Plowing with Caterpillar Tractors

Traveled to Orchard, Iowa, to Jim Zimmerman’s farm, to do some plowing with my tractors. It was a 13-hour drive from Denver to Clear Lake, Iowa, where I stayed in a motel.

Plowing began on Thursday. It continued for a briefer period on Friday afternoon. Saturday morning appeared with a good covering of snow on the ground, and the plowing season is now over.

Thursday plowing went well (little or no frost in the soil), but I managed to break the 4-bottom plow behind the RD6. It was not repaired until afternoon on Friday, and was taken out behind the Diesel Thirty-Five, but the soil was frozen and the plow also exhibited a reluctance to drop.

Throughout my stay, high was in the 20 degree F. range (below freezing).

The Ten pulling a 2-bottom plow did a nice job. It has swamp pads on it, runs very smoothly, just as you would expect it to after having been worked over by Jim. It got a really good workout.

The D2 pulling a 2-bottom plow worked at sustained 4th gear, and Jim’s son Lee also plowed with that outfit in 5th gear. It is the more powerful late model (1957) D2. It is a delight to operate after plowing with the Ten.

The RD6 pulling a 4-bottom plow worked in 3rd gear (I think it was). The engine got good and hot for its first real work in a number of years. Good exercise for the engine, and it performed flawlessly.

The D35 didn’t want to start, and it took us a while to discover that no air was getting to the pony. There was an ice ball in the air cleaner apparently from water somehow getting in. Once the air cleaner was taken off, it ran fine. So the air cleaner had to sit inside the shop overnight to thaw out, and was reinstalled, and the old girl cranked up just fine. The D-35 unfortunately wasn’t out long enough to get hot to set the rings. We discovered that the ground was too frozen to plow.

Saturday morning’s snow cover called for a halt to proceedings. We will continue next Spring, perhaps.



Had a good time, and will be heading home to Denver. Hope you all enjoy the few photos that were taken.

GWH

Some more photos

Well, the computer didn't like my post, so for the 3rd time, let us see if it will take now.

GWH

The pictures look great! Did the PTO show up? Looking at those pictures make me miss my old RD6. Those tractors sound so neat. I'm thinking about looking around to see if I can find an old D7 or D8, but I don't know why. I don't need a tractor that big, but I just think that it'd be cool to have one.

Thanks for sharing,

Ken

Hey Goerge, Here are some of my Cats plowing. I think my day of plowing was a little warmer! Nice to see these old machine's still working and moveing. Mike

George,

Thanks for the pictures. Too bad the weather didn't cooperate.

Biggastractor

Hello

Just wondering if you are using a sod plow or a stubble plow ?

Thanks
firekat

GWH since you are snowed out there? Drive 20 hours west and plow away till it rains I got 150 acres of grain to plant between pond building.

Great pictures, George. Thanks for sharing them, bet you really enjoyed yourself, I know I woiuld have !!

Mike, where in Illinios were you plowing?
Chuck C

Hey Chuck, Near the Quad City's. I think you responded to me when I had the picture of the 28 plowing on the other site. Do you have a pretty good show near you. I have been looking to bring a couple to some show's near the area. Mike