I worked for a Cletrac, Oliver & Massey Harris dealer back in the late 40s & early 50s and at that time the HG Cletrac models had a little problem with the rear sprocket collets that went over the studs that held the sprocket on.I left the dealer for uncle sam,s call and never went back so don,t know if that problem was resolved with them but I,m sure it was.

Theres a reason they no longer made, White should have stuck to making sewing machines and left tractors to Cat

Chad that is what happened to our machine. It got new linings and I think they are not made to run in oil. So it will be pull them out and reline them when I get time.
Terry

tw, MikeA put up a good link to the best place for brake bands for a cletrac or oliver crawler. Ask for Landis. My crawler steers MUCH better now with the new linings (4years ago), but still can't quite lock up a track.

SJ,

do you know what the collett problem was? Do they work loose? The one I'm looking at has a loose rear sprocket. I can make it wiggle back and forth when I pull on it and it is rubbing on the outside track frame. I thought it was the bearings.

Thanks,

Chugwater

There used to be a bunch of HG's in the orchards here, but most people preferred a machine with side clutches. The HG just used a differential with a brake on each side, so a tight turn was difficult. They tended to pretty tall gearing too so they maintained full speed around a corner and tended to run a little short of power because of it. They also got squirrely as he__ when you had something on wheels pushing you down a steep hill.

On the positive side, they were great for pulling light cultivators and harrows--no soil compaction problems and fast. I'm told that undercarriage and track parts are identical to those on some airtrack drills. That would be something to check out; I don't know first hand.

I believe the engine was a Herculese, or an Oliver clone of a Herc, not sure. It's been a long time. Also, in WWII Studebaker engines were used in Weasels driving through Cletrac transmissions. Don't know if Stude built the Weasel. Thus, war surplus might yield some parts if you can find a yard old enough.

Be careful If something like a stump stops one track, that machine can turn around under you so fast your shadow won't be able to keep up.

Jack

Chugwater, I,m not sure what the problem was with the sprockets & collets as I was just a parts man at the dealer back then but do remmber very well that we got many in to repair with that problem. I,m sure it was fixed on a little later tractors as it was the late 40s & early 50s when I worked at the dealer.

I'd really check with the folks over at Cletrac.org : www.cletrac.org/ I'm sure someone will have the info there on your brakes.

Jack mentioned the Weasel. I've got one of those and the differential is, I believe, a Clark and I'm pretty sure the Cletrac also used a Clark. The transmission in the Weasel is the same as the one used in Studebaker cars, though, a Borg Warner if my memory is correct. Studebaker made and developed the Weasel during WWII to go through snow originally, but it was also fitted with flotation tanks for use in water. The differentials don't look the same on the outside but they certainly could be using the same parts inside.

There is a good Weasel website at: www.m29cweasel.org/ They have listed some photos and instructions for repairing the differential there that would be useful.

MikeA

As regards the Weasel, The guys that were running it said it was a Cletrac rear end, and the engine was definately a Stude Champion. That's all I know; they got rid of it many years ago when I was too young to notice the details. War time production might have used different parts, whatever was available?

The local Studebaker dealer supplied parts for it, this dealer at the time also sold John Deere and Caterpillar. I rode up the slopes of Mt. Hood one time in it, my cousin driving. All I remember is that it did run on snow and they braced both feet and pulled with both hands to make a sharp turn to left, which was a little exciting when I noticed where we go if he didn't make it.

I never had a Cletrac, but drove a couple many years ago and never worked on one. All i have is what i've been told about them over the years, not much first hand regarding parts. I threw it in supposing that it would be a place to start looking. I hope I didn't throw anybody a curve.

Jack

I used to subscribe to a magazine Military Vehicles Magazine. There are always articles in the bi-monthly as well as vendor listings for parts.

It was just another phase in my life. Stil have 2 48 CJ2As to remember it by.