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Ferguson P3

We have discussed on here Massey Harris tractors fitted with Perkins P6 six cylinder diesel engines, but perhaps not too many of you in North America will know of the Perkins P3 three cylinder engines that were quite widely fitted into Ferguson tractors over here after their original engines had expired, or farmers simply wanted to change to a more economic diesel engine. 

Here is a picture of my Ferguson TE 20 serial number 7053 1947 tractor which would originally have been fitted with a Continental engine.  As you can see I have it fitted with original Ferguson open type steel rear wheels.

The P3 engine was essentially half of a P6 engine and had a magical sound to it just like the P6 has.  Quite frankly all Fergusons  - both sides of the Atlantic - should have been fitted with these engines.  They were superb luggers and very quiet for an early diesel engine.  They were also good starters.  As you can see the bonnet was raised about 3-4 inches due to the height of the engine and the radiator was also similarly raised.  Ferguson never supplied these engines, they were an after market offering by Perkins which included the engine, bonnet and dashboard risers and sundry other items includng the fuel filters.

The only downside to a converted tractor was that, apparently, due to the slightly raised center of gravity they were not quite as stable on cross slopes.

The Perkins P3 engine evolved into the hugely successful Perkins A3. 152 used in later MF 35 and 135 tractors as well as many other models

John
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RE:Ferguson P3

Hi John. The P3 by all accounts made the TE 20 an excellent tractor but another downside to it was there wasn't much room between the dash and the steering wheel and drivers got their knuckles crushed between the two.

RE:Ferguson P3

Yes Alan - you are quite right to draw my attention to this.  Correctly fitted the bonnet (hood!!) riser piece which raised the bonnet above the normal dashboard height did leave little room for one's hand a fingers to pass between it and the steering wheel often resulting in grazed knuckles.  But the answer was simple I found.  Just move the riser piece forward on the bonnet so that when it came down on the dashboard it only just, rather than fully sat on the dashboard.  This gave considerable extra clearance and freedom from grazed knuckles.

How is the MH wrench documentation coming along?  Hope you are getting some good contacts around the world and consequently good info coming in.  Keep at it!!!! 

My challenge is still to get someone in the US and North America generally to get the North American MH and MF factories documented whilst there are still old factory hands alive.  Time is short but no-one is responding the need and challenge of doing it!!

John

RE:Ferguson P3

Hello John I haven't done anything with the M-H wrenches since I took the photos of your collection and now my computer has gone down. I hope I haven't lost any info although I have it all as hard copy I would love to see a book on the M-H factories. As you say time is running out. Are you coming to Marsham this year? Alan

RE:Ferguson P3

As further explanation of what I have written so far on the Ferguson tractor with P3 engine conversion here are two further photos.

One shows the bonnet (hood!) riser piece which lifts the bonnet by about 4 inches.  You can also see the narrow space for your knuckles to pass between the bonnet and steering wheel, but as I mentioned I widened this space to a full 2 inches by fixing the bonnet riser piece as far forward as possible and to only just sit on the dashboard.

The other shows the very early gearbox type fitted on our very early Ferguson TE tractors.  This one is an early 1947 model serial number only 7053.  Notice the distinct "bulge" on the side of the gearbox for what reason I am not sure.  Did you have similar style gearboxes on your early TO Fergusons?  My Dad's tractor was no. 39615 of 1948 vintage and had the later box so somewhere inbetween they were changed

John
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