Almost ready for Plow Day(s)

And away he goes! (Notice the position of the D5SA in the background, give you an idea how fast that IHC TD9 was moving. Maybe an "off brand" but in my opinion, it is nice to see those Red Tracklayers from yesteryear. Like them, hate them, they did a lot of work for many years.

Hi, cts.

I always liked the red machines and would not have minded owning a TD6 or TD9 but the bigger ones mostly seemed to have a 'fall-to-bits' date stamped into them - not bad as drawbar tractors but not real flash as 'dozers, too weak in the back end.

Then again, it it burned diesel fuel, made noise-n-smoke and moved dirt, I was usually pretty happy to be on it.

The Alice's Pyjamas were much the same - weak back ends - until they dumped the 'screamin' demon' engines. They might have upped their engineering game at the same time.

Just my 0.02.

I took my D2 to the Mickie Grove museum‘s Tractor Fest on Saturday. I was the only Cat there this year, but we did have a TD6 and an original BO Lindeman show up too. Small tractor turn out but a good crowd of people and kids still came. All the farmers that normally bring tractors were harvesting all weekend trying to beat this storm coming.

Photo- courtesy of Mr. Jenming Gee. "Yank the trip rope" long before hydraulics were in use. One rope pulled the lever that engaged a dog into cog on the wheel, raising the implement, the other rope released the catch, dropping the implement. This is the way we put up checks ("levee's") for flood irrigation, the ridger disc assemblies could be reversed (moved on the toolbar) to pull the checks apart after irrigation. The cross checks were the challenge to navigate with the tractor, "tailseats" were notorious for throwing one when the machine broke over center. Check busters on this D2 act like mini-dozer blades to help reduce the climb and fall when traversing these type obstacles. Not everyone had the luxury of check busters on the machines. - Thanks for the photo JM - and most of all for the opportunity to operated the D2 and ridger. It has been well over 55 years since I have pulled a ridger like this one and it was behind a tailseat Caterpillar Thirty. - CTS

Hey Anthony! That DE D2 would look even better next to mine! LOL. Looking good there driver!

Well boys and girls, those that attended did have a good time. Yes, turnout seemed too low for my liking, but as Anthony pointed out, we have many farmer members/related fields trying to beat the the rains. Add mention there were other shows all up and down the state. I can't fault many that "signed up" to bring their toys and did not; there is a short list of some that I anticipate a message with some type of excuse, but seeing how we had plenty of fun without them, it evens out. HAH!

Our newest member Andy Stein made it here with his lovely wife Jane. We are fortunate to have them, as he is what I consider a social influencer and recently, a proud owner of a cool D68U (purchased from no other than JuiceMan's Equipment Emporium)"Go...Seee...Geee...!!!". Jane is a trained in the culinary trade and she prepared the eats for everyone. There was enough food for anyone that wished to sample her cookin'. We put the hurt to the taco stand next to us, but they understood (killer breakfast quesadillas btw).

I am extremely proud of our chapter members: They worked as a unit to help others as well as offer quick training and rides to interested folks, you name it, they did it. I could not line up these events and make them work without their assistance! BIG thank you to each and everyone of them! End result big FUN.

I hate to admit it, but the 91 series acquired from a retired Brussel Sprout farmer is a cool machine. Narrow gauge to fit in rows, perhaps for artichoke fields as well; grousers extended for extra traction. It makes its own sound and chugged along nicely with the IH wheel disk. Sadly, the narrow machine makes my as* look wider than it is; effective immediately, JuiceMan is on limited rations. I might have to eliminate food options for future meetings lol.

Our friend/member "Uncle Mel L." was happier than a kid in a candy store. Had his chauffer not insisted they leave (3 hour drive)he would still be there playing. Each time his brother suggested they leave for home, he reminded me of those addicted to gambling; ooooh, let me try that machine real quick (x3) hahaha we got a good laugh. CTSnowfighter is kind of rusty, so I will find him a tailseat 30 to refresh his memory.

Enough blathering. Thanks everyone! JM