Saved 2 late model D47U’s from the path of development

Just recently I was able to help the Patterson Historical Society Museum save 2 late model 30k SN range factory direct start D47U tractors. Both were used on small apricot operations. One was a tail set arrangement the other was a top seat with the local custom adaptations. We ended up dragging both and the tail seat fired right up, the top seat coughed a bit fired on one cylinder, then 2 and then just came to life. Both had one steering clutch that was sticking but we were able to get them free not long after running.

Nice save! Both look like nice machines.

Fantastic job Conner! (cr). Always happy to know someone cared enough to save them, rather than who knows what could have happened to them. Does that place open to the public? You mentioned them from time to time, but some of us not familiar with them. Thanks for sharing. JM

Thanks for sharing the pictures and story line. Limb lifter on the top-seat, and radiator cap guard. Exhaust Pipe would have been a limb catcher for sure. I do not recall operating a machine that had much more than stack clearing the hood or directly to the side - LOUD! Working orchards with trees laden with the fruits/nuts was always a balancing act, watching for the limbs just waiting to take the inattentive off the seat! cts

Good save CR. Hopefully someone saves the D6 as well. Even that hoarder up by Yuba City would be much better than a boat to China.

JM, the group is renting a place on the corner of Pomelo and Highway 33. They have been spending the past few weekends moving equipment in. The tractor group meets the third Saturday of the month at 7:45 am.

CTS yes it’s a balancing act with exhaust location, factory location at the bottom works most of the time except when you have branches on the ground or other objects. I wasn’t too keen on that setup at first, but I can see the benefits after working on it on Friday, I am not about to change history.

Ray, yes we drove it into place last Friday. The pony on that one burns excessive amounts of oil that it essentially doesn’t run so we have had to tow start it, a few years back when it first got going we took it out and plowed with it. We are in need of a pony or rebuild, might have an NRCS donor on the way. It has an oil clutch but no place for a starter.

CR -- I agree 100% - that is what the people that worked them found as the best solution to the issues at hand.

Ray54 -- I wonder how many are hiding down in your area - maybe more than can be easily found under one roof? JM is just one busy fellow that draws the envy of many, but he is known for working very hard for the Club and local Chapter. Me - my days are past from being able to house those old workhorses, glad we have those willing and able to share with all of us. Thank you for sharing your "adventures" on sidehill farming, never a dull moment. I think of the old pull discs with nothing but a rope to trip the pin to allow one to open or close the disc, that would have been another adventure in that steep country. cts

Should have another recovery up in the hills soon.

Limb guard… not sure who made it but I see them on quite a few tractors of this vintage when they were at the auctions

CR - those track plates (pads) on the Twenty-Two are either very narrow or the pictures are deceiving? Looks to be wide gauge from spacing of the tracks? Nice Lineup of machines. Thanks for posting and sharing the pictures with all of us. cts

It had it been converted to 60” in Ventura to push a Lima bean cutter, I think I have posted the 1936 picture before. Donated by Stella Spanos / Graham. The other high 10’s came from Union Island asparagus packing sheds, the orchard 15 came from Santa Clara.