Really need help moving a big scraper from NV to KS

[edb]

Hi Team,
back in the day at our Dealership we often roaded 619 scrapers about for clients.
We had a nosewheel from a large aircraft undercarriage specially adapted to mounts welded to the front of the machine.
This was done to get over the axle weight limits here.
We also used to road No12 Graders, 950's, 966's etc. mostly 15 miles or so into the city of Melbourne to the Police Motor Registration Office for rego inspections and issues. The Graders came from the Caterpillar Grader Production Plant at Tullamarine, across the city to the Dealers. Some graders were roaded to Branches for delivery, some were upto 210 odd mile trips. Great days for a young bloke.
As an Apprentice I was cheap labour for the job--still have a heavy vehicle endorsement for the job.
Thanks for the memories.
Eddie B.

[steamdrum1]

Hey EDB your post brought back some memories for me too. When I started at Cat's Decatur plant we were still building the H series Motor Graders. I worked on the fabrication line welding rear cases. There was a special arrangement for units going to Australia as the final assembly was done once it reached your country. The biggest difference in the Australian graders, was in the fact that we did not pin the front frame and rear case together like all the others. We sent them off the line like that so they could be put right into a sea van and shipped. I was told that we could not sell machines in Australia unless we had a manufacturing presence there, so that is why they set it up so final assembly could take place over there. That could have been a rumor, as it seamed like an easier way to ship them to me.

[edb]

Hi steamdrum1,
the graders, 21F No 12E's, we roaded, back in the 60's and 70's, were built from engine/trans skid packs shipped in along with the Power Control Boxes and some other parts. We never had the F series graders here.
The frames, A frames, blades, etc were built here.
With the G graders the aussie units retained the old 99E, 21F, 17K style A frame and blade.

Yes, they came as a complete skid pack for the rear end out to the drive sprockets, without tandem cases--built here by robot welders-- and the front frames and cabs etc were made here too.

It was a proud fact that here in Victoria we--The Dealer-- could boast at least one Cat grader in every Shire at one time. This was definately due to the Aussie content and Serial Number.
Things went south when Cat closed the Grader Production line.
Yep, all water under the bridge.
Cheers,
Eddie B.