The D2 I'm attempting to reassemble (4U6123) has electric start on the pony and generator. It is also has a fender mounted fuel tank. I have looked all over the net, in books and at shows. I have seen the tool box and battery box on pretty much every location imaginable on the tractors. Should the battery be mounted in front of the fuel tank, or on the right fender somewhere? I have bought this one partly disassembled and its got a few pieces gone. Thanks in advance.
Morgan
 

mount it where it will fit and wont hinder operation or getting on or off the machine nothing worse than having to contort yourself to get on or off and tripping over something on the way.
it really doesnt matter much what does matter is the quality of the installation batteries dont like being bounced around. in particular make sure the cabling is correctly sized to handle the current flow and allow for voltage drop it doesnt hurt to be slightly over sized.

If the maths and de-rating table says you need 20mm sq cable it doesnt hurt to use 25mm sq for example. a light smear of grease or petroleum jelly on the cable ends helps keep the moisture away and prevents corrosion.

Tranzkids88's advice is very good.  However, if you are trying to get the tractor as original as possible, then it is my understanding that every electric start pony motor D2 that appears be original had the battery inside a Cat battery box and mounted on the left fender near the front of the fender. 

Hi Neil, There's plenty of room to mount it in front of a fender tank and to be Catterpillar correct it should go on the left fender.

I just received a copy of a book “d2-d4 caterpillar photo archive”. So I have been looking at all these different optioned tractors. I think from the pictures, I have deduced that if you have a battery and a fender fuel tank the battery is place on the right fender and toward the rear beside the seat. I noticed more that one that has this arrangement. The seat mounted fuel tank has it on the left fender toward the front. The tool box is on the right fender toward the front on the fender mounted tank and on the seat tank it is on the left beside the seat. I have noticed there are not a whole lot of fender tanks with electric start. Most of the pictures have the start rope draped around the fuel filler on the fender tank! Suppose it’s not too convenient to walk around the tractor to put it in the tool box. If anyone wants me add the photos from the book I would gladly do so. Thank you for all your great replies!

My 4U for what it’s worth. Put the box where it makes you happy! 

JM=

How do you get on and off of that machine? (Pull up sideways to a high loading dock?)

Daron

daron wrote:

JM=

How do you get on and off of that machine? (Pull up sideways to a high loading dock?)

Daron
*** Just like putting on a pair of pants. One leg at a time!***
seriously, as I am getting older and not as agile, I do tend to look over a tractor momentarily to figure out how to board it; same coming off .
I took a fall a month ago and laid on the cement for a couple of minutes. As I laid there, I wondered if I had more tumbles to look forward as I age. Ouch!
My D4s with fender tanks also have the battery boxes on the right. JM