thanks for all of the advice...I know that I am guessing at the undercarriage..need to have someone with more knowledge take a look at it...the oil pressure is good...least thats what the guage was telling me..I was thinking also it might be a sleeper . A couple other things I should mention...he had a cat power unit in the machine shed that he was going to throw in with the deal...he was a little vague on this...same motor as the one in the D-6. He said he bought it for the raidiator...but found out after he bought it that the raidator was a different size, wont fit the D-6. I didnt look at it real hard...I am assuming it had a pony motor on it..he said that the only thing it was missing was the intake manifold. When I first saw it on Craigslist he was asking $5000,,then after I looked at it..and walked away..he relisted it at $4000 and stated that it need the clutch adjusted and a new cable installed for the blade..the old one had broken and the blade was being held up by a chain. wish it was closer...200 miles away from me..cause I would like to spend some more time with it..I just got nervous with all the red flags..not wanting to run the pony motor..another motor setting in the shed...oil leak..clutch...engine miss..one more thing, the pony motor gas tank has a leak....he was an elderly gentlemen..not able to do to much any more, so it made it kinda hard to get any help and I understand that. He does have a D-7 sitting in the same shed..says he uses that now..so did he buy the D-7 cause his D-6 got seriously ill..dont know.. I am a okay mechanic....but I know NOTHING about D-6's..so I guess I will keep an open mine on it especially if he is willing to come down on the price some more..will try and get the serial number...should have done that while I was there..looks like old magnet is right I need to take someone with me next time that knows more than I do about D-6's..thanks again

Had one just about like it near me not to long ago. Asking was $5k....owner passed and current folks didn't know anything about it and were to old to do anything with it. Unit sold cheap....somewhere between $500 and $1500, can't remember.....ailments were corrected.....unit did a bunch of work and off to a new owner for $6,500 who just had to have it.

Leave your new/slightly used tractor check list at home if your going shopping for a 50 - 60 year old 9U in the $2k - $5k price range.

Bought a 9U myself about three years ago. Late serial number ag tractor, direct electric start, oil clutch and 80-90% good undercarriage. Asking was $2,500....it too needed some attention but nothing critical. Owner split hauling cost, net to me was $2,250.....I'm happy. The parts tractor I bought was another story.....jumped to quick on that one:rolleyes:

PS: Get the serial number off the engine unit in the shed while your there.

sidehill6600 - Oh .. you didn't say, before now, that the deal had a free power unit thrown in, too!!?? ..
This just keeps getting better! .. did you happen to see him holding a set of steak knives behind his back as well!? ..

About the only thing I can tell you .. if you ain't a real good Cat mechanic, and know very little about D6's .. you sure will be, a good mechanic, and know everything about D6's, once you buy that tractor, and get it all up to snuff ..

If "pasochris" can navigate through a 1H D8 that was dead on its butt I'm sure we can get you through a 9U if your game. Us "old farts" have to have something to do that doesn't cost us money:D

a more reasonable price after all you if you drove 200 miles to look at it. You must have had a plan on how expensive or cheap it would be to haul it home.
My opinion is that the power unit was bought as a backup engine, not for a radiator. But I could be wrong! Maybe he'll negotiate a little on Trucking and with Diesel going down. I'd be offering my trucking buddies a Saturday job after all even they like an adventure!

I have bought and fixed a d6 9u and I did not completely go there the whole machine to make a good cat out of it. I did not buy it to go into the dirt moving business. So not everything has to be brand new for me.

I have also tried to sell machines and everybody wants a brand new shiny cat for junk price. This machines are old and used. Some people "restore" better than they were when they rolled of the assembly line.

"OzDozer" wrote:

Admittedly, there are some sleepers where you can score a good deal .. but this one doesn't appear to be one to me.

There are numerous factors in this deal information that put me right off .. and they are ..

1. The seller is deceptive. I, like the largest proportion of people, appreciate when a seller is "up-front" about problems. The story associated with the pony is pure deceptiveness, and possibly hides a whole lot more untruths and bigger problems.

2. The sellers attitude to maintenance is a crucial factor when looking at a tractor. Too many people operate tractors on the basis on minimal maintenance, and "put-off" repairs. This appears to be one of those tractors.
These type of people run tractors into the ground, and refuse to fix or maintain anything. If something stops working, they will find a "work-around" such as a pull-start, rather than fix the problem.

I'd much rather see a list of documented repairs presented to me .. rather than a statement such as .. "I've owned it for 25 years, and never spent a cent on it!! .. "
This invariably means, of course, that the new owner is facing a list of repair requirements, that have built up steadily over the years ..

3. 80% undercarriage is a estimation by eye. I defy anyone to come up with an accurate undercarriage measurement, by eye alone. Measuring devices such as tape and calipers give the precise measure of wear, or life left .. and are absolutely essential to getting an accurate representation of undercarriage condition.
You never see a Cat CTS man "eyeball" your undercarriage, do you? - they take precise measurements and calculate accordingly.

4. The problems listed are not a comprehensive list, gleaned by close examination of every operating part of the tractor. An inspection of a used tractor is not done on a cursory basis .. properly done, it involves a list or chart outlining every component .. any problems found .. component condition .. repairs needed .. and rectification needed.

This is a standard military and dealer approach, and is a very wise approach to take, in relation to any used equipment purchase.
I've made my own inspection charts, based on military lines, for every type of equipment .. and many people I've assisted with machine inspections, were quite stunned to see my charts .. and more importantly, were often surprised at the end result, of seeing all faults and repairs needed, documented on one simple form.

hey oz could you send me a copy of your inspection list? I would like to have a copy for more items to look at when I am doing maintenance.
Bart

Ahhh, Bart - I trust you won't be offended .. .. but my inspection list is a copyrighted document, that I have put quite a bit of time and effort into, to draw up - and people pay me good money for equipment inspection .. with me supplying that fully-filled out list to them, at the completion of inspection .. .. and I don't like to make a habit of giving away my hard work ..

update...serial number on the D-6..9U1402..will sell the power unit for $500..he didnt have the serial number for it...says he look in his manual and the oil out of the clutch(housing) needs to be drained...cause of seepage over the years..anyone know how much the powerunit weighs..I bet it will take more than a tractor with a loader to load on a truck...kinda thinking like old magnet...maybe all right....

Basic engine weight for the D318 is right near 3,000 lbs. plus whatever is hanging off the back, pto, radiator, skid,fuel tank, etc. It would be a good idea to get the serial number off the engine to be sure that the majority of parts would interchange with the 9U. If it is a D318G series industrial engine a lot of the components are different.

The 1402 serial number is a 1948 model.....pretty old but they didn't change much through the "U" series. That vintage would have the dry clutch....much less desirable than the oil version, especially for a dozer. The oil slinging from the clutch housing is probably due to accumulation as the owner says. Obviously this unit has not had the best of care.

You would still need a pair of knowing eyes to help make the assessment before you decide but it appears to be a conventional standard early model.