1937 R5 4H698

The R5 was the same chasses as RD 6 so a service book for it should cover most things. I believe even back then the engines service book was a separate book as engines where sold as power units to other companies. No idea what the engine designation for the R5 is, so no help on that.

I would guess the blade was put on it aa a new tractor. Possibly a LaPlat-Choat (I always forget the correct spelling). Just take the cylinder apart and viste a hydraulic repair shop and hope they can match up seals and packing.. Could well take some improvising, but pressure was low by todays standards that helps.

Never heard of anyone finding lists of where machines went after leaving factory, let alone a list of first owners.

If your uncle had the head worked on and hard valve seats and valves used you good to go with the unleaded gas. Have not heard anything about lead additives in years. May not be around anymore.

No idea how you get a good quality temperature gauge today. I have had Steward-Warner that failed quickly 20 years ago. But the club was selling decal face plate of old style faces to put on new gauges. So check out the store on this site.


Nice looking tractor, good that steering is free. From a neighbors experience they are a thirsty beast about 5 gal a hour.

Yup, I read the Nebraska test for the R5 and it was rated at 5 or 6 gal per hour. Yeehaw.

Here is an incredibly poor video of it starting and moving.

https://i.imgur.com/zN2elK9.mp4

Believe that's a Wooldridge blade setup.

Sounds good and everything seems to be working inside like steering clutches and such. Good luck. If anybody knows the name of the CAT dealer that was around that part of the country, depending on how many times new people owned the dealership and how many times they remodeled things. They MIGHT have old records of sales. Usually after the old man dies or maybe even the son, things like paper records go to the dump!

Good luck-looks like you’re off to a good start. I may not have read your post closely, but be sure to check fluid levels.

keep safe-bernie

Yup, I read the Nebraska test for the R5 and it was rated at 5 or 6 gal per hour. Yeehaw.

Here is an incredibly poor video of it starting and moving.

https://i.imgur.com/zN2elK9.mp4

I was of the mindset Cat might have some of those records (and someone figured out how to make them available), but I guess I am mistaken. I work for a company who has been building industrial equipment for over 100 years, and I can look up the original purchaser of any piece of equipment sold in that 100 years by the serial number. The information was important because a significant source of revenue was and still is service and parts sales.

Beckwith Machinery would of been the premier Cat dealer here back then, but it is now Cleveland Brothers, so I doubt any records would turn up there. Oh well, I just like to know as much history of something I have as is possible.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yioyk8xRlVU&feature=youtu.be

Got it moved!

shoots flames out of the exhaust. Running rich? I need to get a manual to check timing and all that.

Dug around in the barn it was stores in and I found the whole oil bath air cleaner and the top hat for the air intake that holds the glass mason jar, so thats exciting.

I am thinking about removing the “falling object protection”. I’m a little in love with the original look.

Things to do:

1 - clean the fuel tank to make it useable and find a cap for it

2 - check timing, carb adjustments

3 - hydraulic hoses, radiator hoses, fluids

4 - rebuild the cylinders

5 - fix up and mount the air cleaner, looks like im missing the

6 - mount the blade