Cletrac.org

Just a couple before and after pics of BD we are restoring.  Trying to finish it for the May Steam Show in Brownsville, PA.  Waiting for radiator to be re-cored.
Should be done this week.

John

[attachment=2:2mipx9lv]email engine 4.JPG[/attachment:2mipx9lv]  [attachment=1:2mipx9lv]email engine 1.JPG[/attachment:2mipx9lv]  [attachment=0:2mipx9lv]email engine.JPG[/attachment:2mipx9lv]

That looks relly nice. I might have to make it down to the show this spring.

WOW!  that is ? ther ain't a word i think of to say---that''s amazing....good work

              kapou

Fantastic! More, more, more!

Thanks for the comments. I have about 200 pictures of the BD rebuild. When time permits I will post them some where and put a link on this site.

John

You might just post a few of the major progress ones right here in this thread with a little commentary next to each one. Makes for great reading material. The restoration/refurbish/retrofit projects are one of the main reasons I visit this sight. We definitely need more of that stuff to look at.

What paint and paint code did you use? That looks like that is the perfect color orange. Mine AD is too light, but that was the code I was told it was.

Bob

Nice Work, did you have to replace any of the diesel parts?

Believe it or not, I mixed 2 colors of Valspar tractor implement enamel from Tractor Supply. Someone flipped the clutch cover upside down before this crawler was painted yellow which left the original
orange color preserved. I was planning on painting it an orange color that was readily available with out having it mixed. The color I chose was Kubota orange. I started to primer with Valspar red oxide primer
and noticed that the primer when wet was close to the Cletrac orange. So I stole a set of my wifes measuring spoons from the kitchen and started mixing different ratios of primer to Kubota orange until it
matched the clutch cover. The ratio ended up 2 parts Kubota orange to 1 part red oxide primer and then added enamel hardener according to the directions. I did this same thing on a gravely tractor a few years ago and the paint is holding up pretty good.
As for the diesel engine, this crawler sat in the woods for 15 to 17 years, we got it started where it sat and drove it out and onto a trailer to get it home. It actually ran pretty good but had a miss that we figured was a clogged injector and a knock in the transmission that went away when the clutch was pushed, so we figured it was something in the clutch. When removing the clutch to remove the engine I noticed the clutch and flywheel moved back and forth about 1/2" but the clutch components looked fine. My son was turning the engine over from the crankshaft pulley at the front of the engine and noticed that the whole crankshaft was moving front to back about a 1/2"  :D .
I will post some more of the rebuild later, I don't want to make this to long and bore everyone.

John

What usually breaks the pistons and rings on a Hercules diesel or any diesel as far as that goes is too much either, or not using ether properly. (Of course not saying you had anything to do with it) The proper way to use ether is to have the engine turning and smoke coming out the exhaust, which means you are getting fuel/lubrication in the cylinders. Use just enough ether to make it fire. If you do it that way every time you won't hurt it. Hercules diesels are known for hard starting. I usually have to crank my AD over quite a bit for it to start without ether. My BD and DD and FDE are worn and need quite a bit of ether to start and keep running until their a little warm. They won't start in the afternoon when its 100 degrees in the shade without a snort of ether.

Tip to all, just becareful while using ether and if its used properly it shouldn't damage your engine. And don't be in a hurry with a Hercules diesel, let it roll quite a bit because if in decent shape at all it'll start without any ether.

It was probably to much ether , We found 6 empty rusty cans of it laying on the ground near the crawler and a couple more cans in the steel box behind the seat.
The thing that surprises me is how well the engine ran with a broken piston and the 1/2" of play in the crankshaft. I am going to try and get it started sometime in the next week or so.
I will make video a post a link.
One more thing, If I can get my photo editor to work. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the large round funny looking thing on top of the water pump is and what it might be used for.
The book doesn't really say anything about it.

Thanks John

John,
 VERY NICE JOB, your tractor lokks great. the item you asked about is a water jacket pre heater, to use you put old style blow torch hung from a bolt screwed in hole to direct heat in the end of water heater, takes awhile,but helps some. I have a 47 with same attachment also have a 52 bd without it, you need to find the old style blowtorch with the hanging eyelet on top, thaks for pics.
                                                                                                                            Curt

I lie it! I overhauled a BD for a man  probably 30 years ago. The man just died not too long ago. Age 95. How do I contact you? I have some questions for you? Southwest PA, How far from Washington?

I never thought that would be a block heater, I read somewhere that it was a heater but I was thinking cab heater, funny,I know  :?:
I think my dad has an old blow torch that was my grandfathers, I'll have to try it.

I live about 35 mins. southeast of Washington PA. 6 miles south of Brownsville PA.
 
I will PM you with a no.

John

They did have cabs on Cletracs in general. I have some pics of one somewhere. Let me know if he calls, I thought he was going to call me to help on my 40D, but hasn't yet, almost a year...Slightly disapointed...

I saw the video of this crawler awhile ago on you tube, its amazing how decent it ran with all the broken parts you mentioned! how did you find that so far back in the woods? whats the story behind it? It really looks great, not sure if even looked that good outta the showroom, great job, cant wait to see it when its done!

