help with Fordson ID

MF25 · Sep 20, 2016

hiya folks... well spring is here in aussie so i thought id have a go at making the old fordson look more complete..

clearly in need of a little love..

once we dug through the weeds a bit we had more...

yes the fuel tank is on upside down... to stop it filling with rain... :laughing:

anyhoo.... id be keen to know what model it is... heres pics of the numbers i can find on it..

written on the head...

block left hand side...

dealers plate..

and the ford/fordson area in front of the driver....

cheers all.. MF25

Wagtail · Sep 20, 2016

What you have there, Mate is an E27N "Major".

TractorData.com Fordson E27N Major tractor information

I'd hazard a guess at a '45 - '46 year model due to the shape of the fenders being more like the (then) discontinued Fordson N.

MF25 · Sep 21, 2016

Wagtail said:
What you have there, Mate is an E27N "Major".

TractorData.com Fordson E27N Major tractor information

I'd hazard a guess at a '45 - '46 year model due to the shape of the fenders being more like the (then) discontinued Fordson N.

cheers!!
would the engine number help? im not sure where to look for any other numbers and this one does not seem to match anything shown on tractordata.

Wagtail · Sep 21, 2016

I've done some reading on Wikipedia; "The Fordson E27N Major was based on the Fordson N, and made in England from 1945, having the same engine and transmission as the Model N, but in a new casing which allowed for a PTO and a hydraulic lift unit manufactured by either Smiths or Varley. The differential however was of completely new design.

For the first time Fordson owners could purchase a tractor from the dealer fully equipped with 3PL, PTO, full electrics and an adjustable-width front axle, allowing the tractor to work row-crops. Available in many different versions, one such as the crawler conversion made by County, and the half-tracked version by Roadless. from 1948 onwards the Perkins P6(TA) could be ordered fitted from the factory, giving the tractor a 45 hp power unit, and improving on the design that was let down by the under-powered petrol/TVO engine.

The E27N was a popular Machine with Australian farmers, setting the way for large sales of the New Major (E1A)." [underlining & bolding mine]

It's fun to look, and we've discovered a bit of info so far, so we're not done yet.

Wagtail · Sep 21, 2016

In the Tractordata.com E27N listing, photo section, they show where the serial umber can be found;

TractorData.com Fordson E27N Major tractor photos information [bottom photo]

Yours looks so much like a Model N, if it wasn't for that engine marking E27N. That's why I reckon yours would've been a very early post-war production model due to materiel shortages. In other words, they used up the existing Model N parts (like your rear fenders) before switching over to the newer design.

Oh, and the E27N was known as the 'High' Major because subsequent "Major" models had a lower seating position. :laughing:

E = English, 27 = Hp, N = Model

Wagtail · Sep 21, 2016

Another E27N serial # location clue found: "On the rear fuel tank support, on the left at the front side, I found a bolt on plate. On this, it said Fordson tractors, high speed top gear and a number."

The number will be either six or seven digits.

Fordson E27N serial number - Yesterday's Tractors

MF25 · Sep 22, 2016

thanks Wagtail... your efforts have been very helpful...

i hadn't even noticed that i posted a pic with e27n in it...:mur:
i went out for a look for the plate on the firewall but i think its been lost over the years... oh well.

amazing that this one looks so ancient when my te20 '50 model looks so fresh.... only a few years between them ( and the fergie is still my goto tractor for all my mowing)