Massey Discussion Forums > Massey Talk > tractor design faults
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RE:tractor design faults

John,
         I have been enlightened!!. Here are the photos, left side footplate, rightside foot plate and the drawbar modified by the previous owner which also acts as an intermediate step
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RE:tractor design faults

John.
           Photos now uploaded on the previous post,

Jack

RE:tractor design faults

Thanks for the pics Jack.  The modified drawbar from the previous owner is similar to what I have achieved but I have the benefit of more width.  I like your small side steps - do you find them more convenient than mounting from the rear.

I have just had the bits of steel from my blacksmith that I need to make the steps for the two Challengers.  Hope to get them fixed on tomorrow - it's a foul windy wet day here so no point in venturing out at the moment!!!  Will post pics when the job is done.  One can get saoked simply walking to the sheds!

Keep well and a happy new year to all in the Massey movement and hope to see some of us with some spectacular new finds and aquisitions this year

John

RE:tractor design faults

Not exactly a design fault this time but maybe a bit of "over design".

I decided to renew the brakes on my Dad's new in 1948 grey Ferguson tractor.  It must be at least 50 years since they were last dealt with.

There are two large countersunk screws that hold the brake drum on after removing the wheel.  These are frequently siezed solid as was the case here.  A chisel failed to make any impression so I put my propane torch on each for 5 minutes.  Then they came out as if they had never been tightened up!!

But I do question why are these screws fitted????  There seems to be absolutely no need for them as the drums are in a fixed position on the 8 wheel studs, and are held on by way of the wheel pressing against them and they of course are held on by the 8 countersunk nuts on each wheel.  Strange??

Needless to say the brake lining are on their last and will be renewed.  I will also have the drums skimmed as the brake shoes have cut out quite a high  ridge round the edge of the drum which can be removed as part of the skimming procedure.

Maybe there is a Ferguson specialist out there who can throw some light on this ............

John


RE:tractor design faults

Jack,

I got round to fitting the steps on my two Challengers with the mechanical lifts on.  Here are pics of the red single front Challenger now kitted out.  What a truly AMAZING difference it makes to getting on and off !!

John
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RE:tractor design faults

John.

The convenience of the intermediate steps is about the same in both cases but the main advantage is with the footplates as it's handy to stand on one while swinging the other leg over and landing firmly on the opposite plate, which you can't with the footpegs provided without hanging onto the steering wheel,
   You were quite correct in your criticism of getting on your 744, Twinkle Toes I have not got so  fitted a step on the left side of the tractor allowing me to get on from the front when a plough or drag was fitted as, like yours, ours was fitted with Adrolic hydraulics in 1952 when it was bought to replace the 25/40.
    How do you attach a trailed implement  to your 'Challenger' with the step in place?, in other words....how do you yock the plough to it?....(Historical note: 'Yock' is a Lincolnshire term for Yoke, as applied to Oxen pulling an implement)...Come in, Alan and All!
                        Jack.

RE:tractor design faults

Jack Yes I have heard the word yock used when attaching an implement to a tractor. Here in Norfolk it is usually hook up or Hitch up. John Jack Being short legged I have difficulties getting onto my 44D and 333 so I have made an extra step on both of them to make it easier to get on and off. I think the easiest tractor to get on and off of was a Standard Fordson although perhaps not the easiest of tractors to start!!! What do you think Malcolm? I think when Massey Harris designed their tractors they must have thought that once you had climbed aboard in the morning in those big fields of North America you had no need to get off again until night except pehaps for a call of nature. I hope these photos come out the right way up. I have done what said and rotated them. Thanks for your advice John B
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RE:tractor design faults

As you see the photos have come out on their side and although I put paragraphs in the text as all come out as one. I must be doing something wrong when I post on my phone. Anymore help please Alan

RE:tractor design faults

Jack,

I am not likely to be hitching anything on to the Challengers!  But if I did want to I could still squeeze a jaw hitch through and drill a hole through the wood to take a hitch pin.  I think that all that I will be doing for the remainder of my life is have a trip round the fields or take one to a show!

Alan - it looks as if you are well set up too!  I can appreciate what you say about the Standard Fordsons - a tractor that I have seen many examples of but never actually driven one.

Now are there nofitted steps in N America?????

John

RE:tractor design faults

Good to see a bit of activity on here at long last, although most of the discussion seems to be from this side of the pond, are all our North American friends still getting over their Christmas and New Years festivities and turkey dinners? or lost in a snow drift getting ready for the Whiz In day coming up in February?

Interesting to see all these different after market modifications, all to make using the tractor easier and more pleasurable, will this encourage you all to use them more now they are easier to get on and off?
Like all manufacturers I am sure M-H and many other companies could of taken more notice of the people using their machines in their working day, but expect they often turned a deaf ear when good ideas cost money in design and instigating manufacturing changes, especially during the hard times when some of these were produced and few people could afford to buy them, don't know if I dare say this Alan but that's how Henry Ford gained momentum by offering a low cost tractor that was affordable to many, even though they were hard to start and keep running!!!

Sorry to hear your still having photo rotational issues Alan, I am at my desk so hopefully here they are turned around.

Well done to you all with your step inventions, one day I might have to start considering some of these options!!!

Malcolm.
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