Very simple utilitarian unit! It looks like a kit someone could throw together in a garage on a Saturday afternoon. Find spare flathead, buy the kit parts and throw it together.
Hi, Squatch253. Nice video but a couple of thoughts about the commentary. 1. It was not the first hi-sprpcket drive. I personally am aware of 2 that predate it, the Best 30 Humpback from 1916 which had the drive sprocket above and BEHIND a rear idler and Holt built a trencher in 1910 that had the drive sprocket about where the top carrier roller would be on a 7J or later D4 to the D series. 2. You have the hi-clearance version there. I suspect the extra 'hole' below where the track frame pivot is currently set would be the 'low' mounting point the the curved equaliser bar at the front was peculiar to the hi-clearance version with the standard version having a flat equaliser bar. There was also a wide version and any of them could be adapted to either of the other versions by adding or subtracting the appropriate parts. 3. As I understand it - and as a previous viewer has mentioned - the gear 'stick' was also the crank handle and, if fitted, a belt pulley would have been mounted where you said it would and would have had the crank handle receiver built in in front of it. 4. Cletrac only built that model for 3 years, partly because it was found that the 'string of pearls' as it became known track roller chain system was not exactly the best way to go. They never again used that system and never built another hi-sprocket crawler. All round, an interesting little jigger and a fine example of some of the early thinking about designing crawler tractors. Thanks for posting. Just my 0.02. You have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.
The crank is the gear shifter, but that one seems a little different than others I’ve seen. But they’re removable and double as the hand crank for the engine as well.
Well, isn't that an interesting track system,...especially when you think, " 1920's" ? I didn't realize how small it was until I saw that guy driving it! I notice too, how things were built back then, with some thought to 'eye appeal' as in that front suspension 'axle' is curved; today that would be made with straight lines and sharp angles, wouldn't it?
I imagine this is why 'antiques' are so appealing. I wonder about the 'antiques' in years to come. Even common everyday items we see from back "in the day" had a certain eye appeal too,..stove legs, bath tubs and water faucets,....now there was style and design, wasn't it? Cheers!
when CAD was invented that's when we lost all the nice curves. computer like straight lines. you look late 70's and in to the 80's everything when to hard straight lines.
Actually it happened in the 1960s with the invention of square-corner formica and sawdust-board home furnishings. That was pre-CAD by a few decades, but not pre "slop it together" mass production.
That's a cute liette guy! Probably someone that Cat had to but out for the patent like EMD to get 'their' train engine. I've herded the hi-tracks and their all right but I'd soon have a conventional. I did just fine till they came out.A 6-C, 7-E or 8-H are fine with me. Who needs a tractor that'll run 75 m.p.h. Not this old boy. Thanks, Toby and God willing, I'll be waiting for the nest one!
yOU'RE RIGHT IN THERE'S A TRADE OFF IN EVERYTHING. iF i HAD A LONG BACKUP i'D JUST WHEEL AROUND AND GO BACK FORWARD. Interesting thought! Wretched caps lock button too. I'd rather run a 6-C than about anything unless it';s a 7-E or an 8-H. A good wrench man can set the fuel on a Cat (old one) that they'd keep the top of the stack honeycombed. When that was going on, work was being done! Thanks, Toby! Keep 'em coming!
