After the disappointment of the cancellation of the Chapter 2 working event at Castle Cement last weekend, I went to visit Member Michael Moore and see the latest addition's to his Cat collection.

Michael D8 2U5### series tractor and Onions (British manufacturer of earthmoving equipment attachments) towed ripper, was due to receive it premiere at Ketton. Both the tractor and 3 legged ripper used to work together on a farm, undertaking deep ripping to improve the sub-soil conditions. The D8 has a 9D series No 25 CCU fitted to operate the ripper.

Also on display was a D6 2H series tractor with a Le Tourneau overhead gantry angle blade and rear twin drum PCU. The diagonal supports on the gantry appear to have been modified as an additional lenght of box section (approx 2' long) has been carefully spliced in, together with an additional section on the gantry. I'm assuming that this was done to modify a D4 sized gantry to fit a D6 tractor - was this standard practice?

The Onions towed ripper is a mighty piece of kit, Michael estimates the weight to be circa 9 tons, as his 8 ton rated Hyster forktruck struggles to lift the ripper. Does anyone know the model number used by Onions for this ripper

Michael has also recently started a agricultural contracting business specializing in deep cultivation techniques, so he also has a Challenger 65 and D6D SA, in addition to his vintage collection.

David , where does michael live out of interest- I reckon Ag spec D6s and D7s will be quite sort after by collectors in the U.K in the future we had a U.S spec ag D5B with wide tracks and long fenders and a high air cleaner and smoke stack. We sold it to by a Challenger 75D -I would have kept it if we could hav afforded to As for a D6D SA VHP I really would like one of those! or even a D7G SA "Custom Shop" - now they are rare!

Catkid,

I don't have Michael permission to post his home location on the BB.

But, I can say that he does live in the Midlands.