Saturday Tractor

[Majorman]

Crawlers Ploughing.
Crawlers at plough

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Seems like Cletrac made a big splash by being very wide spread for a short time.

 

[fastfarmall]

I am more interested in where that plowing was, than in putting puzzles together, sorry that's just me,can you tell me where that was taken, and what size are they, a D-5 or equal?

 

[db4600]

Wide spread as in ZZ Top Nationwide or the fact that they were row crop gauge?

 

[caterpillar guy]

Those Cats look to be D-4's in the wide gage model's with about 18-20 inch pads and will pull a 5or6 bottom plow. since they are plowing on land i would guess probably 5 bottom plows. Though you can plow with 4 bottom on land but you have to always watch to keep it on the land so it doesn't slide off in the furrow. Our D-4 has the fuel tank along side of the seat on the left side on the fender. Tool box should be on the right fender beside the seat.

 

[muleman51]

We had a neighbor that farmer with a Cat in the 50s, I remember thinking how neat that was, only one in our neighborhood.

 

[RBnSC]

I have seen of pictures of crawler tractors plowing. What I could never figure was how they figured it was economically feasible when sooner or later that undercarriage had to be worked on (pins and bushings turned) or replace everything but the pads. If you know machinery you are aware that the value it corresponds to the percentage of wear on the track system. I've had many different machines and still own a IH TD15C. To own one is to be aware that day is coming and never cheap.
Ron

 

[Bob Bancroft]

I agree. But out west on the hills they liked them. And in this picture the tracks are really messy. Looks like it might be too wet to even try it with a wheeled tractor.

 

[Majorman]

Ploughing was on the Polders in Holland. Crawlers were still in common use for land work, not as expensive as you might think but, in those days, not many big 4WD tractors and the land is not too abrasive so not too much track wear.

Some of the similar land here in Norfolk, on the Fen, if I sent a plough home with paint on the mould boards, I would soon get a call from the customer complaining. I have been told, many times, that the paint would still be on them in 10 years time. We had to paint strip all new plough bodies back to bare metal, and, after a years ploughing the bodies would have a mirror finish with no wear and few scratches.