HD11B RESCUE

Ok guys, thought I should post some pictures of yesterdays events at the Allis Chalmers playground. We're still mucking out 60 years of fill in our irrigation pond
Normally this would all be under water in Dec. but right no N.Ca is having drought conditions
My daughter came along with her new Christmas camera to do the honors
So we had the normal planning discussion, safety meeting,what ifs, etc. (which of course turned into a you get in your tractor and I'll get in mine and push and see if you come out before there both stuck)




 smoke showing and gravity on my side



It worked out this time and we even pushed more dirt tell dark

Very nice looking 11-B there Mel.  I think we might have glimpsed it in earlier photos- does it have the Roosa or Bosch pump?  Nice to see more photos from warmer California.

Great pics and story Mel, thanks for posting; cheers from kiwiland

To the Rescue - the way my luck would have been, 2 machines would have been mired into the muck.

I think that is a "jobox" tool box of some kind.  Nice the ways it's mounted, except you have to lift EVERYTHING up and down!!!  

OK, I'll try to answer some questions. The ripper tractor has a Bosch pump and the winch tractor has a Roosa. We've always felt that the Bosch was more responsive than the Roosa, but no one can tell us why? (but I'm listening). Yes those are regular Job boxes, mostly for fireline work. Tools ,oil,spare lights, food,baleing wire,extra fire gear. And yes it's up and down to it, but it's ok when you're 3 or 4 miles away from somewhere that you can't get to from here.
These tractors can still be used for fire work, but we expect that it won't be long until it's enclosed cabs only
So we also have a 11B grapple dozer that has a Bosch (that's responsive) and the 11EP has a PSB pump
This picture is of me working fire line downhill towards the fire with air support (helicopter water drops)
Of course these are the only 2 AC dozers on the fire of about 15 dozers (and we take heat for that too, cause there antiques)Ironically we build more fire line in the adverse conditions than some of the new tractors

Great pictures as always, Mel. Thanks for sharing.

When and where were the fire pics taken?

Those are really good pics Mel; don,t be shy about adding more See your winch tractors got a W6E winch, was a few like that come to nz at the end of the production run, all previous ones had F50s. Whats the frame for, originally thought it was a ripper frame, but no has only single connecting eyes, or do you have custom rippers for it. yeah more pics if you like. Terrain is very similar to mine, just ours is a lot heavier clay and wetter. but still work on ridges like that.
Choice of a ripper or winch dozer is very handy as each have there place, have one of each myself, although mine are from the 'other' stable. My opinion of the canopys is you HAVE the best style, plenty of visibility, no glass to break or fog up. enclosed cabs can be a pita in my opinion. plus open cabs give you a sense of 'smell' for things that can go wrong. Biggest thing a bout tractors with or without cabs in that sort of extreme application is the man they've got in the SEAT. He IS the guy who knows what his horse can and cant do and wether he can do it safely. Enclosed cab wont save a guy who cant think or see in front of him what 'might' happen.
Don't be shy about telling us what sort of competition you work against in the fireline work and how all the crawlers perform against each other. Like the others am enjoying this post and your excellent photos.
Thanks and cheers from new Zealand. merv

Beautiful, Mel.  That right there is why I'm on this forum.  Thanks...

Could be an application where the elevated sprocket makes sense...
Just curious- what did that tractor go for in the mid eighties?  Was that your first series B?  My uncle bought an old D6B in 1987 for $16000, and he could probably get that for it today, or close.  It's tough to get much more than 20K for an 11-B here, even if it is really nice, whereas a D6C may well bring 30K.

Know a guy down your way that demoed a brand new 11-B in 1975.  Dealer (Cooke?) wanted $65000.  He offered $50000, but no dice.  Tractor sat at his place all winter before it sold.

Hi Lazyts, yeah Cooke was a dealer based of Columbia MO, went out of business a few years ago as the owner passed away with no one ready to take on the business. Did not realize they were a AC dealer in the day, they were Case when they closed doors.

Took 24 hours to shut down, employees just locked out then less than a year and all inventory and facility gone. The guys at Williamsburg MO: Kwik parts are the remains of those guys.

Ok....thought I would post this up for Codger...about HD11Bs....WOW! it's 7 years old

Mel we all been wondering about you for a while. Thank you for bring up your great photos.