Tractor vs. Bulldozer

[Industrial Toys]

I would guess that tracked SS loaders really overshadowed small dozers. I would have a lot of tasks for a tracked loader with appropriate attachments, but a dozer would sit parked almost indefinetly.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I took the plunge and brought the little Terratrac GT-30 home on Saturday. It needs some work, but the undercarriage is in good condition as far as I can tell. It runs and drives. The engine will probably need a tune-up at best and a rebuild at worst. I have an old-timer friend that can probably help me work on it. He does a lot with old model T's and other old engines. It's worth the time and effort for a rebuild just to spend some time with him. I'll also need to re-build the whole hydraulic system... new pump, lines, rebuild cylinders, etc. All of this is familiar territory for me. Thanks again for all of the input.

I'll probably start a new thread when I get into the rebuild. Then another thread when I start using the thing to build the roads, etc.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Good luck getting up and working good, that sounds like a big job to me...

I think you will find it a bit light to do very much road building, unless roads go in really easy where you live.

SR

 

[plastikosmd]

Pics are required as per TOS

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I'll see if I can get some pictures posted sometime.

For now, the good news is that a new radiator cap solved the overheating problem. The crawler seems to have the power it needs, too. You can imagine how relieved I was when the engine didn't overheat after installing the new cap.

Now I'm back to the original plan of re-building the hydraulic system.

 

[ultrarunner]

Good news and simple fix... some of the old car guys are pressurizing old radiators with 3 or 5 lbs caps if memory serves... just a pound or two makes a difference.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Good news and simple fix... some of the old car guys are pressurizing old radiators with 3 or 5 lbs caps if memory serves... just a pound or two makes a difference.

I took the old cap in to Napa with me. The counter guy identified it as a 4 lb. cap, and he got me another 4 lb. cap. My guess is that the spring and/or seal was wearing out on the old one.

I talked my college-age daughter into learning to drive it yesterday. She drove in circles in the pasture for probably an hour (no overheating). She tells me today that her muscles are sore from operating the clutches.

I ordered a new hydraulic pump from surplus center today. My plan is to mount it on the side of the engine and drive it with the fan belt. The original pump on this unit was mounted out the front, but I think my skills are more suited to the side mount plan.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Here are some pictures. It looks like this machine spent a lot of time sitting idle in its previous life.

The first picture is in Missoula before we came back home. The last two pictures are of the crawler at it's new home. You'll notice a bit of a "smile" in the bucket in that last picture. That's something that I'll probably be asking for advice how to fix in some future thread.

 

[Industrial Toys]

If you could put the bucket under something that won't move, and then use a heavy hydraulic jack with a piece of hardwood under the edge, that should do it.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I started a backhoe a number of years ago. I may finish it and attach it to the back of this crawler (instead of to my tractor). If I do, I think it would be awesome to paint the crawler the original yellow color and then paint the loader and backhoe black. It will be a throwback to my childhood.

Who didn't have one of those little Tonka crawler loader backhoe toys as a kid??