Looking at buying an Auto Patrol 11 from a decommissioned airport

docmirror

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Hello good folks. My first thread, my first post. I came about this forum by searching on parts for a Cat Auto Patrol grader. I have about 48AC of land in N NM that is laid out so that I can grade in a runway. I've been looking for something that could handle the job which wouldn't cost me gobs of money in outsourcing, or cost a ton to buy and keep in service. Planning to use a load of medium chat 3600x30' graded fairly smooth.

So - I've found a Auto Patrol 11 at another private airport that is just wasting away. Here's ALL I know about it. Been sitting for > 12 years. Was running when parked by the mechanic who maintained the runway. The tires are flat, and look in very rough shape. It is a 4 cyl gas engine. I was able to rotate the engine 2 revs by hand with a large spanner bar. There's a fair amount of surface rust, but it doesn't look too bad mechanically. The steering moved the front tires barely as they were flat, and it has a bunch of levers on the panel below the steering wheel. They have no way to move it, but will help me load it if I get a trailer for it. There are 4 rear tires, two in tandem each side.

The mechanic is a buddy of mine, and he'll give me some modest help getting it started and running, but he doesn't want to be responsible for service or maint to keep it running. They are asking $2500 where it sits.

What it will need at a min: All tires(can be used if I find the right size), tubes, cleaned radiator, new tune up parts, cleaned carb, new oil and grease, and coolant, battery, starter solenoid(was reason it was parked, wouldn't start reliably).

Things I strongly suspect it will need: Clutch freed from pressure plate(common issue), trans/gearbox lube, free up the blade controls from rust, minimal wiring repairs.

I'm a pretty decent DIY mechanic. I have a Ford 8N, and several Porsches that I maintain and repair. I'm not shy of doing hard work but getting a bit old to go through the whole engine. My desire is to get a borescope into the jugs and see what the bores and pistons look like. Since it's in NM, hoping it's not destroyed with rust. If the bores are good, and the engine will run with some upkeep, is this worth near $2500? Where can I get six tires for cheap?

Thanks, Doc

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Tue, Jun 21, 2016 1:13 PM

kracked1

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That price is why it has been sitting so long. Way too much money!

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Tue, Jun 21, 2016 6:29 PM

chriscokid

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Reply to kracked1:

That price is why it has been sitting so long. Way too much money!

What's Up Doc!!!-Sorry i could not resist.

A photo or two would also help in estimating its current value

Tires will be the hardest thing to find at a decent price.

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Tue, Jun 21, 2016 8:37 PM

docmirror

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Reply to kracked1:

That price is why it has been sitting so long. Way too much money!

Actually, it wasn't really 'for sale' actively. I just asked about it while I was at the little airport to see if they would sell and that was the first number thrown out there. I'm guessing it was optimistic on their part.

I've found some used tires in the approx right size for not much money, but I was thinking of offering $1800 provided the mech and I can get the engine to run with a day or so work. If I can get it in running shape for ~$2500 all-in I would be satisfied. The grading will be on level land, and all I'm moving is the chat and no turns. Sounds like something a tinkerer should be able to handle. I'm kinda glad it's gas and not diesel as I've had little exposure to diesel injectors, but I hear they can be very costly to repair/overhaul. Carbs I can do in my sleep.

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Tue, Jun 21, 2016 8:43 PM

docmirror

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Good info Pete. I've had some luck before with the green slime in tube type tires where there are cracks, but the goop has to be rolled around enough to start sealing. Wouldn't mind if I had to add air every day if they will stay up for a day's work. I might go down and fiddle with the solenoid this weekend and see if I can get it to fire.

Where are the mag(s) on this thing? Guess I can trace back a ign wire and find it. Do they fail often? Usually a mag will work, or not work unless it has a trigger point like old airplanes. I'm going to take my borescope down there and have a look inside too. Also worried about the seals on the water pump drying up and leaking like a sieve.

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Tue, Jun 21, 2016 9:23 PM

STEPHEN

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Reply to docmirror:

Good info Pete. I've had some luck before with the green slime in tube type tires where there are cracks, but the goop has to be rolled around enough to start sealing. Wouldn't mind if I had to add air every day if they will stay up for a day's work. I might go down and fiddle with the solenoid this weekend and see if I can get it to fire.

