New Owner need advice

[Relic]

Hello All, It was this specific site that lead me to my new project. I bought what I believe to be a Cletrac E. It says E on the radiator Cletrac along the side and looks just like a picture I have set for my background with Howard Van Driest driving at some show. It is a crank start
but crank itself cant be found manifold stack is missing and has a car radiator rigged to it. Have original radiator that I will have redone eventually. Seller says it has been sitting for a couple years but I think possibly longer than that. Says it was running when parked. I have to go move it this weekend and am wondering what I will need to get it up on trailor if I cant fire it up. Seller knows nothing about these and says levers are rusted or he doesnt know how to use them right. I also know nothing but am creative and have good common sense but would like to know what each lever does and mainly how to get it into nuetral to winch it up if possible. Or drag it if I have to. Also what preparations I should do to try and start it. Type of engine it is? I have a old jeep with hurricane eng for carb if I can slap it on, Seller says missing carb on Cletrac but I think pic shows carb on it. I have a link to the description of the Cletrac I bought of Ebay here is the url of pictures and discription hope I did this right. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1
 Just copy and paste in address bar. Hope I can get some help I am really excited about this project I really need 1 of these
to do the work around my property. Wonderful site and I would not have taken this project on if I didnt come acroos it. This is a Great site.

[Blake Malkamaki]

Welcome to the group!

It looks like you got a pretty good deal on the E. Let me make a few quick observances as the ebay pictures load.

It is an unstyled E. Look for the serial number on the right side of the firewall on the outside - should be a plate.

Your carb is there, but the manifold is shot. Looks like both steering levers are locked back as brakes.

You're right about the radiator - it is a car radiator. You'll have to find the right radiator or maybe there's enough there to fix.

It has a speed reduction PTO.

I would take off all the loader contraption and hydraulic system. None of that belongs.

It is hard to tell the condition of the tracks, lower track wheels, idlers and sprockets from the pictures, but they look usable, at least for show and playing around home.

The ebay pictures never loaded all the way, but that is my quick overview for tonight. Now I'm off to bed.

Let us know any specific questions you have. Where are you located?

Blake

[Relic]

Thank you so much for replying Blake. I am
at my camp in Earlville, New York 40 miles south of Syracuse I would like some advice on getting it to camp also. It is located in Douglassville, PA. 250 miles from me. I would like to know the weight of it and what I could get by with trailoring it also the width and length. I have a 4 ton come along and a 15 foot chain. I am willing to rent a winch if you think thats adviseable.The guy up here wants to charge me 500 dollars to
go get it. If I can haul it myself Id like to but I do not think my truck would do it . It is a 4 cylinder ranger. I could rent a truck but do not know where to get a trailor. Uhauls biggest trailor has a weight limit of 4000 pounds. Max gross weight of 6000 pounds I believe Ill have to check again.
If it is less than that I can rent that from Uhaul. I would think a truck and trailor rental would be round 200.00 I am open for suggestions as far as hauling goes and any advice on what books to buy for good solid information.  What would a hauler there in PA charge to haul 1 way. I am worried the tracks may be locked and Id have to drag it on the trailor. I dont know the lever configuration. I asume the clutch
is the left pedal the 2 sticks are to steer and the lever far right is the shifter. I dont know what the lever on right side of seat is maybe throtle or hydraulic lift lever,I dont know I never operated a crawler
Id like to know what does what and what you would do? Would you try and fire it up or soak the cylinders for a while so not to damage anything. If it has only been sitting for a coulple years I would think it would be ok to try and fire her up. What size wrench would I need to manualy turn her over. The crank is missing. If I bring a generator and a 1/2 hp drill would that turn her over. Sorry for all questions but I want to be prepared when I go get it as I wont be able to go to shop for tools. Thanks again for your timely reply the guy wants it off propery this weekend. So I have to make arangements quickly. This is a great forum, you are doing a great service to all who enjoy tinkering on projects but dont have all the neccessary on hand knowledge. Thank you.
Mike Purcell

[Blake Malkamaki]

Hi Mike,
The E by itself should weigh something like 5500 lbs. The first thing I would do in trying to move it would be to release the steering levers, as it looks like someone locked them both back as parking brakes. There is a knob at the top of each that allows them to the be locked. Turning the knob will pull up on a linkage that will unlock them and allow them to go forward. The tractor may move easily after this.

The middle lever is the shifter - 3 speeds forward and 1 reverse. The small lever on the right is the throttle and there should be a small lever right in front of the seat the is for the PTO. The other one is probably for the hydraulic contraption.

As far as hauling, ask on here first and see if you can find someone in the general area that would be willing to help you. Do you know anyone who shows antique tractors or goes to shows? If so, one of those guys would probably have have a truck and trailer that could make quick work of moving the E. Your Ranger would probably be a little small, but a half ton would more than likely do it if the brakes on the trailer work. Of course you'd be better off with something a little bigger. I would not mess around with U-haul if you can help it. Others that may be willing to help you out on a weekend may be local landscapers or farmers who are apt to have a truck and trailer.
Pulling it on with a come-a-long should be ok, especially if you can double the line with a snatch block. When I got one of my E's, I hand cranked it onto the trailer, while my dad pulled with the come-a-long. If your tracks are stuck, you'll probably have use a winch. I know you don't have a crank yet. Forget the drill idea!
I would go over there and try to move it first before you pick it up. Hook your come-a-long to a tree and try to roll the tractor. See what happens.

Good luck and keep us informed.

[Relic]

Thanks for the info Blake. I noticed in one of the pics, near the bottom that on the right side there are 2 of the roller things missing (I dont know what there called track guide rollers maybe, )  It is supposed to have 4 on each side but from left to right the 2 and 4 are missing
how much are these to replace. If any1 can give me the dimentions for a crank I can weld 1 up to fit. thanks again.
Mike Purcell

[Blake Malkamaki]

Those are called "lower track wheels" on a Cletrac. The Cat guys will say "rollers", but they aren't as smart as us;)

On an E, they are two part and have cast iron bushings. I am not sure if Zimmermans has any new ones, but you should be able to find them from someone with a parts tractor. You might want to keep your eyes open for another parts tractor just to have on hand too.

I am sure those brake levers will release. Worst case, the knobs on the top will be rusty and require some persuation and oil.

Good luck.

[Relic]

Was also wondering if there is a kill switch located anywhere and what does unstyled mean? would I be able to run it with the 2 lower track wheel on the one side till I find replacements or will that mess things up? I paln on useing it as a skidder and to build my pole barn then it goes into the restoration mode. Why would you stay away from Uhaul, just curious. Thanks,
Mike Purcell

[Blake Malkamaki]

Why would you stay away from Uhaul, just curious.

Because you said they had a weight limit that was too low and you would still have to find a truck to pull it. I think you'll be able to find someone willing to move it for you.

[Relic]

Yes, sorry had a brain fart. lol. What size log will the E pull I have a lot of down trees on property last year so want to use it up as fire wood. wondering if it would pull a 20" diameter log thats 10-12 feet long or maybe 2. I dont want to stress engine. I have a old 63 jeep cj farm jeep that the eng block is bad would the mainifold of that hurricane engine work it looks to be same eng but the manifold points down. Thanks,
Mike Purcell

[Blake Malkamaki]

It would easily pull that log, or 2 or 3 of them.

No, the Willys engine is different. The E has a Hercules OOC engine.