Clarkair CA-1 Discussion Board

I thought this might make a good tread, seeing as I keep noticing slight differences in the early manual, either in pictures or description.

I refer to the manual that OZ has in data format.

It states on the front cover "for use with tractor serial 1 thru 16 inclusive"

now, the very last sentence on page 4 , under PUTTING THE TRACTOR INTO SERVICE states to "insert key and turn on"

SO, those photos I have seen online, of others around the world, one with a key, may very well be extremely early models. In fact, OZ, I beleive you has a compulation of a few photos of different gauge clusters, and one had the key.

Its just an interesting point I thought I would make.. Like all early Dodge trucks, they had keys until someone realized OH hey, what if the key is lost! Then what?
I suppose the Clark machines also went thru iterations as time went on, where some ealry features and Ideas where dropped in favor of bettter ones.

another observation:

Same manual as refered to above:

See page 2 with the 3/4 left rear view of the tractor.

Note the forward and reverser lever and the hydraulic blade lever. Both have threaded ends and knobs on top. The steering levers, however, are one peice completely steel handles.

On my 1944 dated CA-1, ALL of my levers are like the steering levers. (except for the transmission lever.. this has a knob)

Hummm.... Anyone on this board have a machine with levers that have the screw on knob style?

ands there is more:

I notice the same rear 3/4 view as described in above post, refering to page 2 of the manual.

If you look closely, its apparent that the latch on the sand boxes are much more different than the simple wire eyelet and spring like i have on my machine. Cant see very well how its constructed, but its apparent that its a different style than all the others I have seen pictures of to date.

Notice the cover page photo.... The sandbox construction "seems" different as well.. looks like a flat fold to the outside of the door.. hummm... hard to see this in the manual photos, but I swear at one time I seen a photo of a actual box designed like this photograph shows