Hi, Folks.
Could this be the Great GREAT Grand-daddy of the hi-sprocket drive - a Holt ditcher from 1910? There was the Best 30 humpback in 1916 and the Cletrac Model F in 1920 on to the Cat D10 76X in 1977.



Just my 0.02.

Here is a 1920 narrow gauge Cletrac Model F

Hi, gary,ca and Kurt.
The Model F Cletrac was only made for 3 years because of that track roller system, commonly known as the 'string of pearls' systemmwhich they never used on any other model after the F. The Model F was available in 3 versions, narrow, wide and hi-clearance.

Somebody found a 'different' use for one of them:



Apparently, a couple of people did figure it out though and modified the track system.



Just my 0.02.

Bit like the track system that ran on big balls instead of conventional rollers, they used to fall out. For the life of me I cant remember the brand name or find a photo. Someone here will be much smarter than me and remember and possibly have a photo.

Wombat

I know where that mailbox lawn ornament is.

Wombat wrote:

Bit like the track system that ran on big balls instead of conventional rollers, they used to fall out. For the life of me I cant remember the brand name or find a photo. Someone here will be much smarter than me and remember and possibly have a photo.

Wombat

***I want to say Yuba Ball Tread. They would fall out, and some owners would hire kids to look for the balls that fell off, so they could keep running the machine***JM
 

Hi, juiceman.
Yep, made just over your back fence, pie-in-the-sky stuff before they had much understanding of lubricants or of the wearing effects of various soils.

Just my 0.02.

Yuba Ball Tread - Mfg. Yuba City, California
There are several examples in existance - I believe this one may be in the Ag Museum in Woodland, may have been part of the Heidrick Collection.
Another is in a Museum in Old Sacramento, CA

I was told years ago, they were a good machine other than the races would wear and the balls would fall out. So the story goes about the kids following and picking them up to put back in the machine - Makes a good story anyway.

I do not recall what the two pipes with petcocks were attached to - I suspect either exhaust to try to clean the "cups" or possibly water?  
These machines were primarily used in the orchards along the Yuba-Feather-Sacramento Rivers, wonderful sandy loam, but abrasive.  
Understandably where the extreme wear would be generated in the enclosed space of the races.

Enjoy the pictures.
CTS