I have a Fordson Major Tractor, 1958ish I'm not positive on that. I have a bucket on the front. I was working with it and suddenly the hydraulics quit working. I took the front end apart a bit and I can see the pump shaft is loose. (It slides back and forth a half inch). The shaft is like this, Its got four bolts on the front pulley of the engine, the shaft is connected to them, the other end of the shaft is connected to the pump. I can hear it rattles when it runs. It looks like the bolts aren't tight on the pulley but they look like they might be right???? Is it ok for the shaft to slide should it be tighter

Jes, January 2009

Is the shaft turning the pump? Depending on how the
drive shaft is fitted to the pump (often just a "push" fit) locating on a key, secured by an allen headed bolt.
If it has worked loose it may have moved off the key,
assuming you have a sliding shaft, or possibly sheared
the key.

Mr. Toad, January 2009