Cletracs!!!!

[Dave Downs (LT Ducky)]

"Snowtractor's" post on 30 Jul 03 in the 'Flying' topic attached a picture in which he mentions a 'Cletrac', more accurately, a "7 Ton High Speed Tractor M2". I've never seen any other reference to these vehicles, and thought I was the only one familiar with them.

Every spring and summer, 1958 to 1961 (I was 16 in 1958) , I would spend several hundred hours on one, plowing and harrowing for a local farmer here in SE Penna. The farmer was a local 'character', and had bought 3 of them, and converted them for agricultural use; removed the V-twin air compressor and the 100volt DC generator, and added a hydraulic pump for implement control. The addition of dual exhausts through the hood not only increased the noise level (and gave it a better 'look') but eliminated the chance of field fires from the original under-frame exhaust.

At the time a 55hp farm tractor was considered 'big', with 150hp (and tracks!) the Cletracs were the envy of the farming community. I would come home from high school and spend 5 or 6 hours plowing until 10:00 at night. Running them at full throttle for hours would result in a blue flame about 6-8" long standing out of the mufflers, and the manifold would be cherry red (great for lighting a cigarette) Fuel consumption was high, about 7 gallons/hour, and we re-fueled them from 5 gallon containers (slow!).

They were retired when the tracks 'stretched' and would 'throw' every time I turned at the end of the field. One still survives; the nephew of the farmer would like to restore it to running condition (he did a beautiful job on a 1952 Brockway truck-tractor I also drove) but cannot find tracks.

I've seen them in 2 WWII films, both times they were running around an airfield, but damned if I can remember the names of the movies.

(picture from Fred Crismon's "U.S. Military Tracked Vehicles" page 384)

[Snowtractor]

I see them all the time in old pics , think they're Grrreat. There was a wack of them for sale in the MVPA supply line the last coupple of months for a bargain I figured.
Sean

[Dave Downs (LT Ducky)]

Originally posted by Snowtractor
I see them all the time in old pics , think they're Grrreat. There was a wack of them for sale in the MVPA supply line the last coupple of months for a bargain I figured.
Sean

There were some in MVPA??? I missed them!! (too many speciality magazines, don't always get a chance to read every page...)

Good thing I didn't see them.......got too much 'stuff' around here anyway and how do you explain to the wife you really NEED one?

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Ducky

Try the following rationales as a start to obtaining a Cletrac;

1/ I am helping to preserve the cultural heritage of our country,

2/ I need it to move my "stuff" around.

3/ It would be useful for crushing some of my old "stuff" prior to its disposal (HOWEVER THIS IS ONLY A SUGGESTION AND NOT AN OPTION).

4/ I can relive my youth and through that become a re-generated person. This re-generation would be of great benefit to your wife on Saturday night social occasions in the boudoir.

5/ We've got one, the Jones haven't. I don't know if you are familiar with the term "keeping up with the Jones." If not, tell me and I'll explain it to you.

6/ Finally - I"M THE BOSS AND I WANT ONE. (treat this one with great caution)

For my own protection my identity must not be revealed to your charming bride.

Bob

[Dave Downs (LT Ducky)]

Bob; thanks for the suggestions, I'll try to address the merits of each.

1/ I am helping to preserve the cultural heritage of our country,

This might work, she is very patriotic.

2/ I need it to move my "stuff" around.

Unfortunately, most of my 'stuff' is antique farm equipment, including 7 Farmall tractors, which are quite capable of moving the 'stuff'.

3/ It would be useful for crushing some of my old "stuff" prior to its disposal (HOWEVER THIS IS ONLY A SUGGESTION AND NOT AN OPTION).

She'd probably want a written 'crushing schedule'

4/ I can relive my youth and through that become a re-generated person. This re-generation would be of great benefit to your wife on Saturday night social occasions in the boudoir.

Chemistry (Viagra) has rendered this a non-argument

5/ We've got one, the Jones haven't. I don't know if you are familiar with the term "keeping up with the Jones." If not, tell me and I'll explain it to you.

I already am known as the guy with the most 'stuff'; complete strangers stop in to consult wit me.......

6/ Finally - I"M THE BOSS AND I WANT ONE. (treat this one with great caution)

I'm totally un-familiar with this concept; would you please try it and report back on the results.

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Dave Downs (LT Ducky)
6/ Finally - I"M THE BOSS AND I WANT ONE. (treat this one with great caution)

I'm totally un-familiar with this concept; would you please try it and report back on the results.

Yeah, I wanna see this one in action too...

[DaveCox]

.
Originally posted by Dave Downs (LT Ducky)
6/ Finally - I"M THE BOSS AND I WANT ONE. (treat this one with great caution)
====================================
I'm totally un-familiar with this concept; would you please try it and report back on the results

===================================


I'd like to know the results too - you can let us know when you get out of hospital............

[Marc Montgomery]

You'd like to see a Cletrac in action? Recently? Welllll ;-)

see Convoy Forum

http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/105276

header photo shows a CONVOY MAGAZINE member's restored Cletrac towing the Memphis Belle at the Canada remembers Air show in Aug of this year.
Photo will be there one week, then go to Convoy photo page.

Beautiful resto of this WW-II era ex-RCAF tractor

[Snowtractor]

WWII AIR FIELD TUG one running-3500 , two not running-1200 each or both for 2000us
call Jerry at 303-659-7026

that was the ad
Sean

[gordon]

...there's nothing in that ad that syas they are Cletracs.

The Clarks 'Clarktor six' I had would meet that description easily.

?

Gordon (going back to sleep now)

[Snowtractor]

... the three pictures they included, though I can see your point
Sean

[gordon]

they may have been Clarks camoflaged to look like Cletracs, you know how sneaky those army types are....

[Snowtractor]

Originally posted by gordon
they may have been Clarks camoflaged to look like Cletracs, you know how sneaky those army types are....

wouldn't have anything to do with army "intelligence" would it?:

Sean

[Snowtractor]

here is one for you Dave http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6737

If only it were closer...I know 'it should be in the for sale area' but it is pretty specific

[zemsi]

... here's one taken on June 5, 2004 in Vierville, Normandy.

It belongs to an Alsace Collector. He tried to sell it for about Euro 30'000.