Identification of Oliver Crawler possibly BD model.

[davprin]

G'day all,

I look like buying an Oliver Crawler and I would like to know how to identify the model. After looking at the pics on this site it looks like either an A or B model.

The machine is presently standing in long grass making it hard to look for ID plates if fitted. Where should I look for these or for a seria number?

The original engine is gone and there is a Nissan Diesel 4 cylinder fitted but this engine does not have the horsepower at low revs to power the tractor when using the dozer blade.

Thanks
Dave

[John D]

Dave,

Always a challenge - the ID plate will be on the LEFT side if you are approaching the front of the tractor.  Otherwise stated: from the driver's position, it is on the RIGHT side of the tractor.  

Look on the firewall - on the right side of the tractor, under the hood, upper middle for an ID Plate.  If it's there, it will tell you Model and Serial #.

There may be others on the site who can tell you more precisely, but here are some other ways to tell - (the B is slightly larger than the A):
              A                          B
Length  109-1/2"             113"
Width   57.25"- 67.25"     60.125"-68.125"  (depending on track width)
Height(dash) 54"             57-3/8"

Based on the 4cyl diesel in it, my bet is it's a Model A

Good Luck!

[Blake Malkamaki]

A quick way to tell a late model A from the larger models is to look at the bolts that hold the track pads onto the rails. If the four bolts are all in a line, parallel to the tracks in general (the bolts forming a rectangle), it is an A. The B has the bolts staggered narrow and wide on each pad.

Blake

[davprin]

A quick way to tell a late model A from the larger models is to look at the bolts that hold the track pads onto the rails. If the four bolts are all in a line, parallel to the tracks in general (the bolts forming a rectangle), it is an A. The B has the bolts staggered narrow and wide on each pad.

Blake

Thanks John and Blake.

I'm going to swing by the sellers place on my way to work tonight. I'll have a look for the ID Plate now I know where to look.

From photos I took yesterday, I do know that the bolts on the track are staggered as you mentioned, Blake.

Cheers
Dave

[davprin]

OK, the ID Plate is still attached and the machine is a BD with serial number of 17D650 - can someone tell me the approximate year this machine was built, please.

Looks like I join quite a few others with the dilemma of what engine to repower with.

Thanks for the help.

Cheers
Dave

[cletracboy]

Yours will be a late 1951, probably early '52 model.  Is it an oliver or a Cletrac? my oliver Bd is serial no. 17D706 so must have only been built a few days or weeks later, it was sold new in Australia, where abouts is your? When you find an engine which drops in easy, I would like to know as I have an older Bd in need of an engine!!!!! Good luck, all the best, Sam

[davprin]

Yours will be a late 1951, probably early '52 model.  Is it an oliver or a Cletrac? my oliver Bd is serial no. 17D706 so must have only been built a few days or weeks later, it was sold new in Australia, where abouts is your?

Thanks for the information, Sam. I am in Queensland, Australia, just outside the Brisbane area.

My machine was delivered here this afternoon. The blade lifting mechanism (and possibly the blade) was made by a company called Brown & Bunyan but so far i can't decipher where it was made. The 8-ft blade is able to be angled and tilted by means of dropping pins in differing holes in the frame.

I haven't learned how to post a picture to these forums yet. I also have not yet been able to see a any pictures that have been attached to messages in other topics. I guess I haven't found the right FAQ to read yet.

Thanks again,
Dave

[cletracboy]

Dave, I have been told my tractor worked on a farm near lake Grace, which I think is near queensland but my geography is not very good.  They may have been part of the same shipment from America, I believe they would have been supplied by britstand machinery.  Britstand also made blades and atachements for them.  Most of the cletracs B's you see with blades have heli angle dozer they are 9ft wide and the angle system is very similar to you describe, one I have has an English Bray made blade which is very similar to a heil but not quite a direct copy.  
I look forward to seeing your pictures, if you look under the model B in the photo gallery there are a couple of pictures of mine. All the best, Sam

[Blake Malkamaki]

I haven't learned how to post a picture to these forums yet. I also have not yet been able to see a any pictures that have been attached to messages in other topics. I guess I haven't found the right FAQ to read yet.

See: http://cletrac.org/newbb/viewtopic.php?t=1053

[Willo]

Hi dave
The blade you mention is most likely a fitting by Britstand, they were based at Mascot in Sydney. I do have a copy of one page of there brouchre, it has seven different Cletrac''s on it with thier
 blades it is hard to figuire out which is which , as they used different codes but with the data supplied I figuied out mine, they do have a QBM which stood for Queen Bridge Motors who were the dealers here in  Melbourne. I have recently looked at an AD with the Britstand blade and it sounds like its the  same as yours. I also came upon a BD Operates manual. You will have fun finding a motor but don"t give up as  I found a Herc just recently they are out there. Try country scrap metal yards. I am working on some leads in Qld I have two separate reports of farms with more Cletracs than you could dream of that I just recently heard of , and am on the the trail of two more here in Vic one is a complete working AD with spare motor and two BD's.
Cheers Willo

[davprin]

They may have been part of the same shipment from America, I believe they would have been supplied by britstand machinery.  Britstand also made blades and atachements for them.  Most of the cletracs B's you see with blades have heli angle dozer they are 9ft wide and the angle system is very similar to you describe, one I have has an English Bray made blade which is very similar to a heil but not quite a direct copy.  

Thanks for the info, Sam. There is a plate on my linkage - very faded but it appears that at least the linkage and probably the blade, was made by Brown & Bunyan and looks like it was made in Sydney, Australia. All of the hydraulic components are branded BSM.

Here are links to pictures before and after removing blade assembly prior to removing the Nissan engine.

Thanks Blake, for supplying me with the help file to do this. Hope it works,





Cheers
Dave

[davprin]

The blade you mention is most likely a fitting by Britstand, they were based at Mascot in Sydney. I do have a copy of one page of there brouchre, it has seven different Cletrac''s on it with thier
 

G'day Willo,

Thanks for the info. See my pics in my reply to Sam. OK on the engine, I have located an original - they want $1500 for it - will need to be in fairly good nick for me to pay that. I do need something to drop in and use straight away as I am going to use this machine for some light clearing and cleanup on my property. May consider restoring later as I have a much smaller WW2 Clark CA-1 to restore first - it's not big enough to do what I want to clear and it's too small track width is not good for sloping country. It only measures about 37 inches outside of track to outside of track with 7 inch wide tracks.

Cheers
Dave

[Willo]

Hi Dave no problem there if you ever get to restore it one day hopefully I might have my hands on some gear by then. The BSM would I think Stand for BritStand Machinary. $1500 for motor yeah it would what to be good hope it all works out for you Cheers Willo