farm magazines. These zling features of the Fordson's produc­ Fordson from a two plow to a three plow were rather low key ads containing a tion program. There were almost tractor. The Fordson's light weight and brief, simple message and a big picture 750,000 Fordsons sold, which meant small rear wheels made traction a prob­ of the Fordsonj but the Fordson name that there was a very large potential lem. Track drive units were available and the still low $495 price were al­ market for the parts and attachments which could convert the Fordson into a ways prominently shown. There was a that would correct the Fordson's design track layer. These proVided a lot more magazine for Fordson owners. There was problems. Ford ignored that market. It traction, but they could cost almost as a large network of Ford dealers to pro­ remained for other companies to de­ much as the Fordson did. It's not likely vide advice, parts, and to repair the trac­ velop, build, and sell those parts. Other many of them were ever sold. For sev­ tor it needed. Ford conducted tractor tractor manufacturers made a serious ef-· eral years Ford did not offer fenders for demonstrations and training sessions. fort to sell, and· probably to also de­ the Fordson. Several other companies Potential Fordson purchasers often velop and build, all the parts and spe­ did. These were rather massive fenders found that their neighbors already cial machinery needed to enable their with very solid construction. The bot­ owned Fordsons. That network of own­ tractors to deliver their best possible per­ tom rear end of them were especially ers provided a lot of information and formance under a wide range of differ­ strong. There was a good reason for in­ support for new Fordson owners. This ent conditions. Ford did not. He let stalling these fenders. They were'sup­ aggressive sales campaign worked. An­ other companies do it. An entire in­ pOsed to hit the ground first and' stop nual Fordson production remained in dustty of small manufacturers developed the tractor from flipping over com­ the 80,000 to 100,000 + range until pro­ to sell the parts and attachments that pletely backwards. Thj~ was one attach. duction ended in 1927. The Fordson were. needed to make the Fordson a ment for the Fordson that Ford would name still held a lot of magic even long practical tractor. Ford might have made eventually sell. Some companies even after the design became obsolete. The a lot of money selling these products, . sold a safety drawbar with a front Fordson established a lot of amazing but it was the other companies that did. mounted attachment point 'for safer op­ sales records. Perhaps the most amazing Ford did everything necessary to sell as eration. Remote controls and steering one was that Ford was able to continue many Fordsons as possible. It's really sur­ wheel location attachments were avail­ selling so many Fortlsons long after rlH' prising that he did not also try to sell able which allowed the operator to ride design was clearly ohsollOl t o. the special parts and machinery thaI on the implement being PIIIl behind til(: Dcspite Ihis amazing sales record. ,he were also needed by the Fordson. Fordson and control Ihe tractc~r (rmll . , ENGINEERS & ENGINES THE FORDSOH ... that location. Even a rein drive attach­ ment was available. TIle Fordson op­ erator who installed the right parts on his tractor could convert it into a pretty decent tractor. TIlese conversions could deliver good, reliable performance. A lot of Fordson orerators probably did this. TIle other part of the Fordson supply industry were the companies which sold implements especially designed for the Fordson. A large choice of'pull type, and even some mounted, implements were available. Many of these imple­ ments were especially designed for the unique features of the Fordson.One has to wonder if the Fordson would have been such a huge success if this indus­ try had not developed to supply all the parts and machinery that were needed A 1943 ~odel N with rowcrop wheels. to enable the Fordson to deliver its' best performance. Ford stopped U.S. production in joying a financial recovery. With more Fordson. Saine were able to stay in busi­ 192 7, although Ford was still advertis­ money to spend, farmers were willing ness by selling their prOducts to other ing the tractor as late as 1928. The to pay more for a better tractor. When tractor manufacturers. Some managed reasons why Ford ended production at that happened, the Fordson's lower price to grow into larger, well known compa­ a time when the U.S. tractor market was no longer the way to continue seil­ nies, but most of them eventually dis­ was on its way to a solid recovery are ing a lot of tractors. The market de­ appeared. Their immediate response was unclear today. Several reasons do sug­ mand was still there, but a down turn to join together in an attempt to form gest themselves. The Fordson's design in sales could not have been far away. another farm machinery company seil­ was becoming obsolete by the early Perhaps Ford realized this and decided ing its own Fordson replacement trac­ 1920's. I t was clearly obsolete by the to close the factory down before the tor. This attempt did not last very long. late 1920's. It was too light weight and market began to shrink. That is as good Farmers no longer wanted another becoming under powered for the trac­ a reason as any. Fordson type tractor. tor market that had developed by that This decision did not put Ford out of No similar supply industry would de­ time period. Some Fordson's had seri­ the tractor business. Tractor production velop for Ford's next tractor design, the ous mechanical problems and repair was moved to Ireland. A substantial re­ N models. Ford would include as regu­ costs could be very high. Some farmers design resulted in a much better trac­ lar equipment everything that was found that the cost of major repairs was tor, the Model N. It had acquired more needed to let the 9N deliver it's best much higher than the Fordson had power, a high tension magneto, a water performance. Ford designed, built and originally cost when bought new. Ford's ,pump, an improved carburetor and sold most of the special implements that competitors were now selling much bet­ manifold, a better air cleaner, a better were needed to get most efficient use of t'er tractors which were a lot stronger governor, and a heavier front end. This the 9N's new three point hitch hydrau­ and more durable tractors. They were new N was imported to the U.S. to be