Just bought a 6U yesterday and thanks to TractorDon the Cat runs excellent. My question is, being a novice at this stuff, when I took the inspection plate off to do adjust the brakes I noticed two tabs off to the side, not sure what they are, just dangling loose at one end. Is this normal? I know I didnt do a great job of describing it but im hoping somebody will understand my question.

Also, Is it supposed to be all oily under that inspection cover? I have a feeling its not and that might be why the tractors a bit hard to turn?????? Anyway, Any help would be greatly appreciated.

350, the BB's are great for helping out newbies with problems but you need to get some Cat manuals. Don't buy the cheap after market ones, just be patient and you can find original ones on ebay.

search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocu...1&coentrypage=search

The oily ones don't stick so quickly.

You probably should check/adjust the clutches so they fully release and also adjust the brakes so you have the correct travel, and if that doesn't do it, then you can try to wash the clutch housings and remove the oily mess.

You can plug the housings and fill it full enough with kerosene or diesel to wash the accumulated oil out of there as the clutches rotate around. The manuals recommend just driving back and forth without pulling a clutch so the fluid doesn't take contaminants between the clutch plates.

Great. Thanks both of you guys for the replies. Im going to get the manuals asap. CCJERSEY If I fill the housing with diesel will it get into the tube where the oil cup is? If so will it hurt anything? Thanks!

Hi Jim, pleasure meeting you and your Dad the other day. Hope Billy was fair with you. Give me a call anytime, you have my number I believe.
I wouldn't worry a whole lot, I have spent some time on this tractor actually working ground and I am sure there is nothing serious going on with the frictions or brakes. The loose tabs????? Are you looking from the top cover or the rear inspection covers?
A good cleaning and adjustment is a very good idea as CCjersey mentioned.
After years of adding oil to the release collars, there will always be oil inside that compartment. Of course that does not mean that there is some seal leakage also. Get your manuals, good advise here on the BB and feel free to get a hold of me also. Thanks, Don

If all you are really interested in is the brakes, you can fill the housing only high enough to submerge the bottom of the brake drum and let it carrry the fuel up and over the drum as you apply and release the brake. I don't think a little diesel in the oil tubes/funnels will hurt, but I would re-oil after the wash.

In my limited experience, adjustment will do the most good, but if it doesn't get it, then a wash is the next logical step unless you can see or find broken linings on the band.

You have to have plenty of free travel on the brake pedal. Once you adjust it so it catches about mid stroke, then you apply the brake, block it down tight or have someone hold it and go underneath and snug up the support bolt and then loosen off 1 1/2 turns as I remember. Lock it down there.

An Operators and maintenance manual has this all written down with pictures of all the important bits and measurements.

Thanks ccjersey. Im going to do that next weekend. With the price of diesel It may be cheaper just to buy a new tractor

TractorDon, Yes I think Billy was fair. Im having a lot of fun on the Cat I know theres nothing really wrong with the brakes, but being the way I am I always think something can be even better. Being a perfectionist is really getting to be a pain in my own a$$. As for the "tabs" They are off to the side on each side of the case if you are looking down from the top inspection cover.

One other thing; Billy mentioned that you would sell me the fuel lines to the pony motor if you came across any spares???????? They would be greatly appreciated.

If the "tabs" are one in each rear corner to the outside they are probably the spring anchors for the steering clutch booster springs.....and if they are just dangling they are probably either disconnected from the springs or the springs are missing/broken.

Bingo. I think you nailed it OldMagnet! Thats what they are. Do you have any Idea where I can find a set? I know theyre probably not necessary but if it makes the pull easier I'd like to have em. Thanks!

Try Cat, the pt. # for the springs is 9B1454.
You can probably find them used but they a usually well worn.