NORTH Queensland businesses have banded together to bring a rare old engine back to life, just in time for the sixth Queensland Heritage Rally being held in Ayr in July.
The 80 year old Caterpillar D6600 three cylinder engine was discovered on an Ayr cane farm by Alf Shand from the Burdekin Machinery Preservationists.
“It’s the only one of its kind I ever came across throughout my long career working as an electrician in north Queensland,” Mr Shand said.
The engine was originally part of a bulldozer but had been used since the 1960s to pump water for farm irrigation.
“With 52 horsepower, the American-made engine would have pumped about 100,000 gallons per hour on the farm,” Mr Shand said.
The farm’s owner, Chris Lynn, kindly donated the engine to the Burdekin Machinery Preservationists.
Mr Shand then arranged for his former employee, Ergon Energy, to crane the one tonne engine out of its shed onto the back of a truck for transportation to Ayr.
This was done as a Community Project Hastings Deering in Townsville was approached for help with the restoration.
Product Support Representative, Barry Searle, saw the engine and jumped at the chance for his company to be involved in bringing the old beauty back to life.
“It was a rare chance for our diesel fitter apprentices to work on something so old,” Mr Searle said.
“They really enjoyed working on the project, and it helped them gain specialised skills in electrical repairs to the magneto, and old-style fuel injection pumps, and especially the starting procedures of both the pilot motor and main engine.
“Without this opportunity the apprentices and fellow work colleagues may never have seen or known an engine of this type or age to have even existed.”
Mr Searle said the apprentices worked under the supervision of long time Hastings Deering employee, Leading Hand Phil Nelson, who has more than 25 years’ experience with the company and 48 years in total in different industries.
“Phil grew up on farms and had a lot of knowledge and skills to share with the apprentices,” he said.
“He really took ownership of the project and his enthusiasm was infectious. Everyone wanted to watch while the old engine was being worked on.”
Most parts required for the engine were readily available from within the Hastings Deering network or Caterpillar in the USA, however due to the age of the engine some were not.
The engine’s transformation also relied on several of Hastings Deering’s regular suppliers.
Thanks must go to the following Townsville businesses: Leslie’s Auto Electrical, Girvan Engineering, Bayswater Road Radiators, Predator Signs, Civil & Safety, HM Gem Engines, Waters Abrasive Blasting Service and Aitkenvale Towing Services, all of which helped with donations and services for the project.
The engine will be on show at the Burdekin Machinery Preservationists stand at the Heritage Rally, which runs from 25-27 July at the Ayr Showgrounds.
The Queensland Heritage Rally only comes around every two years and this year’s event in Ayr will be extra special, with the display of the world’s only functioning 1911 Marshall Colonial C Class single speed tractor, also known as the Burdekin Tractor.
Members of the Burdekin Machinery Preservationists have spent the past five years restoring this unique piece of rural history.
Other rare tractors on display at the Heritage Rally include a Marshall Colonial Model C and a second Marshall Colonial Model F 4 cylinder, both 100 years old.
The Heritage Rally will feature tractors (1910 to 1960), stationary engines, vintage motorcycles, a tractor pull and tractor balancing, a display of veteran/ vintage/ historical and classic cars, trade exhibits and a daily grand parade (tractors, cars and motorcycles), woodwork/craft/blacksmithing demonstrations and workshops, children’s activities and entertainment.
The rally is being organised by the Burdekin Machinery Preservationists (Burdekin), North Queensland Machinery Preservationists (Townsville) and the Pioneer Valley Machinery Preservationists (Mackay).
For more information about the rally visit www.qldheritagerally.com.au, email qhr2014@bigpond.com or phone Mr Alf Shand on 0417 746 367.
The sixth Queensland Heritage Rally is proudly supported by Tourism & Events Queensland, 630 ABC North Queensland, the Burdekin Shire Council, Sirromet, and New Holland – Tracpower.