lic system. This time Ford would try to able to handle the stresses an&'strains sold by Ford tractor dealers. However reap all the profits that came from sales of heavy tillage work better than the U.S. sales, and production numbers, re­ of his new tractor. Fordson could. The safety issue certainly mained far below the stratospheric lev­ There is not much agreement amon'g , didn't help. TIle industry was beginning els that the Fordson F had reached. Ford the final conclusions about the merits to build tractors that were safer to op­ continued to improve the tractor's de­ of the Fordson. You either loved it, or erate. Several excellent new;tractor sign, and traces of the old Fordson could you hated it. A lot of farmt;rs must have models had come on the market during be seen in Ford's European built trac­ loved it. If it had been a.bad tractor, the mid 1920's which were big advances tors until in the 1940's. The Fordson even it's very low price could never have over the designs of just a few years ear­ may have become obsolete in the U.S. persuaded farmers to buy almost 750,()(X) lier. Anyone of these was capable of tractor market, but it became the de­ Fordsons over the decade it was built. reducing Fordsons sales, but it was prob­ sign which gave Ford a very large share Many fanners found that their Fordsons ably IHC's new row crop Fannall trac­ of the English tractor market. delivered reliable service for many years. tor that finally finished off the Fordson. The big losers from Ford's decision TIlis was the first tractor that many At least that is what IIIC claimed. fly were the companies which had been farmers owned. Many old farmers still the late 1920's, U,S, agriculture was en- selling the parts and machinery for the have fond memories of the tractor that

, . ENGINEERS & ENGINES

made their lives so much easier. But agricultun: during the 1920's. Battling (helll (0 he. there arc the farmers who remember the head to head agaimt the entire U.S. Somehow solTle of (hose old Fordsons, Fordson as a tractor that was hard to tractor industry for almost a decade, even the rarc, early pre F models, sur­ start, had expensive breakdowns, was al­ Ford emerged the overwhelming win­ vived the insatiable appetite of those ways overheating, and unsafe to ride. ner for almost a decade. The Fordson WWIl scrap drives; and farmers' deCi­ Their fond memories are of the day that was the tractor that established those sions to get rId of those old, obsolete they replaced their old Fordson with a records. A bad tractor could not have pieces of junk when better tractors be­ decent tractor built by another com­ done that. came available. TIlese prized parts of pany. In the final analysis, if you knew There is one rather unusual postcrip( pnv;!(e collections often are exhibited how to take proper care of a Fordson, to the Fordson story. Buescher tells how at the tractor shows. Some have become knew how to operate it properly, and the time came when farmers started a showpiece on Ford tractor dealers lots. only used it for the jobs it was capable trading in all those Fordsons on newer These remaining Fordsons will probably of doing, you probably loved it. If not, model tractors. Salesmen were often re­ still be around for many more years. then you probably hated it. quired to take old Fordsons as trade ins These old Fcirdsons still possess one But no one can deny the unique his­ to be able to complete a sale. There unique feature that no tractor (old or torical importance of the Fordson. It were so many Fordsons around that no­ new) has or probably everw~1\ have. sold almost 750,000 tractors during the body wanted them. They could not be There is more history and historical im­ decade it was in production. Annual sold as used tractors. There was not a portance that comes attached to those production rose above 100,000 tractors big market demand for salvage parts. old Fordsons than with any other make during three of those years. No other These Fordsons were usually scrapped or model of antique tractor. I t is not tractor model, with so few design out, and the junkman would not pay likely that any other tractor will ever' changes, has ever established a record much for them. The salesman had to establish an even more Impressive like that. What makes this impressive absorb some of the trade in allowance, record. _. record even more remarkable is that it or do some very fancy talking to con­ was established during an agricultural vince the farmer that his tractor was depression; not during a period of pros- not worth anything. So the farmer, who . perity when tractor sales are more likely had bought the Fordson originally be­ Reynold M. Wik, Henry Ford aru:l Grass to rise to record breaking levels. The cause of its' huge popularity and low RooLS America, University of Michi­ Fordson was the first tractor that many price tag, may have found that he ended gan Press, 1972 U.S. and European farmers owned. It up paying a few more dollars for his next was probably the reason that they tractor because so many of those cheap Walter M. Buescher, Plow Peddler, bought their next tractor. Fordsons were still around. The Glenbridge Publishing Ltd., 1992 Some claim that Fordson was the Fordson's great success had resulted in tractor that mechanized US. agricul­ it becoming a tractor with little value. Jack Heald, Director Fordson Tractor ture, but this claim is difficult to sup­ The rewards of great success are not al­ Club, A series of articles about the port. The number of horses on US. ways what one would have expected history of the Fordson fanus actually continued to increase un­ til 1919, and then fell slowly from the 1920's through the 1940's. Neither the beginning of Fordson production nor the end of it had a really big impact on the change in horse and mule numbers. It remained a gradual transition process for several decades. The Fordson may have started the mechanization of U.S. agri­ culture, but other tractors played as big, or bigger, role in the transition process. The Fordson had been gone for many years before that transition finally ended. But there is no doubt that the Fordson almost completely dominated the U.S. tractor industry during most of the 1920's. Ford claimed over 40 per­ cent of the U.S. tractor market for the 1921-1927 years. The Fordson still had over 55 percent of that market in 192 7, the last year it was built in the. U.S. Ford claimed at least a 65 percent share of the US. tractor market in 192 I -I 924, some of the most depressed ye;lrs for