Oliver Cletrac Dozer

Fuddy Duddy

Well-known Member
Picked this up yesterday. I was ready to buy it two months ago but the guy told me it was sold. Then I saw it listed again on CL. Seems the 'Buyer" had said he would come get it before that end a November and never did.
I had deleted our old emails. But if I remember right the guy said it is a "52 OC3.
It had thrown a rod. Has a 4 cylinder gas engine with a magneto. The guy had pulled the oil pan and head four years ago. Guess he left the head off and just put the tin back over it. Cylinders were full of birds nest and Dirt Daubers. Needless to say it is stuck solid. I crawled under it and looked real good. It don't look like the block was hurt. Had a hole in the oil pan.
Came with a seven foot dozer blade and a bucket. I figure it will be good for mowing down my Black Locust if non-then else.
The guy said he was using it as a dozer. But I don't know yet if it has the step down transmission.
He also seemed to think many different engines could be installed in it with out much trouble. He was told there is a six cylinder diesel Toyota engine that could be put in it. Thats what he was wanting to install.
Tracks and sprockets look good as far as I can tell.
Got all the tin in back of the truck.
Let me know what you guys think.
Should be a fun project. As if I needed another project.
I'm mostly a Ford guy found on the 'N' Broad most of the time.
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IVE GOT SOME ISUZU 2.2 LITER DIESELS THAT ARE THE SAME SIZE AS THE LITTLE HERCULES THATS IN THERE IVE SEEN 2 REPOWERED WITH THAT ENGINE LOOKING TO GET $500.00 EACH THANKS TERRY@414 379 8485
 
If changing the engine type, you need to know the characteristics of the two. No point in over-torquing the transmission or finding it won't pull the skin off a rice pudding at less than 4mph.

Just my thoughts with only experience of HG42.
 
Oh, and the track adjustment looks fairly well extended and the drive sprocket looks very worn, so I doubt there is many hours of hard work left in the undercarriage.
 
I don't see any step down trans in there either. The Oliver step-down trans kit used a Ford Model A (car) three-speed for a aux.

The original Hercules is a good little engine. I've seen HGs with all sorts of engines stuck in (not very good jobs though). I've seen them with Wisconsin air-cooled 2 bangers, Chevy Chevette engines, etc. Another Hercules would be a easiest, and next to that a Continental flathead four banger.
 
First of all they were designed to be a farm tractor, not a dozer, that came later. Also you do need a step down otherwise it is too fast. Also remember when you gear it down and put more horsepower in front of it you are increasing the torque load on the gear train. Your sprockets are worn quite a bit.
 
The gear train is a non-issue in the HG (in my opinion). Very over-built. The HG uses a Clark transaxle and it's pretty much the same unit as Case put a 188 diesel in (310 crawlers).

Also has a 9" clutch (same size as a Model A Ford) and bigger then in my Toyota motorhome.

I've yet to see any trans, differential or final drive parts break from power. Just fail due to lack of lube, worn splines, loose bolts, etc.

The differentials in the HGs and OC3s had a habit of getting loose bolts that hold he differential together.

What I HAVE seen is when people try to push dirt to pull something slowly without the AUX trans - they have to lug the engine something awful at low RPM and/or slip the clutch which is bad for both.

My HG is run in 1st or 2nd AUX gear all the time. When I stick it in 3rd (which is like having no AUX) it's so fast in low gear - it's hard to believe it could push anything and last.
 
Sorry for high jacking this thread trying to get a message to ljd about my 310 b hydraulic
 
Hello, When I had posted the "post' I had just started checking into what to do about this Cletrac. The more I have learned the better you offer sounds. While my engine is rebuildable. Parts seem the be had to find. There is a brand new one on Ebay for $1500. The hercules is around 20 Horse power and from what I've learned the Isuzu is around 35. I don't want to way over power it. But 15 extra horses might not be to bad. Have you changed one out your self?
I would like to know just how much difficulty I'm getting into to change over to a different engine. I like a bolt up job. If you haven;t changed one out yourself, can you put me in contract with someone who has done the job. Really would like to know what I'm getting into before I try to start.
I could get a load to your area to pick it up if I decide to go with it.
Thanks,
Carl
 

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