Scraper comes home (sort of)

I want to thank Glen Ghilotti for his kindness and generosity. 7uPuller arrived at my Yuba City Yard ( along with Justin Aka "MO" to some of us) air horn blaring and dust flying from his new Peterbilt heavy haul and Cozad slide axle with a delivery: I am not accustomed to receiving "gifts"; what is one to do when you have a big hearted Italian that brings one of his thugs with him? Accept or pay the consequences I imagine!
I am the proud new owner of a very nice Caterpillar number 40 scraper now! Wow, me of all peeps lost for words( haha); I'm guessing I have zero excuse for not playing in Glen's play area at Santa Margarita now.
I should really spend a moment to write a short story for the ACMOC magazine ( maybe later)
He gave me quick lesson on operation and the way about how he got the unit; SMALL WORLD? This piece of Cat iron originally came from the ranch next to me! Is that wild or what? Amazing, as my former neighbor was the chief mechanic, my other neighbor retired from there, and my family friend is married to one of the guys that used to operate it!
It has only sat in my "waiting for service" pile for one day, and I've already had 3 people call me asking "How the heck did you get the old Valley View scraper????"
Glen, I owe you a flat of strawberries, a wash and wax for your low bed and thinking about how to GET EVEN with you!!! LOL Thanks again friend!:faint::faint:

Hey GarlicPete,

You may remember this story, but here goes anyhow. 3 blocks away from me in Petaluma, sat a clean Cat 40 pull scraper in black berry bushes. I talked to Herb Burbank about it. Herb told me to forget about it, that he had been trying to buy it from that farmer for 25-30 years. I couldn't take no for an answer, so I went to see John, the farmer. John said it wasn't forsale, besides he'd never sell to another farmer or contractor that would compete with him. When I started laughing out loud, he asked what was so funny. I told him that I was a collector and told him about Acmoc. I told him if he would sell it to me, that I'd rebuild it. New tires, new hoses, rebuild the cylinders, and paint it. I even told him he could take it for the first run with it. He wanted me to confirm that I wouldn't use it for work, and when I did, we shook hands on it, I bought it. That weekend my neighbor wanted about 1000 cyds moved for his riding arena. He told me if I graded it, my wife could use it. So, I called Herb, Wes, Ponte, Pat, and the Machado's. We had a great time leveling it up, but when I pulled up and unloaded the 40 scraper... Herb was upset. He asked me how I did it... I just said, "Glen Gets it Done." My avatar is of the 40 Scraper at Herbs Play Day. John was smiling pretty good getting the first go with it. A couple of years later, I heard about Ming's 40 going up forsale in an Auction just down the road from his place. Well I bought it to give to Herb. He had just rebuilt his favorite D4-7u, so I gave him his 40. Herb soon ended up in the hospital. I was in Tulare with you, GarlicPete, for a meeting with the Tulare Folks. When I got home I went to visit Herb. I apologized for missing a day or two as I was with Garlic Pete. Herb wiggled his finger calling me closer to him. I bent over so I could hear him, he was weak. He said, "If there can be a Garlic Pete out there... then I want to be called..."Strawberry Joe!!!"" I laughed and said OK. Herb died the next day or two, and those were his last words to me. You see, every Sunday Herb and his Niece would go to a neighboring town to go polka dancing, Herb would just watch. Many, many nights on the way home, he'd buy a flat of strawberrys. He'd stop buy and give me a couple of baskets... he was my pal.
Herb's niece, Denise, gave me the 40 scraper back. She wanted me to have it. I cut funky sideboards off of it, and put some new hoses on it.

Ming, you are a Class Act guy. You always give tractors to Acmoc at auctions for the Scholarship Funds. You always donate to Charities. I saw your D4 you posted a picture of, and thought it could use a 40 behind it. I thought it was neat that it was going right next door to
Where it came from... Besides... your right, don't mess with Italians... just do me a favor next time... Water the driveway road will ya, I could my new Peterbilt and new Trailer dusty... hahahaha [attachment=43344]IMG_4465.jpg[/attachment][attachment=43345]IMG_4474.jpg[/attachment][attachment=43346]IMG_4481.jpg[/attachment][attachment=43347]IMG_4480.jpg[/attachment][attachment=43348]IMG_4479.jpg[/attachment]

Pete: I plan on bringing a full line of tillage tools to SM next year, maybe for the "wanna be farmer" types? Some folks I noticed were a little more at home turning dirt over. Just ask Art Nelson, if they didn't take him home, he would still be plowing the field! No laser transmitters or receivers though, gotta keep it real! JM

Is that 7E fuel tank on that 17A?

Not sure what it originally belonged on; maybe an 8? It has passages running thru the bottom for cable control? Previous owners were famous for retrofitting with whatever they could make fit. It's nice in the sense that you should be able to run her for 3 shifts without refueling. The platform, seat and fenders don't belong either, but they made them fit. I am in the process of replacing with "original" parts. Oh yeah, air cleaner was changed over to a dry type too.

Hey Romek/g,

I think it's a 49-50-51-52-53 Catomobile... hahahaha :confused2:😙

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rWHniL8MyMM

Ming I will be looking forward to seeing the D4D pulling the 40. Thanks again for all the special favors going to Santa Margareta.

Russell Turner,

I only recently noted that you live in the same neighborhood as "Crumbs" Restaurant. I have only had that experience twice in my life but both times Chef Travis came through BIG TIME! I will be back if I ever get anywhere near there!!

JanM

[quote="7upuller"]Hey Romek/g,

I think it's a 49-50-51-52-53 Catomobile... hahahaha :confused2:😙

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rWHniL8MyMM[/quote]

Not exactly the same as Dwight Yoakums "Long White Cadillac" LOL
Great song.

Russell: glad to help a gentleman and fellow member as yourself. I will leave the seat all the way back so you can give her a go next year in Glen's play area.

Garlic: in case you're wondering, this 17a and its twin are both "whistlers", unlike my previous 17a, aka "the Challeger" which I still miss dearly.

Nice looking 17A Gee! It seems like you have some secret line on finding them...

From where I'm sitting, the secret line is "live in California" : )
You guys have all the best gear!