Vintage Tractor Engineer

Hello,
I was very impressed by your web site, I hope you may be able to help.   I have just bought a little grey who’s owner told that it had always been kept inside - he owned it, his father before him ect ect, he told me that he had a minor problem with the starter motor.I have removed the starter, which from the outside looks as if it has recently been re furbished.  I had a local repair company look at the starter and they told me that it was full of oil, and because there is a fault in the engine somewhere the same thing would occur if I repair the starter and re install it.

Can you tell me what the problem might be, and if it is a big or small job to repair. I forgot to mention that the model of the tractor is a TEF 20. Any help you can give would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks, DM

VTE replies….

If there are no visible external oil leaks, then the only way the oil can get into the starter is from the flywheel housing. Oil can enter the flywheel housing from either the engine shaft seal or the gearbox seal.

Any leaks into the flywheel housing should drip out of the drain hole in the bottom of the flywheel/clutch housing. This drain hole should have a split pin in it - this is supposed to vibrate about and keep the hole clean. Sometimes the whole gets bunged up with dirt, leading to a build up of oil in the flywheel housing - which then gets flicked into the starter motor when the engine is running. The oil often gets onto the clutch as well and so can require clutch replacement.

Therefore, the first thing to do is make sure the drain hole is not bunged up. The leak from the seals could be very small, and may have accumulated for over 50 years! If either of the seals need replacing, you will need to split the tractor to access the problem.

The clutch release bearing on the Fordson Dexta ( Ford Dexter ) is pre-lubricated and so should not require any maintenance during servicing. It may, however, require replacement if it does not run smoothly, there is excessive sideways movement or it is loose on the hub. If the bearing is in good condition, and as it has been pre-lubricated, it should not be cleaned in solvent. A single clutch is fitted to tractors with the standard power take off, whilst there is a double clutch fitted to tractors with the ‘live’ power take off. When replacing the double clutch release bearing follow the same instructions as for the single clutch, other than to bear in mind that a spring retaining clip fastens the clutch release rod clevis pin and this must be replaced upon re-assembly.

In order to replace the release bearing follow these instructions.

1. Separate the engine from the transmission.
2. Disconnect the clutch release rod from the release arm by removing the split pin and clevis pin.
3. Lift the inner end of the return spring away from the clutch fork, rotate the fork and withdraw the release bearing and hub assembly.
4. Remove the release bearing from the hub.
5. When fitting the new release bearing, ensure that the thrust face is facing outwards.
6. Pack the recess in the release hub bore with an extreme pressure high melting point grease.
7. Slide the release bearing and hub assembly into position whilst engaging the fork with the slotted arms of the hub.
8. Rotate the fork to the rear and, with the hooked end of the return spring located around the lug cast in the housing, engage the inner end of the spring with the front face of the small projection on the side of the fork.

This procedure has been adapted from the Fordson Dexta workshop manual.