apprx year for Cletrac DGH

[Carl Besola]

Hello folks, Carl B. from da U.P. here.I have recently purchased an old Cletrac DGH equipped wiyh an 8ft wide ATECO hyd, dozer setup. I would like to determine the apprx year of this machine, but the ser.# plate is gone from it's place on the firewall. I do have the engines ser.# which is 2022965 says also that it is an RXC and I do believe it is the original engine, big flathead hercules. This tractor is also equipped with Bendix-Westinghouse air assist steering, which after I cleaned out the valves and adjusted the brakes, works amazingly well! Have spent the last few days cleaning and prepping and plan to squirt some fresh yellow paint on it tomorrow [Sept 11-05]. If anybody out there can help me with the year I will appreciate it O.K.? Thanks, Carl

[Robert Barbour]

From the engine serial number I would think it is from the mid 50's. I am not at home at the moment so don't have my stuff at hand. On the older units there was a filter for the differential oil on the top of the diff cover. Early ones were cast iron and so was the diff cover. In 48 they changed to a flate steel cover and a steel filter case. Still later the filter was moved inside the differential.  What name is cast into the Radiator top and exhaust manifold?  The air steering is a nice Option!!

[cletracboy]

If it is yellow, that would suggest it is 1950 onward. All the best, Sam

[Carl Besola]

Thank you's to Mr Barbour and England's Cletrac boy for the prompt and very helpful replies! The chap that I bought it from said it was in the fifties, but I thought I saw something aomewhere tha said they were only made from '37 to '39. It does have the internal diff filter ang Cletrac is cast into the rad. tank and the ex. manifold, so, mid fiftees it is then! Thank again folks, I'll be back ha ha !! Carl

[Robert Barbour]

If it has the diff filter on the outside it is late forties.  Cletrac on the castings is also consistent with that. The early one has the cast cover and cast oil filter housing. On that one the centre of the cover is raised above the rim were the mounting bolts are and the filter has two horizintal bolts on the center line at the back.  This is 46 to early 48. In 48 they changed to a flat steel cover with a filter with a single long center bolt.  Which do you have.  From that I can give you a serial number range.  Also do you have a serial number for the ATECO dozer.  There should be an ID plate on the right hand support frame under the lift cylinder.  The 37 to 39 tractor is the very early DG it has the four speed transmission, and only one speed in reverse.  The six speed model has 2 reverse speeds. It was made from late 39 to 58.  With air steering you have the six speed model.

[John Schwiebert]

Any idea when the name Cletrac dissapeared from the radiator? Also at one time I had a list of Hercules engines numbers and what years they built, but I think it was ruined when the basement flooded.

[Robert Barbour]

John I don't have anything specific on that but I do kept track of whats on various tractors I come accross and think It changed some time between 49 and 52.  Too bad about your flood. A list of Hercules serial numbers would be very interesting to have. I know there are lots of gaps in them, it seem that for every contract they have there own group of serial numbers.