1927 Fordson

I picked up this 1927 Fordson not to long ago. Serial 722404. I would like to start working on it here soon. Just was wondering if there is anything I should be aware of that could be a problem area. It is not stuck. The person I got it from didn't know the last time it ran. Manifold is broke but I did see that I can get a new one. It is complete as far as I know. Besides maybe a rod that connects different things together. Thanks
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Unless you just want it for a novelty or a conversation piece, I wouldn't put a lot of money in it. There is zero collector value for it in my part of the country. I had a 1921 that was complete and running and my step dad had a 26 that ran and we didn't get much over scrap price for them.
 
An antique is an antique. They hadn't learnt to do any better.
Main problem is you have to be a he-man to crank them. The
true experts can tune them so they will start with one pull, once
the cylinders have some gas. In cold weather, that's a really stiff
setup. Some industrial models came with self-starters, but I've never
seen one. They have such a low speed worm drive rear end, you can't
pull them to start without risking expensive damage. Try with a flat
belt on the pulley with another tractor.
Even when new, people put outside magnetos and governors on them.
Many variations. There are after-market rubber tired rims so you can
drive them on the street. Either F&H or Electric Wheel.

The Fordson tractor factory was moved to Ireland and then England and the
same basic tractor was built in large numbers until 1945. They were a favorite
tractor for the Russians.

Looking at your picture, I would almost bet your gas tank is rusted out. You can
replace it, or you can open it up and put a smaller tank inside that won't be visible.

They are made to run on either battery power or flywheel magneto, which by now is
probably too weak. They say you should never run an old Fordson before replacing the
magnets. Over time, they get cracks due to the magnetic field, and tend to fly off and
really jam things up. I found that out from my old Model T.

The other thing about the antique tractors is the noise. Might be worth putting a muffler
on it.
 
Just got my F running again last year for the show. It had an add-on magneto when I got it and it wasn't stuck.
They can be a bit of an aggravation, but I really like em. These tractors did as much as any brand to move the
farmer from horses to tractors, they may be crude and simple to some but the history is undeniable.
There are MANY parts sources on the internet, don't feel alone in your efforts. As I suspect your handle implies
you are a muscle car guy also. You know you can get more money in a restoration on a car than you will get out of it,
but that doesn't stop a true lover of old iron. Its the parts hunt, the mechanics, the breathing life back into silent
iron that motivates some of us.
 
Thanks. Yeah I have a Chevelle. I have many other project tractors. My neighbors grandfather learned to drive one when he was a kid. It was there first tractor after horses. He used to say that he had hearing troubles from running it and listening to the noisy gears. It will be used at threshing shows and around the farm here and there.
 
(quoted from post at 10:54:16 01/08/18) I <snip> was wondering if there is anything I should be aware of that could be a problem area. <snip>

Looks like your tractor is a diamond in the rough... The aftermarket fenders and extension rims are desirable accessories.

Your grandfather was right about the noisy drive train, and the fenders create a sort of echo chamber for the operator. My grandfather had Fordson Fs for years, and always used to remove fenders off the parts tractors he bought before putting them back into service. Wish he had saved some of those fenders...

Nearly 3/4 of a million of these tractors were manufactured in the USA between 1918 and 1928, and there are still a lot of parts tractors around. Some tractor collectors look down their noses at the Fordson F, but in my view, any machine that has lasted nearly 100 years is worth my attention.

Manifolds and fuel tanks are the most common problems on the Model F. Repro manifolds can be had for about $350, and a repro fuel tank costs about as much, so yes, you'll probably end up spending more on the tractor than you could ever sell it for. I agree with what Moll said: It's the thrill of breathing new life into old iron that motivates a lot of us.

If the fuel tank isn't too badly rusted, you might be able to conceal a modern fuel can inside to preserve the original look.

Speaking of looks, unless you really want to have a trailer queen, that tractor looks just fine as it is -- no need to paint it. You may want to apply some sort of protective coating, but Fordsons look best in their working clothes.

Mechanically, the valves are [u:c588f910d1]very[/u:c588f910d1] important in these tractors. You'll want to spend as much time as necessary to get everything adjusted correctly, and with proper clearances.

Pistons and rings will likely need attention, but don't go overboard... Sleeving a cylinder costs about $250/per, so unless you have a cracked block and/or are planning on working this tractor hard, a new set of rings should be sufficient to make the tractor run well.

Your tractor still has the original coil box, so make sure the buzz coils are all in good condition and adjusted correctly. If you can locate an aftermarket magneto, that'll help ensure easier starting and minimize cranking. (A perfectly-running Fordson should start with a sharp half-turn of the crank.) Spark plugs are readily available and inexpensive, if you use the Autolite 3095.

There's a lot of information available on-line (especially on that other site), so do your research and ask plenty of questions.

Good luck with your project, and keep us posted.
 

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