Here's a couple pictures of the broken piston and thrust washers.    [attachment=2:3sylt184]broken piston.JPG[/attachment:3sylt184][attachment=1:3sylt184]thrust washer.JPG[/attachment:3sylt184]




Here's the inside of differential housing after we drained it. It was filled mostly with water, dirt and rust.
All the bearings were good but did have to replace steering drum bushings and rebuild oil pump. The steering drums wobbled back and forth about 3/4" and the bushings were wore almost completely through.[attachment=0:3sylt184]dirty diff.JPG[/attachment:3sylt184]

Quote

Quote from: "mikeinnh"how did you find that so far back in the woods? whats the story behind it? It really looks great, not sure if even looked that good outta the showroom, great job, cant wait to see it when its done!

My sons and I like restoring garden tractors, motorcycles, jeeps, trucks and old rototillers. We've also been going to the Brownsville steam show since the early 80's. My youngest son goes to the steam show grounds in the summer months and helps pick up sticks and cut grass. He is also crazy about anything with tracks. So during the May 09 show I told some people that I was looking for a small crawler that I could work on with my sons. About a month later I got a call about a Caterpillar D4 that had been sitting at a saw mill for the past 17 years buried in sawdust. It was only used to drive the saw mill so the undercarriage was very good.I really wanted to get this Cat but I could not find anyone with a truck large enough to load and haul it in the next few days so the dozer was scrapped   . One week after this I was picking my son up from the show grounds and there was a couple of the guys that told me about the d4, working on a Farmall . As I was telling them the sad fate of the D4 one of them said; Hey what about the old dozer sitting in the woods on the property next to the show grounds. The other guy says; Yea, I think its still there. So they pointed my sons and I in the general direction of where they thought it was and we walked back and forth for about 35 min. Then we saw some yellow through the trees and sure enough there it was buried in trees and brush, we walked right past it at least 4 times before one of us saw it. I then tracked the owner down , asked him if he would sell it and he said yes. He told me that he bought it at an estate auction when the original owner died and that the original owner was one of the guys that started the steam show. He used it to drag logs to the saw mill on the show grounds before the show was even there. He also said that it had a loader on it but it was sold separately at the auction and the person that bought it cut it up for scrap.  
I would eventually like to get a Heil blade for it or build my own blade we'll see.

thats a pretty good story/history on your rig, too bad about the cat, atleast something good came out of it. and you were able to drive it out too!

I've got a complete blade setup with your name on it! I'd make you a deal on it and may be able to deliver it to the show.

Did you sandblast or just wirewheel the crud off? I prefer sandblasting, but hate, no despise doing it.

Bob,
Cool!!  I'm looking forward to working out a deal.  Let me know how you want to get in touch.

Pressure washer, wire brushes, lots of grinding.  And did I mention wire brushes and grinding??
I did burn up two 4 1/2" grinders in the process.

I'll PM you my email.

OK Bob i'll watch for your pm. Or i'll just pm you my e-mail.
thanks
John

I still have some pictures to put on here. But for now i posted a link to a video of us starting it last week.
The link is in the video clip sharing forum on this site.

John

Here's some pictures of the hood before, during and after. For some reason someone cut a hole in the hood right above the voltage regulator   . Easy access I guess. other than that the hood was in pretty good shape.

John[attachment=2:1245lt8f]032.JPG[/attachment:1245lt8f][attachment=1:1245lt8f]042.JPG[/attachment:1245lt8f][attachment=0:1245lt8f]002.JPG[/attachment:1245lt8f]

That's the stuff I like to see. Funny you posted this. My hood is one of the last pieces I have left to do. As a matter of fact it's in the bare metal stage right now and I'm banging it back into shape. Very inspiring!

Hotratz
I'm glad to be an inspiration to someone , I made my wife read this. On a serious note though, the work you did on the dash of your OC is much better than my hood. The pictures make the hood look flawless but it still has many imperfections in it. I do appreciate the comments though. Isn't it amazing what some cleaning and paint can do?

John

Well, I'm sure my hood isn't going to be show room quality when I get done with it, It was just way too wrinkled when I started and I'm not a body man by any means. Isn't it amazing how many hours of unnoticed progress it takes before you actually see results. Stuff that needs to be done that nobody will ever see. I wish it was as simple as clean and paint. I've probably got at least 60-80+ hours in that dash alone.  

Yeah, I know what you mean about unseen hours.  I probably have 25 hours restoring the original viscometer back to original operating condition.  I even recruited 2 hours of my wife's time to design and print the guage face.  The clean and paint comment wasn't enough of a comment.  :roll: .   But it's all good when you love doing it .

John

I've got a Viscometer you can fix up too! I've never seen a Viscometer in good shape. I do have one that you can still see a little.

John, I have enjoyed your whole rescue and restoration of your BD. The work is very professional looking. great job! I see in your last picture of the hood installed,what looks to be an newer style spin on primary fuel filter. The filter appaers to be from NAPPA. Is the filter adapter from NAPPA also? I have a BD and would like to up date also.Thanks Bill in CT.

