1954 D4 7U - Restarting after 20+ year nap

Hello kdreed88, If you go into your profile and fill out your address there is a good chance that there may be a BB member in your area that would be willing to stop by and point things out for you. Many on here can give you step by step directions but unless you have a general understanding of the machine its hard to understand. No one wants damage done by not checking things out throughly before going going at things.

Hi, Dale.
Welkum too ther 4um. Sorry to hear that you have 'caught yellow fever'. Death seems to be the only relief from it or cure for it. LOL.

You appear to have the basic requirements pretty well figured out for getting this jigger running again. In Northern CA., remember to add a GOOD quality anti-freeze to the cooling system when re-filling.

As long as this machine has been standing, I think I would be looking to flush the fuel lines right through to the injector pump with fresh fuel. This can be done disconnecting the pipe from the filters, putting a little fresh fuel in the tank and then pressurizing the tank with a few PSI of air to blow it through. Even a piece of rubber sheet with a SMALL hole in it for an air hose will do for a seal over the filler spout and cigarette lighter socket powered car air compressor will give you way more than enough air pressure.

I would also suggest replacing the fuel filters - as well as all the others. It is a good idea to replace the fuel pressure gauge but it is not necessary immediately to get the tractor running again. If it is gonna start, it will start regardless of what the pressure gauge shows.

Pony motors can be a bit temperamental (10% temper and 90% mental for the user.) Good compression and spark are essential, along with fresh fuel. It is possibly worth pulling the spark plugs, putting a squirt of some sort of 'loose juice' in there and pulling it over a few times, firstly to check that it is free and secondly to help ensure that the piston rings are free in their grooves.

Make friends with your local Cat dealer. Don't be bashful about asking questions here. the only 'stupid' question is the one you don't ask and there is a LOT of knowledge and expertise here.

Happy re-starting.

Just my 0.02.

Thanks for the input! The D4 is located in Red Bluff, CA.

old-iron-habit: Thanks for your input. I have a fairly decent understanding of the process for everything, but being new I want to make sure that I know as much as I can before trying to start it.

Deas Plant: Thanks for your input as well! We'll definitely flush out the fuel system all the way to the pumps and start it fresh, including changing out the fuel filters. In terms of the pony stalling out with compression added to the diesel, any ideas how we could over come that? I've seen a few mentions online to easing in the compression, and not adding it all at once. Is this something thats even possible, or is better to do all or nothing? If its better to add the compression all at once, how can we keep the pony from stalling?

Thanks again!

Hi, Dale.
Welkum too ther 4um. Sorry to hear that you have 'caught yellow fever'. Death seems to be the only relief from it or cure for it. LOL.

You appear to have the basic requirements pretty well figured out for getting this jigger running again. In Northern CA., remember to add a GOOD quality anti-freeze to the cooling system when re-filling.

As long as this machine has been standing, I think I would be looking to flush the fuel lines right through to the injector pump with fresh fuel. This can be done disconnecting the pipe from the filters, putting a little fresh fuel in the tank and then pressurizing the tank with a few PSI of air to blow it through. Even a piece of rubber sheet with a SMALL hole in it for an air hose will do for a seal over the filler spout and cigarette lighter socket powered car air compressor will give you way more than enough air pressure.

I would also suggest replacing the fuel filters - as well as all the others. It is a good idea to replace the fuel pressure gauge but it is not necessary immediately to get the tractor running again. If it is gonna start, it will start regardless of what the pressure gauge shows.

Pony motors can be a bit temperamental (10% temper and 90% mental for the user.) Good compression and spark are essential, along with fresh fuel. It is possibly worth pulling the spark plugs, putting a squirt of some sort of 'loose juice' in there and pulling it over a few times, firstly to check that it is free and secondly to help ensure that the piston rings are free in their grooves.

Make friends with your local Cat dealer. Don't be bashful about asking questions here. the only 'stupid' question is the one you don't ask and there is a LOT of knowledge and expertise here.

Happy re-starting.

Just my 0.02.

Thanks for the input! The D4 is located in Red Bluff, CA.

old-iron-habit: Thanks for your input. I have a fairly decent understanding of the process for everything, but being new I want to make sure that I know as much as I can before trying to start it.

Deas Plant: Thanks for your input as well! We'll definitely flush out the fuel system all the way to the pumps and start it fresh, including changing out the fuel filters. In terms of the pony stalling out with compression added to the diesel, any ideas how we could over come that? I've seen a few mentions online to easing in the compression, and not adding it all at once. Is this something thats even possible, or is better to do all or nothing? If its better to add the compression all at once, how can we keep the pony from stalling?

Thanks again!

Hello Kdreed88,
Too bad you didn't post this last weekend. I was up your way in Cottonwood. A relative has a 51' 7U#15195 dozer. Set up very much like yours- model 44 hydraulics, surge tank, electric start pony, rear piping for a scarper etc. They are probably one of the best engineered D4's Cat ever made in IMHO. Follow the starting procedure as listed in the Operators manual. If you go on You Tube, you will see countless number of people starting up these old Cats in the wrong fashion. Makes me cringe every time. Follow Deas Plants suggestions and you won't go wrong. He knows his stuff. What do you mean by stalling out? Does the pony lose power and die due to the main not turning or does it turn the main over then die out? Pony motors are very finicky and no two run exactly the same. Check mag, carb and timing. Good luck getting it running and sure would be great to post pic's of it. Even better would be a You Tube video of it firing up for the 1st time about 20 years.😖mile:
Joe G.
40' Cat D2/3J#4103
41' Dodge Military WC-12 1/2 ton 4x4 Pick-up

Thanks guys!

I personally haven't tried firing it up, but many of my family members have back in the early 90's.

Everyone has their own way of doing things, which may not be wrong, just different so I'm taking things in with an open mind.

In terms of the pony stalling out, it occurred right after the compression was engaged for the diesel. With it being so long ago, i doubt anyone remembers the choke/throttle settings on the pony. When we try it again thought we'll be sure to keep that in mind!

Hopefully I'll have gathered enough information and be able to try it out in the near future!