What your looking at is a 1912 Caterpillar (CAT) motor grader, and yes it still works. It was purchased by a neighbor about 10 years ago for $1500, if I remember correctly. When this grader was new it was used during the construction of the Panama Canal. We use it to grade our road and all the neighbors chip in to cover the fuel cost and upkeep. It takes two people to operate it, one to drive it and one to operate the blade, since it is all mechanical gears to raise, lower and angle the blade, it has no hydraulics like modern graders The gasoline starting motor no longer works to start the diesel engine, so the grader has to be pulled by a pickup truck as the grader driver puts it in 3rd gear, pulls in the clutch to turn over the diesel engine, sprays starting fluid in the air intake and we all hope it starts. To hire a modern grader would cost us a minimum of $2000, so we have probably saved $18000 over the last 10 years, after the cost of fuel, oil, filters and tire repairs.
The big question--how much longer will it keep going?
That's amazing. Thanks for the picture!
ReplyDeleteTruly amazing! I wonder if the WAAAM (Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum) in Hood River, would like to have it some day. In addition to planes, they have cars, tractors and other memorabilia. They pride themselves in keeping their machines operational. https://www.waaamuseum.org/
ReplyDeleteWow, if it's made it this long, I think it will run forever! You guys need to join the ACMOC (Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club),
ReplyDeleteP.O. Box 9301, Peoria, IL 61612. Tel. (309) 691-5002 EMAIL cat@acmoc.org The Founders Chapter is based up in Brooks, Oregon. Marv Fery is Chapter President, and he can be reached at founders_chapter@acmoc.org or phone (503) 393-8237. https://www.acmoc.org/