Yesterday, 02:00 PM
A Vanishing Breed: The Search for the CL20 Erickson Axle
In the world of heavy machinery, time and innovation march forward, but machines don’t always keep pace. One vivid illustration of this came when a determined equipment owner began a wide-ranging search for a specific and now rare component: the CL20 axle, originally produced by Erickson. This component had been the backbone of several off-road machines in decades past but had quietly disappeared from common inventory lists, warehouse shelves, and even many parts manuals.
When a vital axle breaks down on a piece of machinery, especially on older units, replacement isn’t just about bolting on a new part. It's a race against time and entropy. The Erickson CL20 axle was once common on various log skidders, yarders, and some obscure utility tractors. Yet as the manufacturers consolidated, rebranded, or folded entirely, so too did the paper trails that kept such parts in circulation.
Obsolete, But Not Forgotten
The decline of Erickson axles isn’t an isolated event. Industry-wide, there's a quiet crisis: the obsolescence of parts for durable machines that were built to last decades. Brands like Clark, Rockwell, and Eaton have seen entire product lines retired or absorbed into larger conglomerates. In 2017, a report from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) highlighted that over 30% of North American contractors still operate equipment over 15 years old, while over half say they struggle to find parts for aging machines.
In one notable case from British Columbia, a logger kept a fleet of vintage equipment operational by scouring logging shows and estate auctions for deadstock axles and transfer cases. “I keep a parts book like a family Bible,” he quipped, flipping through greasy pages covered in handwritten cross-reference numbers.
The Problem with Proprietary and Custom Builds
The difficulty in sourcing the CL20 axle is compounded by its origin. Many older off-road vehicles were built with proprietary or custom-engineered components made in limited batches. Erickson, not a mass-market brand, created axles tailored to specific low-volume applications. Once production stopped, there was no aftermarket to pick up the slack.
It’s a cautionary tale. Relying on specialized components without ensuring long-term support can strand owners when supply chains dry up. As one mechanic put it: “You either retrofit or retire.”
Modern Solutions for Vintage Problems
Despite the frustrations, there’s a growing community of legacy equipment saviors. Custom machining shops now use 3D scanning to replicate discontinued parts. In 2021, a startup in Ohio used additive manufacturing to reproduce a limited run of outdated differential housings for 1970s utility trucks.
Meanwhile, online forums and enthusiast groups have become invaluable. Cross-referencing casting numbers, identifying interchangeable parts, or locating NOS (new old stock) items from forgotten warehouses—all are part of the modern-day equipment archaeologist’s toolkit.
Some have even resorted to “part cloning”—reverse engineering a component by taking accurate measurements and creating CAD models. It’s expensive, but for machines worth tens of thousands, the math often works out.
Preserving Industrial Heritage
At its core, the search for something like the Erickson CL20 axle is more than a logistical problem. It’s about honoring machines that still have work left in them. These machines often outlive the companies that built them, and their continued use is a testament to their engineering and the resourcefulness of their operators.
In 2023, the Canadian National Logging Museum began documenting extinct parts manufacturers, including companies like Erickson, to preserve their place in industrial history. They argue that knowing where your machine came from is as important as knowing how it runs.
Final Thoughts
The quest for the CL20 axle serves as a microcosm of a broader issue faced by the heavy equipment world. It's a reminder that durability without support creates new vulnerabilities. And while progress pushes the industry forward, those who keep old machines alive are doing a kind of quiet preservation work—equal parts mechanical, historical, and heroic.
So next time you see a 40-year-old skidder still hauling logs, tip your hat. Behind it is likely a parts scavenger, a late-night researcher, and maybe even someone still hoping for a warehouse miracle—where a forgotten Erickson CL20 axle gathers dust, waiting to give one more machine a second life.
In the world of heavy machinery, time and innovation march forward, but machines don’t always keep pace. One vivid illustration of this came when a determined equipment owner began a wide-ranging search for a specific and now rare component: the CL20 axle, originally produced by Erickson. This component had been the backbone of several off-road machines in decades past but had quietly disappeared from common inventory lists, warehouse shelves, and even many parts manuals.
When a vital axle breaks down on a piece of machinery, especially on older units, replacement isn’t just about bolting on a new part. It's a race against time and entropy. The Erickson CL20 axle was once common on various log skidders, yarders, and some obscure utility tractors. Yet as the manufacturers consolidated, rebranded, or folded entirely, so too did the paper trails that kept such parts in circulation.
Obsolete, But Not Forgotten
The decline of Erickson axles isn’t an isolated event. Industry-wide, there's a quiet crisis: the obsolescence of parts for durable machines that were built to last decades. Brands like Clark, Rockwell, and Eaton have seen entire product lines retired or absorbed into larger conglomerates. In 2017, a report from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) highlighted that over 30% of North American contractors still operate equipment over 15 years old, while over half say they struggle to find parts for aging machines.
In one notable case from British Columbia, a logger kept a fleet of vintage equipment operational by scouring logging shows and estate auctions for deadstock axles and transfer cases. “I keep a parts book like a family Bible,” he quipped, flipping through greasy pages covered in handwritten cross-reference numbers.
The Problem with Proprietary and Custom Builds
The difficulty in sourcing the CL20 axle is compounded by its origin. Many older off-road vehicles were built with proprietary or custom-engineered components made in limited batches. Erickson, not a mass-market brand, created axles tailored to specific low-volume applications. Once production stopped, there was no aftermarket to pick up the slack.
It’s a cautionary tale. Relying on specialized components without ensuring long-term support can strand owners when supply chains dry up. As one mechanic put it: “You either retrofit or retire.”
Modern Solutions for Vintage Problems
Despite the frustrations, there’s a growing community of legacy equipment saviors. Custom machining shops now use 3D scanning to replicate discontinued parts. In 2021, a startup in Ohio used additive manufacturing to reproduce a limited run of outdated differential housings for 1970s utility trucks.
Meanwhile, online forums and enthusiast groups have become invaluable. Cross-referencing casting numbers, identifying interchangeable parts, or locating NOS (new old stock) items from forgotten warehouses—all are part of the modern-day equipment archaeologist’s toolkit.
Some have even resorted to “part cloning”—reverse engineering a component by taking accurate measurements and creating CAD models. It’s expensive, but for machines worth tens of thousands, the math often works out.
Preserving Industrial Heritage
At its core, the search for something like the Erickson CL20 axle is more than a logistical problem. It’s about honoring machines that still have work left in them. These machines often outlive the companies that built them, and their continued use is a testament to their engineering and the resourcefulness of their operators.
In 2023, the Canadian National Logging Museum began documenting extinct parts manufacturers, including companies like Erickson, to preserve their place in industrial history. They argue that knowing where your machine came from is as important as knowing how it runs.
Final Thoughts
The quest for the CL20 axle serves as a microcosm of a broader issue faced by the heavy equipment world. It's a reminder that durability without support creates new vulnerabilities. And while progress pushes the industry forward, those who keep old machines alive are doing a kind of quiet preservation work—equal parts mechanical, historical, and heroic.
So next time you see a 40-year-old skidder still hauling logs, tip your hat. Behind it is likely a parts scavenger, a late-night researcher, and maybe even someone still hoping for a warehouse miracle—where a forgotten Erickson CL20 axle gathers dust, waiting to give one more machine a second life.
