Model E Cletrac

[John Schwiebert]

I am getting confused on model E serial numbers. I see IB numbers, 2H numbers and 1A numbers. For the diesel models I see I AA numbers. but two different set of letters for the ED2 models. Were any unstyled E built and do they continue on form the model 15. I would like someone that also has some version of an ED to e-mail me. Also does anybody have a clue as to why they built the ED and the ED2 at the same time.

[Blake Malkamaki]

My one E is SN 1A80 and it is unstyled.

My great grandfather's (now owned by my cousin) E was one of the very first, but he put the new streamlined sheet metal on it before he took it home from the plant.

You can see my Gramps on my early E here:
http://little-mountain.com/blake/pages/vanDriest.html

[Blake Malkamaki]

John, I wish I knew more about the numbers and how to help you out on that. I know some of the E diesels had Buda engines, while others probably had the DOOC Hercules engines. I'm not sure why. I also don't understand the EHG. Why was it built? It is basically the same, but had different track frames. I don't think it had central lubrication like the regular E did. Perhaps they were made for a different soil type. Perhaps they had an experimental track frame and lower track wheel system. I have never really seen one myself in person.

I know the E was a tractor designed mostly for potato farming. My late friend John Davis (worked for Cletrac starting in 1918) said the track frames and lower track wheels were designed by someone in Potter County, Pa. (big potato country). They were made cheaper than the industrial model A, which was the same basic tractor. The only real difference being the track frames, suspension and gearing. They had cast iron bushings in the lower track wheels, which many thought would never hold up, but they did.

Many Es were sold in potato areas of Potter and Erie County, Pa., Geauga and Portage County, Ohio, and Chatauqua County, NY. I'm sure other potato areas had their share too.

Blake

[John Schwiebert]

Blake: Thanks. There is a man about 20 miles from here who has an E. I stopped there once. He said his dad wanted to put a blade on it but could not because of the suspension. So I need to look at it again. There is also an E at the New Haven IN show sometimes. It  has a 226 Continental and I was reading in some of my Cletrac AG literature where the Continental was furnished as a replacement for the OOC. I just wonder how many E diesels were made/

[Blake Malkamaki]

John, if you're not familiar with the E, it's one of the nicest little tractors to run. Especially the wide Es, which have coil springs and knee action suspension. They ride as smooth as can be and are very flexible. I can easily cross ditches or logs diagonally with mine.

The narrow Es have leaf springs mounted parellel to the track frames and are not nearly as flexible or smooth.

A friend of mine mounted a small blade on a narrow E, but the coil sprung ones would not be good for that. Better to get a tractor with a firmer suspension, like my OC-12, which has a walking beam and no springs at all.

[John Schwiebert]

This was a wider one and I remember the spring was different. That was what he said kept them from putting a blade on it. Blake you would like this guy. He is a stem man and at that time was involved with the NKP 765 project.

[Blake Malkamaki]

I was just looking at the E page in the Album and I realized it isn't well represented. It's hard to see any details in the pictures and the wide Es there show no details of their suspensions. I'll have to get some detailed pictures of my E, including the suspension.

Here's a link to an EHG - notice the different track frames:
http://www.cletrac.org/media/pictures/E_manure.jpg

I don't know what kind of suspension the EHG has.

HGs and OC-3s would be so much nicer if they had the knee action suspension.

Wish I knew more about the diesel engines on these.

[TIM HOSKINSON]

HI BLAKE THE ED ACCORDING TO THE INFO. I HAVE WERE ALL POWER BY THE DOOC HERC. THE ED2 WAS POWERED BY THE BUDA 4DT-196 & 4DT-212. ALL GAS MODELS WERE OF COURSE OOC HERC.