Howdy all.

I wonder if I could impose upon your knowledge and experience to help out a newbie.

I woudl liek to get a dozer to cut trails, push down 60-70 foot Popple trees, clear thick brush, dig two ponds and widen my access road. Last time I hired a contractor with a Cat to do similar work I got charged A LOT of money. This time I thought I'd buy a used unit and do it myself (told the wife I'd sell it later, but we'll see about that...)

I came across a 1980 D4D that seems almost perfect for my needs. It is direct electric start, and fires right up with the tiniest puff of black smoke that goes away within a second or two. The guy who has it claims it was owned by the DNR for years who had it set up for fighting forest fires - so most of the time it did little work. It has a "third valve" he said was for the DNR's plow. He also claims the DNR sold it to a small town who owned it for 1 year, built 1 mile of road, and then sold it to him for a much bigger, much newer machine to buidl the next 17 miles. He says it has been serviced by a Cat dealership all its life. This guy seems to make a side business of buying and selling used dozers/excavators, usually much bigger than this one.

I know next to nothing about dozers. I do know they're really expensive to fix. I also know that for the money I've got (or rather, will have) that to expect perfection is unrealistic. This dozer has a simple up/down blade, lots of overhead protection, and the motor seems strong. There don't seem to be any hydraulic leaks. Apparently just before he got it it had $1700 worth of work for a new starter motor and associated stuff. The owner was quite upfront that the tracks probably should be replaced, but seemed to think that for the "casual" work I was going to do it'd be just fine for years.

Do any of you guys have any suggestions on things to look for/be careful of? Your time would be much appreciated. Aksing price is $9500

Hi prattusa,

What you have there is a fairly early example of the D series, and it would date to the mid to late 60's not 1980 as the seller claims (the location and size of the aircleaner pre-cleaner gives it away). A serial number would help greatly in dating the build year.

The undercarriage looks to be in pretty poor condition at first look and will require immediate attention to accomplish anything (you'll get hardly any traction out of those worn out plates).

Personally I'd be leaving it right where it is at the asking price.

Rusted, I agree a 100% it looks like a pretty poor under carriage and also the picture shows the guard missing on the right under carriage.Can,t see the idlers too plain or the rollers but they have to be pretty well worn out like the tracks and sprockets too.

Prattusa,


That Cat D4D looks like 78A series.

FarmerD5

Hey Pratt-
I agree that even for a casual user that undercarriage is pretty hashed. The condition of the tracks is arguably the number one factor in determining the value of a Cat. To replace it could easily cost you more then the asking price of the machine.
That 'auction paint' sprayed right over the dents, dirt and grease is literally 'lipstick on a pig'.

A couple of other things-
You didn't mention your mechanical skills or desire to work on things. With these older Cats you have to really enjoy the labor that goes along with them. Not necessarily because they are unreliable, but with shop labor rates approaching $100 an hour and parts shopping an adventure of it's own, you can find yourself in the poorhouse pretty quick.

Usually when you shop at dealer you find premium prices.

Looking at the undercarrige wear and the slop in the tracks I would be wary of the claim that it got little use.

Yup, I agree with the others, definitely pre 1968 with that old D330 engine in, the pins and bushes are shot ,as with the idlers that far back and big gaps between the worn out pads, I reckon someone has taken a link out of each track to make them look better and get some adjustment. It certainly looks as if it has 'high speed' track wear, snow clearing or likewise.

Gentlemen - thankyou. I appreciate your time and effort in responding. I'll keep looking. Tim

A few you can check out....
www.machinerytrader.com/listings/list.as...4D4491704EE4933297CB