[AT] New tractor - A crawler Yeah!

[Spencer Yost]

Some of you may know, I have quite a bit of general dozer/loader/grading
work that needs to be done.  Due to a very real inflation in prices to do
this kind of work in this area(maybe everywhere), I honestly can't afford
it and I am not poor mouthing.  They want thousands of dollars to just cut
a road, and repair some drainage.   Whatever happened $400 a day bulldozer
guys???

Anyways, due to the incredible generosity of a list member who was under
the mistaken impression that he owed me a big favor(, well maybe he owed me
a beer or something but that was about it), I am now the proud owner of an
IH TD6 crawler with a skid shovel front end.   This generous list member
paid to get the crawler to a terminal in Chicago where I shipped in in
pretty cheap - $800.  The pictures are here:

http://www.antique-tractor.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album15


Now, I can just hire "me" to do the work (-;|)  

They just delivered it today.   This was a huge ordeal because the sent the
roughest front detach trailer they had (but a nice helpful driver) and
getting the trailer detached and "tached" was an ordeal.  Nothing ever
seemed to line up and the platform-fifth wheel portion was real picky about
the height of the front end of the trailer.   .   Also, since they loaded
it with a huge forklift the crawler was resting on 4x4s.   They made it
nearly impossible for my Oliver 77 6 cylinder diesel to pull off the
trailer.  I tore up the gravel driveway.   Once off the 4x4s, down the
trailer and onto ground; the line of pull was lower and the Oliver just
pulled the crawler right along.

I think it is supposed to run but will need to do quite a bit of
tinkering/maintenance/general going through before I try the gas
start/diesel run engine.  By the way, this generous list member has sent a
manual that should get here tomorrow.   So I will have some guidance while
I do this work.  It also has a bad steering clutch and that will need to be
fixed.

The list member will remain anonymous because I presume he wants it that
way.  He knows who he though, so I will publicly thank him in addition to
the private thanks I have already sent:  "Thanks!"

Spencer