Page 344 - Peterson 85 Years and Going Strong

McMurdo crew with new Cat 160M2 motor graders
MORE EXTREME WEATHER MACHINES
The Antarctic Challenger project opened the door for Peterson to other extreme weather machines in the polar regions.
In September 2014, Duane Jr. received a phone call from the US Antarctic Program’s prime contractor to discuss new equipment. “We ended up with a contract for two D7Es and two 160M2 motor graders with Tier 3 engines,” says Duane Jr. “Tier 4s wouldn’t work in the environment down there—same as the Challengers.”2
The modifications were significant. Each D7E took 900 hours to complete; the 160Ms took 325 hours a piece—plus all the Cat updates required. Portland shop tech, Desery Hayden did the D7Es. “We basically tore the machines down
to the frame. Then we sent the components over to the component shop to get their up-fits and product improve- ments. And then we did all the cold weather requirements to make sure they would withstand the elements of Antarctica.”
“We installed diesel-fired burners to keep the coolant warm while the machines weren’t running,” says Hayden. “And we put custom curtains on the radiator shrouds and tin-wear to keep the snow out. And each battery had its own heating pad system that wrapped around it and plugged into a heating element.” Most of the specs were relayed verbally so “you basically had to be both a mechanic and an engineer on the fly.”
At the same time, the Portland weld shop customized the D7E blades, widening and shaping them like a U dozer for a larger capacity. They also added bolt-on serrated edges to texture the ice on the runways, which would create friction to help the planes stop when landing.
All four machines delivered in time to make the once-a-year supply ship to the Antarctic. But it was crunch time all the way to the end. Today they are at McMurdo Station as part of the fleet that maintains the airfield and research station.
2 Tier 4 engines come with DPF filters that use urea-based fuel called DEF, which not only freezes in the South Pole region but would also require another type of fuel to be brought in and stored at an additional expense.
342 | PETERSON: 85 YEARS AND GOING STRONG