420 E. Riding Club R, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009
‘Prowling old salvage yards is recreation for my friend Ken
Clossen and me. A favorite yard is in the middle of the high plains
of central Wyoming. Walking around the yard, admiring old IHC
15-30s and a Fordson, we spied an old crawler tractor in a
falling-down chicken house. Closer inspection revealed a 1926
Cletrac 30A with homemade sheet metal extensions on the fenders.
The 3/6 inch sheet metal formed for the hood
was as straight as new. The radiator and mechanics looked good!
This old tractor steered with a steering wheel and had nine roller
tracks.
We decided to buy the tractor in partnership, because we both
wanted the big Cletrac. Weighing in at 7500 lbs., it required a
good truck for hauling it to my shop in Cheyenne for
restoration.
After external clean-up, we pulled the aluminum valve cover and
discovered the valve cover had been a home for hundreds of
generations of mice. The big 377 cubic inch Wisconsin was loose and
had good compression. Pulling the cast iron pan that extended under
the transmission to the differential revealed many dead mice. This
was a major clean-up job.
This huge engine has four bolt main and rod bearings. Replacing
the 250 lb. cast iron pan required a floor jack.
We have participated in several tractor pulls and the sound of
the big six cylinder Wisconsin is a crowd pleaser.
