The Fordson Dexta was the smaller companion to the Fordson Major. Launched to compete with the Massey Ferguson 35, it used a three-cylinder engine and shared its basic gearbox and differential castings with the Ferguson.
Fordson Dexta at a glance
| Maker | Ford Motor Company Ltd, Dagenham |
|---|---|
| Role | small tractor below the Fordson Major |
| Main rival | Massey Ferguson 35 |
| Engine | Perkins A3 three-cylinder |
| Early diesel capacity | 144 cu in |
| Later diesel capacity | 152 cu in |
| Petrol engine | Standard, as used in the Ferguson TEA and FE 35 |
| Gearbox | basic castings shared with the Massey Ferguson 35 |
| Differential | castings shared with the Massey Ferguson 35 |
| Starter position | right side on the petrol Dexta |
| Fuel systems | different injector systems from the Ferguson |
The Dexta has no separate Wikipedia article; this page is based on the Dexta section of the English Wikipedia article on the Fordson brand. It is a single source.
History of the Fordson Dexta
The Dexta was Ford’s answer to the Massey Ferguson 35, the small tractor that dominated the British market in the 1950s. Ford chose a three-cylinder layout for the new model. The basic gearbox and differential castings were shared with the Massey Ferguson 35, and so were many other parts, which made the two tractors unusually close relatives despite their different badges.
The diesel Dexta used a Perkins A3 engine. Early Dextas had the 144 cubic inch version, while later machines, and the Perkins-engined Massey Ferguson 35s, used the 152 cubic inch version. The two tractors also had different injector systems and many further differences even though they sat on a common platform. The petrol Dexta used the same Standard engine as the Ferguson TEA and FE 35, with one visible change: the starter was moved to the right-hand side of the Dexta.
Unlike the Ferguson, the petrol Dexta used the same gearbox castings as the diesel version. The Dexta was sold alongside the larger Major and gave Ford a second, smaller tractor for British farms.
The Dexta shows how closely British tractor makers worked in the 1950s. Ford and Ferguson competed fiercely in the showroom, yet their small tractors shared castings and dimensions.
Design and features
- Three-cylinder engine: a compact Perkins A3 diesel, with petrol alternatives.
- Shared platform: gearbox and differential castings were common with the Massey Ferguson 35.
- Perkins diesel: 144 cu in early, 152 cu in later, with different injectors from the Ferguson.
- Petrol option: the Standard engine from the Ferguson TEA and FE 35, with the starter on the right.
Fordson Dexta versions
- Dexta diesel: Perkins A3 engine, 144 cu in early and 152 cu in later.
- Dexta petrol: Standard engine shared with the Ferguson TEA and FE 35.
- Early and late diesels: distinguished by engine capacity and injector system.
The Dexta was the smaller stablemate of the Fordson Major. The earlier Fordson E27N shows what the range looked like before the new engines. More Fordsons are in the Fordson collection.
Video: Démarrage Fordson Dexta (Cold Start)
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Fordson, English Wikipedia: Dexta section, engines, shared Ferguson parts
