Look for the hour meter on the left side at the base of the injector pump. They came with a spring loaded round cover. They were made with a port to use a hand held tachometer to check engine RPM. Most, if not all the tac read 1/2 of engine RPM. So I don't think they ever made any without an hour meter.

I have seen many more non working meters than working. So I don't believe hour meter reading in most cases. The amount of wear on brake pedals, deck plates, and pins on linkages are more relabel indicators. Also why I looked at your drawbar.

Your tractor did come with an hour meter, the through the diesel intake manifold pony exhaust started in 1940 with 7J2811, but it was easy to change over an earlier model to that, and most of the updates that came along during a model run were adaptable to earlier tractors of that model. There were many different attachments available that are shown in the parts book, and caterpillar dealers were able to provide the tractors with attachments from other companies.

Ray,
I have looked for that meter, and cover, and the owner also looked, and while neither of us are familiar with this dozer we didn't find it. That said I could have just missed it because I didn't look low enough. I didn't see a fuel pressure gauge either. The fuel filter looks shorter than most other 4G Cat's I looked at online.

Josh,
Was the newer style manifold a significant improvement? Western Oregon climate while cool and wet doesn't normally get very cold. I'm guessing it helped starting enough to be worthwhile. Most of the casting numbers on the engine components begin with 2A . I'll take some closeup pictures of the engine's left side next time I'm there this week.

A set of brass screens where the original filter system on Cat diesels. A taller housing with the same string wound filers Cat used in everything until the late 1950's was a retro fitted upgrade. My dads RD 6 never had more than the screens. Most others RD 6's have been retro fitted with real filters. I believe the other RD's were the same.


Yes the hour meter is at the bottom of the housing.

I went out to the dozer today to get tires on the trailer it's on, and figure out a few things about the dozer. I took pictures of the left side of the engine, and the tracks in particular. It's all under a tarp so I didn't get pictures of everything yet. I could not see an hour meter. It must be down beneath the side cover. It seems odd that cat would have you remove that large side cover to read the meter. There is a filter down in there so the cover needs to come off to get to that, but I didn't see a meter. Pictures will show what I saw, or what I should have seen.                                             
Sorry if I added too many. Thought I might as well post them all. I might have posted an accidental picture, it has been a long day. 

Looks like some didn't focus. One of them I was trying to show the serial tag, but it isn't clear. I think this dozer needs a lot of work, more than I originally thought to get it running. The tracks are worn, to say the least. The belly pan is welded on, looks heavy. I will post the track pictures tomorrow. I plan to be out to the dozer again very soon, and I can take more pictures, if anyone wants to see something specific. Thanks

Don't be discouraged by how things might appear, the fact that this machine has been stored undercover is a huge bonus. If it was parked in running condition, there's a really good chance that it won't take too much to get it running again. I personally have got machines running that were parked 25 years ago, sitting outside but with critical openings covered. I won't pretend that particular machine is in working condition, but it didn't take a lot to get running. Also, depending on your intended application and hours of expected use, some things that are 80% worn out will continue on for a very long time if it's only seeing minimal/occasional use.

Hi R2D2,
Had a look at the photos yes your tracks are worn but, dont worry for the amount of work it will probably do it will most likely last your lifetime.

As for your hour meter it dose not have one, as it is located at the rear of the injection pump and it was an option.

The fuel filters are located under the top and bottom cover in the second photo depending on your serial number.

A good wash will do it good, as my 4G looked like that.

Regards

Good Morning everyone, 
Due to the location of the tractor, being off grid, and without a water system, this dozer will look pretty much as is for now, except I'll knock and chisel out the dirt, and grease it.

I enjoy watching vintage equipment operate. The sound of these old engines making power at the low RPM's they operate at is unique. Standing next to this one ...well it looks really rough. The good is the trans shifts in all the gears, all the levers move easily, including the pony motor levers. I didn't try the pony throttle. The brakes work, we turned it with them. The previous owner connected a battery to the starter in the picture, and it turned over the pony, and the main engine. The bad, one cylinder leaks badly, all hoses look older than Moses, the hydraulic pump looks worse than the hoses. I don't think it's ever been touched. While the sprockets look ok, the chain looks very worn, and the front idler does as well. I don't know the proper terminology, but the framework around the bottom rollers is loose. At least every bolt holding it, can be wiggled with my fingers. The nuts aren't loose, some are even double nutted, but the bolts are all loose, some gone completely. That's a lot of ancient bolts to replace. I think they have stretched. I just noticed this yesterday. I would bet that this is common. I think I watched a video on YouTube where this framework was welded to the frame on the machine being shown. The gaps that formed from the loose bolts are very noticeable in the pictures. What is the main consequence of this framework being loose? The owner/operator replaced one bolt in the front of that cover/framework. It think it's the only tight one. These pictures are of the left side where I opened up the tarp. The right side tracks look the same, less double nutted bolts but they are all loose too. Some of the bottom rollers are rubbing that framework. Maybe they wouldn't rub if the bolts were tight. And before I forget the bolts attaching the blade framework are also loose, but the nuts, are tight, again stretched bolts.

The tracks being worn, isn't a huge concern, I knew that when I bought it, and expect on a machine that's 88 years old. Losing a track because of the wear is the concern. Here are the track pictures:

                                   .      

You had me questioning if the older Rd's here had a hour meter or not. Yes both RD 6 & 7 have hour meters. Managed a picture between rain showers even. The first you can see meter right by the oil filter, which in this case is still the brass screens just like the fuel filter. The second is the fuel screens. If one was to update to real filters just remove the top with the D ring and add the housing on top with filters.

The last I just got a shot of the newer 9u D6 meter.  In this picture remove the diamond shaped plate with the slotted head screws and you have the shaft to read engine RPM on with a hand tac.