Questions on a 1953 Cletrac BD dozer

[7mm-08]

Hello all,My name is Mark from Manitoba,Canada.I have the opportunity to purchase A 1953 Cletrac BD dozer.It has average wear on the rollers in good running condition,steering bands are good and it turns tight.It has the Hercules 6 cyl. in it.I am looking for a dozer to clear some trails (all poplar) and level some land.
Some questions I have.What is the wieght of this machine?what is the horsepower?How hard is it to get parts for these machines?(don't forget I live in canada).What size blade did these machines come with?
The machine is run each year,the  person who has a collection of cletracs  he is getting rid of.This one being the only one with a blade.Would this serve the purpose I am looking to do with it I am also looking at a couple of other machines a 1954 Int. td6 $2500.00,A td-9 $5000.00,A 1950 cat D-7 $5000.00.This machine is going for $2500.00.
For parts,reliability,and the purpose I intend to use the machine for what would be your choice?                          Thank-you!

[Bob]

I would guess the BD would weigh in at about 6 tons with a blade. It is 38 horsepower. Most common parts aren't too hard to find. The blade on mine is 9 feet I think.

The internationals are a good tractor until you have to work on them. I haven't had much experiance with them but what I have had was a nightmare. If the clutches freeze up you stand on your head to get them out. I don't really like them.

The D7 wouldn't be too bad of a choice either. It would just be so big to try to do any small work with. I'm guessing here but it probably has a pony engine on it. They either start good or give fits. The pony is nice in the winter because you can roll the engine and warm the coolant up so the diesel will start easier. I had a D7 of a friends here a week ago and I didn't like it (mostly it was ran in the ground but...) and it seemed to be slow without alot of power for its size. I have an FDE that I think would out push it.

I prefer the cletracs myself because they are easy to work on and not too bad to get parts for. The IH TDs and Cats are a good tractors but they are harder to work on. The IHs are starting to get hard to find parts for from what I hear.

Thats my 2 cents.

Bob

[7mm-08]

Thanks Bob.I guess my biggest concern would be getting parts up here in Manitoba.Not much use buying a machine that would end up being a lawn  ornament not long after you buy it.
The only TDs I have operated were the td 20 I was quite impressed with the machine.And there were no breakdowns so I have no idea what it would be like to get parts.Although Case/IH is still around.
The D7.We have a 1972 at work.It does seem to be more machine than I would need Heaven forbid if I ever sunk it out there.And burning 200L of fuel in a 10 hour day really isn't something I would be looking forward too.
On a good note Caterpillar is still in operation.
I wish we had the machines available up here the way you have down there.people would sooner park them in thier fields and let them seize up than sell them.
other than that the only other Machines I have seen for 5 bills or less have been an AC HD3 for $2500 needed a head gasket and whatever else it sold already.2 AC HD5's both beat to hell,one guy wanted 5 bills for it.And a Jd 40 for $3800.00.
Is $2500.00CDN. a decent price for a 53 bd cletrac?
I am looking to do a 1- 1.5 miles of trails through poplar preferably double cut.Build a mud rod over a swamp about 25 yards long and a bit of leveling.
The guy that has the cletrac has around 7 of them with the bd being the largest I recall him saying he had a o3,o6,ad,bdand a few others.He was selling them all as he ran out of time for his hobby.

                                                      Thanks again Mark

[valds]

$2500 (CN) sounds like a good deal to me.  If you have a Case dealer close ask them about parts availability.  They could tell you what they stock or can still order.  Caterpillar  is rock solid & can probably supply you with anything you would need.  Base upon the prices, it's a matter of personal preferences as to which one to buy.

[Bob]

A Cat for parts wise would be good but hang on to your checkbook. But I guess nothing is cheap anymore. The D7 like you said if you got it stuck you might as well forget it. You would burn alot of fuel but you would get done faster (in theory).

If you could find a decent HD5 I would definately recomend that one. Very balanced and very very powerful for its size. I would think parts would be ok to get too. I have a worn out HD5 and I love it. I would like to buy a new one.

$2500 is a good price for a good BD.

Bob