I am brand new to Cat ownership and dozers in general. My purchase is dual purpose, one to help maintain my property in SW Washington state dealing with briar patches, alder and other brush and also maybe to restore and share my machine with others. I really am not entirely sure what year it is or if it is a put together machine someone did years ago of different year parts. I really don't know and the owner who probably was just flipping the machine bought it out of a barn. It has had fresh paint put on some point in it's life but is fairly dull now. I posted to a old thread but haven't had any responses so I figured on just starting my own. According to the tag on the engine, the serial number appears to be for a 51. According to the seller he thought it was much later - like 59. I really don't know. The winch I believe covers the serial number on the back frame. Is there another spot for the serial? Appears to have a factory electric start pony or had one added. The tool tray goes under the seat which I need to replace at some point. It runs smooth, doesn't smoke, shows 1065 hours on the meter when I shut it down today. Has a different blade then I am used to seeing which he claimed is a OE Cat blade, has hydraulic tilt on it. Hydraulics are fast and there aren't any leaks on it that I have found. Undercarriage for the novice looks good. Canopy appears factory made, not sure if it is OE Cat or aftermarket. Over the coming months I am going to drain, flush and refill all the fluids in it and hope to eventually be able to store it out of the weather. Going to be a tarp for probably this winter but it may get some running time over the winter to keep things un-stuck. Can you folks help me figure out what I have and provide some new owner advice on things?



All the pictures here: kblackav8or.smugmug.com/Machines/Caterpillar-D4-7U

If you need pictures of anything specific to help ID what I have and options, let me know and I will take and post them.

That's a very nice looking tractor.

There is a lot of help available here on this site so don't be afraid to ask questions should you feel the need of advice.

Nice looking tractor. According to the serial number book it's a 1951. If it was a 1959 it would have serial number closer to 43,xxx or 44,xxx. Have fun with you tractor...

Nice looking D4---love the tilt cylinder on the blade---that makes grading so much easier

7u 12893 is what is on the block

Haven't seen you on JOT in a while. Must be the trucks and a new (old) Cat are keeping you busy.

"Norm wrote:

Haven't seen you on JOT in a while. Must be the trucks and a new (old) Cat are keeping you busy.

I haven't posted on JOT in a while. I just closed on buying a house and this property last Friday which also provided the necessity for the Cat. Thinking of getting shorter and lower trailer to haul the Cat and my tractor around. My 1955 Checker hauls the D4 just fine but it is too big for my needs. The Checker may go up for sale or trade for something a bit smaller but it is a neat trailer. I do want something big enough to haul a truck to a convention or show and with enough weight capacity. I figure if the trailer can fit 260" wheelbase worth of truck and carry the weight of a D6 then anything I will ever put on it, it can carry.

"kblackav8or" wrote:

I haven't posted on JOT in a while. I just closed on buying a house and this property last Friday which also provided the necessity for the Cat. Thinking of getting shorter and lower trailer to haul the Cat and my tractor around. My 1955 Checker hauls the D4 just fine but it is too big for my needs. The Checker may go up for sale or trade for something a bit smaller but it is a neat trailer. I do want something big enough to haul a truck to a convention or show and with enough weight capacity. I figure if the trailer can fit 260" wheelbase worth of truck and carry the weight of a D6 then anything I will ever put on it, it can carry.

You sure that's enough truck for that D4?

Rick