I am in sixth grade and my Dad is a member here. I am writing a research report on the model 28 tractor that we own. I am wondering in what years they were made, how many were made and what most people used them for.

I am allowing my son to use this resource for his report. Please help him out by providing answers as well as some other questions he might well ask in getting enough information to fill things out.

Thanks
Hans J

Dear 6th grade CAT enthusiast,
There were 1,171 CAT 28's made.

Manufacture dates: 12/4/33, 11/11/35.

The CAT 28's were mostly used for agriculture farming.

They made an orchard tail seat, a wide gauge, and a standard guage tractor.

The 28 is a moderately rare tractor. The wide gauge and the orchard models are more rare than the standard version. This means, if you have a wide gauge orchard it would be the most sought after.

Most of the 28's were parked when the D2 was produced. The D2 was more economical to operate. If you post your Serial number, I will tell you what year it was made. Frank

Hans J:

The ACMOC Magazine and Website Committee is preparing a brief history of Caterpillar to place here on the website for just such occasions as school papers. It is in draft form. I tried to post a portion of it here for your use, but the program will not accept it as it is too long (33,000 characters vs. 10,000 maximum permitted).

If you would like to see it, I will send the draft to you by e-mail as an attachment. It is a Word document.

My e-mail address is gwhdiesel75[at]msn.com.

George W. Howard
Corporate Secretary, ACMOC
Chairman, Magazine and Website Committee

Frank,
The serial # is 4F592W. I believe it is a narrow guage standard. There is a hydraulic blade rig on it but the blade itself is missing (although I think I know where it is buried). It came with the property when we bought it back in the early 80's. Ours is pretty run down, the engine is seized and it has a thrown track and the drive train is seized as well. I pulled it out of a ravine this past summer and it took three tractors to skid it out. I am also missing the magneto as well (someone stole it years ago).

Anyhow, that's what we have. Thanks for helping out!
Hans J

The 28 was an updated version of the big (L,PL series) Cat 20 that was produced between 1928 and 1932. I think the bore is slightly larger on the 28. There are a lot of the 20's around. Maybe you can keep an eye out for a 20 to use for a parts tractor to restore your 28.

Tom

Hans don't get confussed Frank is the expert on 28 knows what numbers are still around and knows where most are he has alotta time in the research.
The 25 is the upgraded version of the 20 in a later test the 20 showed 25hp, greater then the orig. 20 hp so was changed to the 25 and the 28 came after that with bigger engine and flat fenders. At a quick glance the Cyl. jugs have funny corners and the flat fenders that started midway thru the 25s 20and 25 4x5 bore and stroke the 28 4-3/16 x 5

Willie,
Thanks, I appreciate the advice. I don't plan on starting restoration (and it needs a lot of it!!) for another couple of years as I need to build a barn to work in first. My son got interested because this past summer I pulled it out of the ravine it has been sitting in for the past 40 or so years to make room for a pond. It took three tractors and the boys driving two of them to skid it out. Before that the boys would play on it since they were just little tykes.
Hans J

We have two kids that attend Cat Night regularly. One-Greg, talked his dad to get a tractor to start a project. The found a Twenty. You should have seen the look on this kids face, when after a month or so, they fired it up. You could feel the positive energy flowing in the shop. They kid(dad too) was glowing. It sure makes me happy to see a 14 year old dive into some dirt and grease instead of drugs.

We just got home tonight from Sacramento and the boys are both disappointed that we took the train up and couldn't stop in Woodland to see the Museum. I guess we'll be taking a car trip there soon. It is really nice to have a couple of level-headed boys who are interested in old tractors, old trucks, old guns and hanging out with old guys (most importantly their old parents!!!)

Hans J