D4h

Got my first dozer... 1987 D4H II back in june this year. You hear all kinds of different opinions like...Its a High track...UC is more expensive wears out quicker. The early models have a 3204di
they call it a throw-a-way motor(because it only has 2 rings per piston). Its a in-between size dozer. Too big and heavy for small jobs and too under powered and light for big jobs...what ever that means. It is close to a D5 sizewise

95% of D4Hs came with a PAT blade...thats a finish work blade and not for pasture cleaning and stumping your blade cant handle it...bla bla bla..kinda like "yull shoot your eye out kid"


They are heavy 23-25k also almost 10ft tall. Early models had 95hp then got upgrades to a 3304di with 105hp...larger tranny and other components.


I dont have much prior experience on dozers but i do like that you sit higher up and can see the blade edges good.


Mine is a powershift trans. has steering levers next to trans forward/reverse handle. Still old school no hydrostat. No having to plug it in a computer to figure out problems with it.


They say final drives and tranny can come out in 4-5hrs time.

So far im satisfied with mine but thats just me.

i rented one in like 89 or 90 i think. i remember thinking it was a workhorse for a D4 and was very comfortable to run. i liked the PAT blade also. i didn't have it long enough to really give it a fair evaluation though.

The only issue I have heard about is the track frame pivot shaft having busing wear and if not attended to can lead to cracked pivot bearing housing. More common to the D6 high track but same conditions apply.

is the housing a part of the track frame or the tractor? if cracked is it obvious or do you have to dis assemble to find it? is a cracked housing repairable or does the track frame have to be replaced?
Thanks OM

I'm more aware of the D6 arrangement. The bushing housing is part of the track frame. There is a procedure for repair but it's a bear to do.
Here's a pitcher of the damage on the D6N. I would be looking at this area closely on the D4H and any sign of track frame miss alignment.

Thanks Magnet.
i did some research on this problem and discovered that housing is oil filled. so a good inspection should include checking oil level in those compartments.