A Few Years Between Pictures

[dpan]

In first picture summer 1955 I am 21 year old Sgt, 801 Engineer Aviation Battalion RAF Station Molesworth, UK. operating Cat 2U D8 and LeTourneau LP scraper. Second picture summer 2000, my 1945 2T D4 and LeTourneau D scraper, also 1945 year built, Dunlap Illinois USA. Was at Molesworth 7/1953 to 12/1955. Also have LeTourneau angle dozer for D4.
Wayne Akerman

[stevec13]

Must have been a big job to last 45 yrs lol

[martyn williams]

Superb photos
Any more you can share with us.
Thanks
Martyn

[bigkit]

The first time I've seen an 8 worked for so long it shrank!

Nice bit of nostalgia

[dpan]

Thanks for comments. Martyn here are a couple more for this topic and a bit more nostalgia, or history if anyone is interested. The D4 was obtained in 1996 if remember correctly, had a Laplante Choate dozer on it, in bad shape, scraped it. In 1997 found Letourneau angle dozer and pcu for D4. Tractor didn't need to much work, replaced clutch, repair cracked water jacket behind fuel pump replace final drive seals. Pcu only needed seals. While this work was dragging on happened on the information about a Letourneau D pull type scraper going into production in the July-August 1942 LeTourneau CoOperator. Not sure if you fellows know of CoOperator in Uk, was big in earth moving community in US. After becoming aware of such a scraper the search was on. Fortunately found one in western Nebraska, US. in early 1999. So have a D4 with dozer and scraper, designed to be used with that era tractor. The scraper was built in 1945, when sand blasting inside of rims found the manufacture name and date stamp of manufacture. Did not mean for this to be boring but know there are many on this site that are keen on history as so often we know little about history of machines we see or find.

[FOWLER MAN]

The first time I've seen an 8 worked for so long it shrank!

Nice bit of nostalgia

HERES ONE THAT SHRANK.
Fred

D8 & D2__.jpg

[bigkit]

Love it!

[tctractors]

Looks to be a D9H??? parked up against the little fella.

[FOWLER MAN]

Looks to be a D9H??? parked up against the little fella.

You could be right

[dpan]

Model D Carryall appears as found, wheel assemblies have been removed, bearings and seals replaced, new tires and tubes installed. Notice the two wide rusty streaks visible on front of apron. When first observed couldn't figure what had caused the rusty streaks. After wheels removed think found the evidence. Possibly only one or at most two, bearing assemblies could be reused. Evidence of previous bearing replacement who knows how many times. Other wear areas of scraper did not show extensive wear that could relate to wheel bearing wear and destruction. Remembering where the guy I bought it from said he found it, eastern Colorado, am strongly of opinion scraper towed at high speeds over gravel roads, tires blasting front of apron with rock. The streaks are in line with front wheels.
Many issues regarding safety in picture. Don't mean to insult anyones intelligence, but if not familiar with old LeTourneau pull type scrapers be aware of stored energy in form of large springs to return tailgate. In this picture the springs have been retained in spring pipe by a large cross shaft just behind yoke, not visible. Birds and mice nests being removed before releasing spring pressure, then springs were removed to further clean inside of spring pipe. Earlier models had springs cross ways in main frame different locations. It is possible other manufactures in various parts of world used similar concepts.
Trailer is home made, two 10, 000 lb rated axles, electric brakes. Pulled with a one ton pickup.