Doubt I can get this old Cletrac running...

[KubotainNH]

Looks great, coming along nicely.

I drove it around the property like Rommel going over the sand dunes in N. Africa. It was a blast - but served no useful purpose. It was four cylinder - gas.

ROFL.

 

[BigBlue1]

Amazing. The very first unit I had here was an Oliver Cletrak. Not near as big as your 550. And the axel housings, out to the big drive gears were very wide. I was told the unit was so very wide to give stability for use in orchards. I kept it for two months - found that I had no use for a tracked dozer and traded it back to the dealer for my Ford 1710.

I became dangerous with that little unit. I drove it around the property like Rommel going over the sand dunes in N. Africa. It was a blast - but served no useful purpose. It was four cylinder - gas.

Perhaps I'm used to different types of orchards than you're referring to, but I'm at a loss to understand what purpose a bulldozer would serve in an orchard?

Rob

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have always wanted a small dozer, like a JD 450. For what, I haven't a clue. Kind of dumb to own something you might take out of the shed once a year for twenty minutes! I'm sure someone else would let you look at theirs once a year for twenty minutes. lol For FREE!

 

[ericm979]

Perhaps I'm used to different types of orchards than you're referring to, but I'm at a loss to understand what purpose a bulldozer would serve in an orchard?

When I was a kid many of the local orchards used crawler tractors. Mostly I saw them discing or harrowing. Maybe they used them because they compact the soil less than wheeled tractors? Coule just be a regional thing.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You see it a lot in Europe. You could even buy common tractors with tracks instead of wheels. Also high and narrow versions. Nothing much like that here.

 

[BigBlue1]

When I was a kid many of the local orchards used crawler tractors. Mostly I saw them discing or harrowing. Maybe they used them because they compact the soil less than wheeled tractors? Coule just be a regional thing.

Huh. I guess that's not what I expected. To me an orchard is a grove of apple trees. Not much need for any soil work. Only have to run some equipment through at harvest time and that isn't usually very heavy. But I know that's a pretty limited view of 'orchards'. Maybe there are orchards where you replant frequently or something.

Rob

 

[MossRoad]

Huh. I guess that's not what I expected. To me an orchard is a grove of apple trees. Not much need for any soil work. Only have to run some equipment through at harvest time and that isn't usually very heavy. But I know that's a pretty limited view of 'orchards'. Maybe there are orchards where you replant frequently or something.

Rob

Here's a picture of a local orchard. Some show tilled soil.



Here's another orchard across the road. Pretty clear that their discing between rows of trees in some areas.



And here's a large producer we drive by a lot with no signs of soil tilling at all. So who knows why they do it some places and others not? Probably depends on need, crop, age of orchard, etc... Maybe it's one of those "because my father did it" cultural things. Who knows?

 

[MossRoad]

SW Michigan is a huge fruit growing region. Apples, peaches, apricots, plums, pears, nectarines, cherries, and of course, miles and miles of grape vineyards (which mostly go to Welch's). Lake Michigan acts as a climate controller making for some very great fruit growing areas.

 

[cqaigy2]

Lot of work getting done on that project.

 

[mopardude318]

Yes it is a lot of work. That Oliver of mine was way easier LOL. Right now I have the water pump/distributor drive housing all apart, the impeller was seized and broke the roll pin, then spun on the water pump/distributor drive shaft and It has welded itself together. It's been repaired years ago, looks like the housing was cracked and brazed back, cracked again. The whole thing is a disaster so I need a whole new assembly.

I joke about getting a parts tractor, but mine apparently seems to BE the parts tractor!! LOL!!