How could it not start and then turn in both directions after watching the one Deas just put for your encouragement.



😉Mine don't want to start as easy as the sat for 30 years ether. Best of luck, it beats smarts every time to make life easier.🤣

yep arse beats class almost every time.

Today was an excellent day!

Picked up my buddy Will at about 7 am; 35 or so degrees, which is frigid for south Texas! On site at about 9 am, sun was shining and it was warming up nicely!  Ended up in the mid-70's by early afternoon; just a gorgeous south Texas "winter" day! 

 

Worked on fluids first -- added another 5 gallons of diesel to the tank, then topped off the oil in the winch; turns out it was only a few quarts low. Next step was to add several quarts of 30W to the steering clutch booster.

At that point, our tech advisor (and ACMOC member) Craig S. showed up on site, with his lovely wife, Helen! Craig and Helen drove 2+ hours each way and it was a huge help to have someone with his knowledge and experience as we tried to get the tractor moving. Craig took a look at the tractor and noted that the idlers up front were mounted in different positions. One was mounted high and the other was mounted low, so that explains why it looks a bit cockeyed. See attached pics.

   

Next, I managed to get the tractor started, but it wasn't as easy as I had expected. Anyway, I let it idle for 5-10 minutes to let everything warm up. After it was warm, I killed the engine, then started it up in Forward, 1st gear. I was half expecting it to jump, but it didn't do anything until I engaged the clutch, then it moved forward immediately and out of the hole that it had been sitting in for 10+ years which was a huge relief.

 

Anyway, I didn't have much room to move forward, so I killed the engine and shifted into reverse, still in 1st gear (I wasn't able to shift while the engine was running because the clutch was still dragging).

Once I started the engine and started moving in reverse, I tried the steering brakes and clutches - both worked! I was able to steer without any problems. From there, I killed it again, put it in forward, 1st gear, and did a lap around the area (a few acres) where the dozer had been sitting. All went well, so I parked it for now, and topped off the engine oil (a few gallons low!) and the final drives (each took a few gallons of 90W).

I suspect I have culminated on this tractor. I did what I set out to do, did right by the old girl by getting her running and operating again, and now there's a decent chance that she'll get sold to someone who will put her back in service.

Thanks again for all the input!

Scott

 

Latest video is up in case anyone is interested -

Helen(Mrs. seiscat) and I had a good time Wednesday. We enjoyed meeting Scott and Will. The weather was very nice indeed. 
The photos don't depict the severity of the slope the D7D was parked on. I have to use a Rollator(wheeled walker) on anything other than level surfaces. Navigating the left side of the tractor was difficult for me. The slope on the right side was so steep that when I stopped beside the front idler the Rollator would skid forward with the brakes locked if I wasn't holding it!
Will held in place for me while I pointed out the unfortunate high position of the right idler. The only reason the D7D didn't free-wheel down the slope was the right track was against a hump of dirt that prevented it. The worn out and very loose tracks, the high position of the right idler and the slope exasperated the "up on her toes" position of the roller frames which lifted the sprockets.
The videos give a better view of the slope if you notice how much the vertical shapes are tilted.
Craig

Glad to see you and the "boss" get out and enjoy some fresh air and the sweet smell of diesel fumes. You are a genuine asset to the hobby by helping so much! Thanks again to everyone involved in that mission. Can't wait to see more progress. JM

Thanks for posting the video of it moving.
In my opinion, it would have been better to have some video of it moving at standard speed, the high speed takes away the ability to watch the tracks, idler, sprocket.
One thing you might try, not that it is the standard procedure. Steering Frictions are multi-disc clutches. Pull both levers fully back, holding them back, you can use your foot to push the master clutch lever forward (disengaged) and see if you can shift. In an emergency situation, pulling both frictions and standing on the brakes ,you can stop and then take out of gear.
CTS

ctsnowfighter wrote:

Thanks for posting the video of it moving.
In my opinion, it would have been better to have some video of it moving at standard speed, the high speed takes away the ability to watch the tracks, idler, sprocket.
One thing you might try, not that it is the standard procedure. Steering Frictions are multi-disc clutches. Pull both levers fully back, holding them back, you can use your foot to push the master clutch lever forward (disengaged) and see if you can shift. In an emergency situation, pulling both frictions and standing on the brakes ,you can stop and then take out of gear.
CTS
 

Thanks for the tip.  If I head back out there again, I'll give that a shot.

Scott

seiscat wrote:

Helen(Mrs. seiscat) and I had a good time Wednesday. We enjoyed meeting Scott and Will. The weather was very nice indeed. 
The photos don't depict the severity of the slope the D7D was parked on. I have to use a Rollator(wheeled walker) on anything other than level surfaces. Navigating the left side of the tractor was difficult for me. The slope on the right side was so steep that when I stopped beside the front idler the Rollator would skid forward with the brakes locked if I wasn't holding it!
Will held in place for me while I pointed out the unfortunate high position of the right idler. The only reason the D7D didn't free-wheel down the slope was the right track was against a hump of dirt that prevented it. The worn out and very loose tracks, the high position of the right idler and the slope exasperated the "up on her toes" position of the roller frames which lifted the sprockets.
The videos give a better view of the slope if you notice how much the vertical shapes are tilted.
Craig

Hey Craig - Great to meet you (and Helen) in person!  Will and I certainly appreciated your insight and advice and thanks again for making the trek to help out!

Scott

juiceman wrote:

Glad to see you and the "boss" get out and enjoy some fresh air and the sweet smell of diesel fumes. You are a genuine asset to the hobby by helping so much! Thanks again to everyone involved in that mission. Can't wait to see more progress. JM

 

JM - Well, I think I may be done.  I did what I set out to do, learned a lot, and made a few new friends in the process.  To make any further progress would take more time and $ than I have available to invest, and I have projects stacked up at home, too.

Y'all haven't seen the last of me, however.  I still want a vintage Cat tractor, but perhaps something that's in better shape to start with. 

Thanks,

Scott