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1939 CHAMPION I-14 Very rare!

  • 02/28/2020 12:17 PM
    Message # 8782069
    Anonymous

    1939 CHAMPION I-14 Hydraulic Motor Grader
    Power unit is a 1939 McCormick-Deering W14
    Likely the only one left after 80 years, only 3 were built
    Located in Eastern Ontario, 30 miles north of Massena NY
    notes below from the Champion Grader Club

    Wow. You've got a real oddity there. As I suspected, it's smaller than an I-30, it's a model I-14, one of only 3 built. All three were built in 1939, yours was originally sold to the township of Osnabruck in Aultsville Ontario. Aultsville is one of those towns that was submerged by the St Lawrence Seaway, located near Morrisburg.

    There isn't much info on this model, but I believe it was based on the 19 HP McCormick-Deering W14 tractor. I remember seeing some notes and sketches in an engineer's notebook we have somewhere in the archives.  I believe the grader part is similar to the I-30, but a shorter wheelbase and maybe a smaller blade. The hydraulics are most likely identical.

    The machine looks worth restoring if you're up to it. From what I can see, the hydraulics look pretty complete - I can see the belt drive for the hydraulic pump, so I assume the pump is still there. It was a vane pump, built by Galion, and I expect it would be difficult to find parts for that if it isn't working. However vane pumps are pretty simple, so having parts made if necessary shouldn't be impossible. The manifold appears to be there as well. The cylinders will likely be OK unless the rods have been exposed and corroded, although seals might need replacing (leather cups, still available I believe). Whichever model McCormick tractor it's based on, parts should be available as many thousands of those were built in the 1930s and 40s, and seem popular with antique tractor enthusiasts. And of course there will likely be seized bearings and the usual corrosion issues on a machine this old.

    Other than that, sand blasting and painting would be the major cost.

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