cletrac model W

[eqop27]

Hello I recently joined the forum.  I also recently bought a cletrac.  I have no idea about this machine exept it runs and I love old tractors. Any way on the tag it says model W and serial number 8190.  I was woondering if any one could tell my what year it is and if it is a model W because it has no steering wheel just two levers.  And i would like two change the oil if someone could tell me how much it takes thanks:o

[Sparky Duroe]

Model W's have steering wheels and the serial number tag is on the steering wheel base.  They also started with serial number 13755 and usually with the steering wheel changed to levers the base and number tag's are gone.  They have cletrac motors 4cyl, with a forward and reverse only.  good luck  Spark

[marv in minn]

sparky, were the w's with the upper track support idler earlier or later than those without? i see W's both ways.
i just brought home a W repowered with a JD LUC. ice tracks with buttons, home made sheet metal(1/8"!) and lever steering, runs and drives great but sounds funny - put-put ) !!! no tag.

[Albert Duroe]

The crawlers with uper track wheels were H's and are older than the W's.  I have had W's with Model A ford engines and early 4cly chev engines, anything that would work.  Spark

[marv in minn]

sparky,
then i have an H chassis. the sheet metal guard in front of the sprocket slopes up to the rear.
i was just going by the pics in the photo section. some listed as W's have the top rollers.

[Blake Malkamaki]

The crawlers with uper track wheels were H's and are older than the W's

I'm not sure if this is 100% accurate.

I have seen some W's with upper track wheels. The tractors in the real old pictures are either W's or a transition from H to W. They are unusual in that they say "Cleveland" on their radiator tanks, yet they have cast iron tanks. All the W's I have seen in person say "Cletrac". But I've always been told the model H's did not have cast iron radiator tanks.

The W came out in 1918, as did the term "Cletrac". I've seen so much carry over from one model to another, and other things that weren't the "norm" that I have to say there are no definates on these machines. Perhaps one dealer in a certain area thought the customers would want upper track wheels so he ordered them that way.

I have also seem model B's with one upper track wheel and some with two.

As usual... my experts are all dead. My friend who worked at Cletrac since 1918 would have known.

Blake

[Albert Duroe]

I have not seen any W's with upper track wheels. My oldest W is around a14,000 serial number, all have cast iron tanks with cletrac cast in the tank.  I am just finishing two H's one serial number 1200 has a tin radiator and should of had the old style tracks.(I have one set of old style tracks with my R (serial number 500)) The second H is serial number 8100 this machine has a cast Iron radiator tank with nothing cast into the front.  The serial number tag says Cleveland tractor Co. before the Cletrac name arrived.  Both H's have top rollers and the later H has the cast iron airbreather.  Colar is green with red undercarriages and the logos on the side say Cleveland tractor Co.  Hope the info helps.  Both crawlers will be at the National HPOCA show next week in Cedar Falls Iowa.  I will have 20 cletracs at the show  Spark

[Blake Malkamaki]

Thanks Albert. I did not know that some H's had cast iron radiators. So, basically if they don't say Cletrac and they are of that vintage, they are H's? Did all H's have upper track wheels?

Blake