Fordson Major

Hello to all. I have a 56 Fordson Major which has water in the trans and gear box but not the engine oil. Fluid is leaking out around the three point hitch level control. I noticed the radiator seemed over pressured and blowing out the vent tube but not losing much coolant. Last question, I can't find GL-3 oil, would it cause a problem if I used 80/90 gear lube GL-5. Thanks

Water in the rear axle is pretty common, it is usually caused by condensation. You can try
cracking the drain plug a little and see what comes out. If it is easier to find, Ford changed
the oil spec in the rear axle and gearbox to 20/30W or Universal oil back in 1959, for all
their Major range from 1952. You may find that she is nosier but it will do no harm, there is
a lot of oil in there though. The rear axle oil level is on the dipstick near the gear lever
on the left, the transmission level is on the side of the filler.

You could be getting oil transfer from gearbox to rear axle visa the seal in the main output
gear or the PTO housing. This again is common and some people, me included, just transfer it
back using a pipe from the trailer pipe, back to the gearbox.

As far as water blowing out of the radiator it may be that you are over filling a bit, they
are not usually a pressurised radiator although it could be. When new, here in England, only
the petrol or the petrol/kerosene versions had a pressure rad cap although some of the diesel
ones did too. Check for blockage in the fins of the radiator or give the system a good
flushing out with a hose.

What Majorman posted.

Thanks for the replies. I did crack the rear axial drain plug and got about half cup of pure water followed by 8 plus gallons of chocolate milk. Same with the transmission case. Would you recommend I return the 9 gallons of Traveller 80W90 weight gear oil to Tractor Supply and replace it with 20-30? I would of thought the thicker oil might not leak by the seals as bad but the GL-5 rating has me a bit worried. I've been using this tractor for 25 years, mostly to push snow in the winter and field mow in the summer. I had to install a separate hydraulic pump on the front pulley to operate the plow blade up & down plus the tilt angle. 15 or 20 years ago I managed to twist the timing gear off the camshaft and ruin them both. Luckily I found replacements parts from an old farm tractor someplace in central Canada. The internet is good for somethings. Life is always a learning experience.

I don't have a Fordson Major,BUT when I needed less than GL5 for my old tractor I used 1/2 Gl5 and 1/2 GL1. By reading the MSDS and product safety sheets for the oil I was using a 50/50 mix achieved essentially
the same recipe as GL4. So if you wanted GL3 maybe a 40/60 mix. Have to do some research to figure out recipe for GL3.

If you have the 80/90W already that is GL5 I would not use it. It is not designed for the type
or rear end in the Major. You could use a 40/50W engine oil, I use that in some of my other
tractors. Seems a bit strange that 90W is not available.