I can't speak for John, but I put a spin on from Napa on my AD, housing and all. It wasn't very expensive considering fighting trying to find and fix the original filter. I don't have the number off it but can get it, maybe John has it off hand?

Bob

The NAPA fuel filter number is 4006 .The adapter is from NAPA also but I do not have the part number.
Tractor supply also sells an adapter for a spin on that looks and measures the same as the one from NAPA.

John

When we got the BD the seat was not original. I showed Landis Zimmerman a picture of it and he told me what model Cletrac the seat was from but I can not remember what he said, maybe someone on here knows.
I decided to put the correct seat on it, but could not find one.  So I took pictures and measurements of the correct seat at a tractor show and built one out of some scrap steel that was laying around. Here's a couple pictures of the seat that was on it and the one I built.

[attachment=0:3gd9ohob]cletracstart 002.JPG[/attachment:3gd9ohob][attachment=1:3gd9ohob]HPIM2275.JPG[/attachment:3gd9ohob][attachment=2:3gd9ohob]003.JPG[/attachment:3gd9ohob]

Nice job on that seat!

Blake

WOW on that seat! Very nice and looks to be darn close to original. I bet no one would ever know if you didn't tell them

Outstanding! Man, I still can't believe how much work you did in such short time. I've been at my little OC-46 for two years and I've still got about 100 hours to go. Hats off to you.

Thanks for the compliments.
I am also surprised at how quickly this thing came together . I thought because the Cletrac was a track machine that it would be difficult to work on, but it turned out to be easier than expected.  It's a pretty simple machine once you get past the intimidation.  I rebuilt a 1957 willys M38A1 a few years ago and it took 5 years to complete.

John

You just got lucky on finding a good canidate for restoration. The couple I started with were toast in the begining! We did total restorations of everything. I've got a couple that are gonna be "easy" hopefully...

that is a beautiful restoration. I missed the year of the machine.  I have a question regarding the part/spacer used between the generator & water pump.  What is it called?  it is about 1/2 thick, mine appears to be made of rubber & has 6 concave spacers on each bolt holding the 2 units together.  Mine is all chewed up & I've had trouble finding a replacement.  I saw it on your right side pictures of your cletrac.  Mine is a 1953 BDH with a blade, that I pulled out of the mountains north of las vegas.

Its called a rag joint. A guy could fix it using thick rubber, or canvas type material. You would cut out the material in the shape of an O. Then affix each side to the materail seperately. I can't think of a good way to describe it. Maybe even a Love-Joy coupling would work.

We always called them rag joints too. I know some of the old Ford f series trucks i've had in the past had them as steering shaft couplings. you could cut one out of an old bias ply tire, it is similar material.

The fenders were cut and bent 90 degrees up to make room for the loader that was on the machine. The bottom of the fenders where they meet the frame was completely rusted away . I cut the rusted parts and the part that was bent up for loader clearance off and welded new stuff back on close to original. I did not grind the welds smooth. The steel was pitted from rust so bad It would have left a smooth spot the entire length of the fender so we left the pits and welds . I like seeing all the scars under the paint, it gives it character and a life story.

John

[attachment=2:1c1e1ucp]rusty fender.JPG[/attachment:1c1e1ucp][attachment=1:1c1e1ucp]welded.JPG[/attachment:1c1e1ucp][attachment=0:1c1e1ucp]painted.JPG[/attachment:1c1e1ucp]

You guys do good work!

My son finally brought the injectors home from the tech school. He said they where having trouble finding the right fittings to fit the injectors. The instructor new someone who ended up having the fitting. I had them set the pressure at 1600psi.
My son said that some of the injectors where set so low that as soon as they pumped the handle on the tester fuel leaked out of the nozzle. once they set the pressure to 1600 every injector had a perfect spray pattern. I can't wait to get them installed and hear it run   .

That will help with the miss, no doubt!

Video links of us driving the Cletrac for first time since rebuilding it.
The links are in the video clip sharing forum on this site.

hey mate im just wondering where you sourced a new piston from and am wondering if you could tell me of a place to get some sleeves for that type of engine

Cheers Josh

I purchased the piston from Zimmermans. They are listed in the advertisment and classifieds on this site.

Wow, That is one fine looking Cletrac. Looks like you guys are really doing a great job. You can really be proud of it when you are done.

Quote from: "Bob"That looks relly nice. I might have to make it down to the show this spring.

Bob, You do good work!
Valds

bob & dadjohn
thanx for the advice about the ragjoint.  I had some rubber of the correct density & made one.  It worked just fine.

too bad all the pictures are gone...

I saw your BD at the National Pike show last Saturday Dadjon. Looks great! Too bad no one introduced us.

Blake

I don't remember seeing Jon handy, or I woulda...

I was only at the show for a couple of hours on saturday, Unfortunately i had to work most of the weekend.
I did see Bob on the FDE,(The Hercules diesel on Bobs FDE sounds awsome) didn't really get to talk to him though.  For the couple of hours i was there i spent it running the BD.
John.

Quote from: LoggerLee on August 19, 2011, 06:25:00 PM
too bad all the pictures are gone...

one of these days i will try to repost all the pictures. or just a link to the photos,
John.