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Billy NY
02-01-2004 11:25:24
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Re: Old D4C for collection but needs infos....! in reply to Fred, 01-31-2004 16:09:31
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Will try to keep this short 1. Get the serial number & indentify the tractor 2. Undercarriage condition is important, the only way to determine how much it is worn, is by measuring all the components & comparing the measurements to what the components were when they were new, determine a percentage of how much as been worn off the parts. Consult & find someone who knows how to measure an undercarriage, knows crawlers etc., it's worth it to avoid getting a crawler you don't want or envision doing extensive repairs to. It's really not that difficult to measure the U/C (undercarriage)& compare the results to new specifications for that serial number machine. I will post a link where you should be able to get the specifications for the U/C. Measuring by eye will not determine how much life is left in the U/C which dictates how much use you will get out of it before its going to need replacing. Measuring may also help determine if you have other options to get some more hours out of the existing U/C, they are expensive to replace, may exceed the value of the tractor, but you won't know the true condition unless its been measured correctly. 3. Final drives: If the sprocket is loose on the shaft, ( you can check with a good size pry bar to see if it has play ) you may want to have a closer look, run a magnet inside the case, down to the bottom, like the kind you can get an auto parts store for retreiving dropped obhjects. If you come up with metal shavings, pieces, there may be repairs needed. 4. Hard to judge a motor that does not run and brakes, steering clutches etc., so have to keep that in mind. If it has not been abused, worked excessively hard, poorly maintained, caterpillar made some durable tractors then, so its a judgement call. On a positive note it's best to really give a crawler a good inspection, so you know what you are getting, so not to steer you off, if both motors run ok, got some hours left on the U/C, and no other major mechanical work is needed, you could get quite a bit of use out of it. 5. If you do buy it, get the servicemans reference book and parts book for that serial number tractor, it will help you immensly. E-bay, Midland Press, Cat Legendary literature are good places to find these. Not all re-print quality is the same. 6. Also if you do buy it, the little gas starting engine can be tempermental if not taken care of properly. One thing to be aware of, make sure the oil never gets thinned out by gas seeping from the carb into the crank case, by either running it out after you turn off the valve or draining the carburetor bowl. It won't last long running on contaminated oil. So much for being short ! Heres the link to the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club
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