A logging 2 Ton

I was looking for the opportunity to work my "new" 2 Ton which I finished rebuilding about a month ago, she got her crankshaft ground with new white metal bearings, new oversize piston rings and a reconditioned head, main clutch plates were relined, new fuel tank made, along with a new seat base and John Hahn cushions, new bottom roller and front idler shafts were made with some bronze bearing rebushing, plus new rubber suspension blocks, and I rebuilt the flogged out tracks using strips of steel which took 4 days with my stick welder. Saving her took longer and cost significantly more than I budgeted, but then most old Cat. restorations have a habit of doing that it seems, and I really enjoy the unique technical challenges and learning experiences that are presented every step of the way, not being a Mechanics boot lace, and working with only very basic tools out of a old log shed half falling down.

I had some trees fall the past week so I got out the chainsaw and cut them into reasonable lengths for the 2 Ton to pull, and when I finished pulling logs I hooked her up to some old discs I have and broke up some ground for 4 hours, she pulled like a train while running, but I've discovered the magneto I have on her will not fire her up when the engine is hot and I'm wondering if that is the condensor playing up, there are a few minor oil leaks that need attention, and the timing gears are noisy, they were all a miss mash of different wear patterns and I suspect the previous owner cobbled up one tractor out of several others over the years, for example the fan drive gear looks brand new, but the camshaft gear was very worn, so I may have to pull the head off and switch some gears in and out.

I'll pull the magneto off now and get that looked at, and aim to address the minor oil leak problems, then get her working again, I use all my old Cats here on the farm and often get visitors calling in who are keen to drive a old Cat., one day I had three retired crawler drivers call in and I soon had them dragging logs with the RD6, the RD4 and my "Old" 2 Ton, one guy was 83, another 81, and the 3rd guy was 79, and the smiles on their faces were priceless. I took a heap of photo's of these gentlemen and mailed them off a few days later so they could show their families they actually did drive old Cats at Mike's place, it wasn't a case a senile dementia or a few too many Crown Royals kicking in!😆 I also never miss a opportunity to get visiting teenagers on them and driving solo after some supervised teaching, they all seem to really enjoy the experience and it's what we need to do isn't it, to save these old girls, get the next generation interested.

I'm just waiting now for new decals from ACMOC to finish her off, at the same time I'm currently restoring a D4 7J, a 22, and a D2 4U, they were all meant to go to China and probably should have, but those of you who know me are clearly aware I'm not very bright, and I hate seeing old Cats cut up for scrap, that's the easy way out.
regards
Mike

nice work!, glad to see another cat saved from the melting pot, nice to see there's someone as daft as me willing to restore them!

Love the 'hood ornament' in pix 13 and 15! Good job, congrats!

Hey Ken, thanks for the compliment, my Doctor suggested I try a glass or 3 of red wine on the days I visit my local Cat. Dealer to collect parts as he noticed a huge jump in my blood pressure when I returned from that 2 hour round trip, and it isn't the traffic causing the elevated blood pressure I can assure you, it's Cats elevated prices on certain parts that drives me to drink, lucky I only buy parts 5 or 6 days a week!😆
regards
Mike

Looks great, thanks for sharing the photo's. Posts like this are helping me to learn more about the old CATS

Mike,
👍
bernie

Great looking restoration Mike. One problem though. Don't forget you're not very bright. I think you should paint those pedals three different colors so you remember which one is which.

Naughty Mikey, but I think you are onto something there!😆

Mike, if you drank less red you would finish quicker! Regards Andrew

Hi Mike, Thats one great looking tractor. I can only hope that my D2 4U restoration looks half as good as your two ton.

cheers
Geoff

Hey Mike,

My last conversation with Anna, she told me she was buying a top of the range beamer 😆 before you spend all of her money. 😈

Neil 👍