The Fordson F was the first tractor released by the company. It was produced from 1917 until 1927, and is often looked at as the most influential tractor of all time. Tractors of competitors were becoming very complex, and were fairly expensive. Fordson created the model F with the simple farmers in mind. They kept things very simple, and most importantly, inexpensive. This allowed small farmers who may have been a bit skeptical to buy a tractor for the first time.
The majority of the Fordson Fs were manufactured in Dearborn, MI, but about 7,600 were manufactured at a factory in Cork, Ireland. For the first three years of production, the Model F had a Hercules engine. This engine had four cylinders, natural aspiration, and was run on distillate fuel. The engine was liquid cooled, and put out about 20horsepower. In 1920, Fordson changed the engines to a nearly identical Ford engine.
As for the transmission, this two-wheel drive tractor has three forward gears and one reverse. The speeds range from 1.6mph in first gear to 7mph in third. In reverse, the Model F will go up to 2.1mph. In the Nebraska Tractor Test completed in 1920, the maximum belt power was 19.15hp. The maximum drawbar power was 9.34hp and the maximum drawbar pull was 2,187 pounds. When the test was completed again in 1926, the maximum belt power had gone up to 22.28hp, the maximum drawbar power was 12.325hp, and the maximum drawbar pull was 2,142 pounds.
The Fordson F was a smaller tractor, weighing in at about 2,920 pounds. It had a wheelbase of 5.25 feet, was 4.58 feet tall, 5.25 feet wide, and 8.5 feet long. The Model F’s ground clearance was 11.6 inches. This lightweight tractor was cheaper to make thanks to its dimensions, and cheaper to ship because it was small enough to park sideways on railcars.
The serial number for each Fordson F can be found below the cylinder head on the right side of the engine. Production numbers are as follows:
For Model Fs made in America:
1917: 1-259
1918: 260-34426
1919: 34427-100000
1920: 100001-158311
1921: 158312-201025
1922: 201026-268583
1923: 268583-370350
1924: 370351-455359
1925: 455360-557607
1926: 557608-629830
1927: 629830-740084
For Model Fs made in Ireland:
1919: 63001-65000
1920: 65001-108229
1921: 108230-109672
1922: 109673+
Fordson F Tractors & Parts For Sale
Comments On The Fordson F
Leave Your Comments On The Fordson F
Ken on 12.23.2010
Like your Fordson, I have one and need some parts to get it running. Do you have any parts or leads as to where I can get, intake/exhaaust manifold, carb. air-water wash. this could get me started, I think.
Thanks.
Ken
Sheila on 04.30.2011
I have a 59 Fordson Major that we are thinking about selling. How do I know what a fair price is?
Phil Simon on 10.15.2011
I need spark plugs -1923 -Fordson –f–
Lee Sudman on 11.07.2011
Serial #653431. Have a Kingston Regenerator carb. Does anyone have information on how to adjust it? What is the correct plug to use? Thanks for any information.