Where are the mag(s) on this thing? Guess I can trace back a ign wire and find it. Do they fail often? Usually a mag will work, or not work unless it has a trigger point like old airplanes. I'm going to take my borescope down there and have a look inside too. Also worried about the seals on the water pump drying up and leaking like a sieve.

I would buy it just " because". If you get it running, you might want to get the grading done before gas goes back up. You might find a 212 diesel grader with some looking. A little smaller machine, but better on fuel. Hey, everyone here like lots of pics! Does it have a cab, or you will need an umbrella.

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Tue, Jun 21, 2016 11:18 PM

neil

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Reply to STEPHEN:

I would buy it just " because". If you get it running, you might want to get the grading done before gas goes back up. You might find a 212 diesel grader with some looking. A little smaller machine, but better on fuel. Hey, everyone here like lots of pics! Does it have a cab, or you will need an umbrella.

Hi Doc, sounds like an interesting proposition. One thing to note: if you get it running before purchase, the price will either hold firm or go up. So a careful evaluation of what's wrong with it, coupled with estimating on repairs will enable you to buy before starting. Right now you have the benefit of it not running, and that will put downward pressure on the price. Like the other guys wrote, you can likely get this thing going fairly easily (compare with a crawler that can have much harder problems to solve)

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Tue, Jun 21, 2016 11:31 PM

docmirror

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Reply to STEPHEN:

I would buy it just " because". If you get it running, you might want to get the grading done before gas goes back up. You might find a 212 diesel grader with some looking. A little smaller machine, but better on fuel. Hey, everyone here like lots of pics! Does it have a cab, or you will need an umbrella.

Hey, I found this while tootling around the internet. Talked to the guy, he says it runs, and all the stuff works. Tires are pretty used but hold air. It's a diesel with the pony start motor. It's about 215 miles away from the job site, but heck - if it runs and grades, why not? It's got a scarifier on front too. Still concerned about the injection pump, but I don't see many issues online with them, so I guess they are pretty robust.

http://pueblo.craigslist.org/for/5577611944.html

Edit;; I just did a search and the cheapest 12 I could find was over $6000, and up as high as $16k. Seems like a decent deal and should work well for the runway job.

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Tue, Jun 21, 2016 11:33 PM

docmirror

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Reply to STEPHEN:

I would buy it just " because". If you get it running, you might want to get the grading done before gas goes back up. You might find a 212 diesel grader with some looking. A little smaller machine, but better on fuel. Hey, everyone here like lots of pics! Does it have a cab, or you will need an umbrella.

It has a sun shade over the seat but not a cab per-se.

I'll check around for a 212 but heck, I don't know what I'm looking for!

When I go back down there I'll take some pics of the unit and see if I can post them up here. Pretty interested in that one in S CO right now as it will run and grade without me sweating my heine off on some DIY fixup.

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Tue, Jun 21, 2016 11:36 PM

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The grader in the Craig's list ad is probably 5- 10 years newer than the autopatrol. It has a D4600 engine which means it was built before 1948.

Graders from the 40's and 50's were made in three sizes, 12, 112 and 212 from biggest to smallest. Most were diesels with the same engine as the D6, D4 and D2 tractors respectively

D2-5J's, D6-9U's, D318 and D333 power units, 12E-99E grader, 922B & 944A wheel loaders, D330C generator set, DW20 water tanker and a bunch of Jersey cows to take care of in my spare time😄

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Wed, Jun 22, 2016 1:29 PM

Deas Plant.

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Reply to ccjersey:

The grader in the Craig's list ad is probably 5- 10 years newer than the autopatrol. It has a D4600 engine which means it was built before 1948.

Graders from the 40's and 50's were made in three sizes, 12, 112 and 212 from biggest to smallest. Most were diesels with the same engine as the D6, D4 and D2 tractors respectively

Hi, Docmirror.
If you decide to investigate further on that CO. Cat 12, here is a link to some information that you might find helpful. Parts of this info would also apply to the #11 Patrol.

http://www.acmoc.org/bb/showthread.php?20409-Cat-12-Graders-Pre-G-series

Happy hunting.

You have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.

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Wed, Jun 22, 2016 1:57 PM

Looking at buying an Auto Patrol 11 from a decommissioned airport

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