Cletrac 55

Started by Jon Pritchard, January 31, 2003, 06:06:27 AM

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Jon Pritchard

January 31, 2003, 06:06:27 AM Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 12:00:00 AM by Jon Pritchard
I have an opportunity to lay my hands on a Cletrac 55.  It has a GarWood blade, a Wisconsin 6 cylinder gas engine and seems to be pretty much complete.  Questions:
-does anyone know if some or most engine parts are available?
-the tracks are worn but look usable.  Are any track parts available?
-I hope to use the machine for moving a bit of dirt.  Are there any weak spots in the machine I should watch out for? (Finals, etc?)
-is this model a particularly rare specimen?  There seems to be only one set of photos of a 55 posted on this site.

Thanks!
Jon Pritchard.

John Schwiebert

#1
January 31, 2003, 11:39:13 AM Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 12:00:00 AM by John Schwiebert
They were built durring the depression. According to my records less than 100 were built. I have only seen one and it was in PA.
John Schwiebert

Blake Malkamaki

#2
January 31, 2003, 04:25:51 PM Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 12:00:00 AM by Blake
Actually many many of these tractors were built with many (at least hundreds) were sold and shipped to Russia. A friend of mine had one, but I don't know where it went.

My grandfather never liked the model 55 and said it was clumsy. That however, does not mean it is not a good tractor to collect and restore.

Good luck.
My gramps Howard van Driest was Experimental Engineer at Cletrac and Oliver Corporation. After the plant closed, he and my uncle started an excavating business, initially using Cletrac and Oliver Crawler tractors. Please help Support This Site and give your business exposure by buying a business card sized ad.

Albert Duroe

#3
February 07, 2003, 03:30:00 PM Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 12:00:00 AM by Albert Duroe
I have two 55's and I would be happy to help you restore yours.  Bill Bechtol has a 55 restored in California

Jon Pritchard

#4
February 16, 2003, 05:43:23 AM Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 12:00:00 AM by Jon Pritchard
Thanks for all your responses.  I did find an indication of how many 55's were built, right off this site:  There is some data for 55's posted under the "photos" section.  It looks like some 1,962 copies were built, from '32 to '36.  I guess this makes them kind of rare....

Albert, can you post a photo or two of your 55's?  Did you have to do any major work on them?

Thanks,
Jon.

Albert Duroe

#5
February 18, 2003, 02:44:39 PM Last Edit: January 01, 1970, 12:00:00 AM by Albert Duroe
I will post or Email you pictures when I get home from Florida in a couple of weeks.  I have not started to restore the 55 but they will be started when I get back to Iowa.  I will junk one and rebuild one.  Spark

azevedo762

#6
June 14, 2016, 05:08:24 AM
Do any of you have parts tractors or tractors you would sell? If so please let me know where you are. My neighbor has a 55 that needs a lot of work and I am trying to figure out if it's a project worth starting. Thank you. I'm in California
real

Richard Borgaro

#7
June 14, 2016, 11:00:35 PM
Bill Bechthold in California does have a nice 55 and so does Landis Zimmerman. I'm located in Oregon, and have a friend with a couple, will find out if he has extra parts.
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