Some things I don't like...
The normally tilt and angle blade feature appears to have been made straight blade only. The tilt adjustment clamp bolt is missing and there appears to be a stop welded preventing angle adjustment.

Another big "no maintenance" item is the rails have be allowed to drag on the blade lift mechanism cross shaft.

The right rear hub area of the track truck appears to have some goober welded on metal, semi covered in dirt so it's hard to tell.

I'd agree, anything over about $4- $4.5K is to much. I'd start dickering at $3.5.

I would be concerned about the ware on the side of the sprocket above all, I would be checking it for loose bearings, and it appears the seal has been leaking at some point in its life. The air cleaner is not sealed and has been sucking in dirt around the seal, although it should have been filtered it would depend on how offend the air cleaner has been serviced if this seal leak would have any effect on the systems unfiltered air entering the engine. I would suggest checking for air leaks in the inlet manifold assembly by holding a zig zag cigarette paper over the starting engine exhaust pipe.. (with the diesel engine running) if it sucks it down in the opening of the exhaust pipe there is a leaking in the inner pipe assembly allowing unfiltered air to enter the diesel engine, color that wore rings, liners, etc.. Ask the seller how much oil it uses. Good luck.

Kelly

@ Old Magnet: I took the measurement on the ground becasue that was the straightest section of track, but maybe there wasn't enough tension on the track at the bottom?

He told me he has $8000 invested, so I can't imagine he will take $3500-$4500, but I could see him taking $5000-$5500. The problem is, its not like he has it for sale on the internet, and he's a motivated seller. I heard that he had it, and might be interested in selling it. The last time I talked to him on Friday, he said come over when you have some time and take it back into the pit and push some gravel with it or take it back into the bush and clear some bush with it and see what you think. So I might take him up on that offer sometime this week and see if I can get the clutch to slip or not, because he said it only did it to him once and that it hasn't done it again since, but he really hasn't pushed it hard since then either...

This is the only one I really have to compare it to in Ontario for sale right now...

wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Caterpillar/D4+BULL...howCPO&orup=30_15_36

Here's another one for $2000...

jbtrucks.autotrader.ca/heavyequipment/us...00740a59acf64830.htm

Here are some D2's for sale near by...

jbtrucks.autotrader.ca/heavyequipment/us...0021151ea0fd7744.htm

jbtrucks.autotrader.ca/heavyequipment/us...01766af05773d288.htm

That other D4 at least appears to have a fully functional angle tilt blade system and looks like it has a winch...or at least I can see the brake lever and controls. Down side is it has missing/broken bolts where the blade attachment mounts to the track frame.....never fun to fix. It is obviously tired but not all that bad but no where near that asking price.

In terms of attachments, a working blade system is worth probably about $1,500 and a working winch is worth $1,200 - $1,500 so that should help on evaluating the tractor.

Check s/n's on any of those tractors as the dates stated seem to be off.

Unless you do the correct tension rail measurement the results are meaningless.

What the previous owner has invested is not your problem. Seldom do you recover your investment in these deals. It's strickley market value.

"McMOPAR" wrote:

This is the only one I really have to compare it to in Ontario for sale right now...

wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Caterpillar/D4+BULL...howCPO&orup=30_15_36

This one actually looks decent, as well as I can tell by the pictures. Electric start pony, the one brake pedal I can see part off shows no appreciable wear in the photos. The trunnions look tight, the blade pins look decent but need to exercise them to be sure. Sprockets look like they have some decent life left. This one might not have a lot of hours on it. Based purely on pictures this one looks to be a better machine. Not sure if clutch will be wet or dry. It says 1950 which would be dry but without a serial number to check the year could be off. Very few private party adds seem to get the year right.