Got a good feeling....D4D, 83J

It's a great day when your new (old) crawler comes home.

The thought of it will probably pop into your mind moments after you wake up in the next morning.

What is it's first task?!?!

B. Glenn

BS: Congratulations on your D4D purchase. You'll like the machine. I bought 83J2437 a few years ago. Photo attached.

I think 3/4" cable on that winch is overkill. With the grousers as worn as they are, 1/2" cable hooked to something heavy would pull that Cat backwards. Also, you would have a heck of a time trying to get 3/4" to lay down on that drum. 5/8" cable would be plenty heavy for you. Just my two cents worth. John

I think 3/4" cable on that winch is overkill. With the grousers as worn as they are, 1/2" cable hooked to something heavy would pull that Cat backwards. Also, you would have a heck of a time trying to get 3/4" to lay down on that drum. 5/8" cable would be plenty heavy for you. Just my two cents worth. John

oldparker, thanks for the advice. Never done much logging so I'm not sure what's best. My neighbor has a couple hundred feet of 3/4" cable that he's got laying around and offered to sell me cheap, so I was tempted. Now I know why he doesn't use it on his D3! I always like to go big, but sounds like 5/8" might be a better choice?

Called my local forestry store....the said something about "regular" cable or the corded version or something like that? I think the latter was more supple...any conventional wisdom as far as that goes?

is stiff to lay on the drum but you'll be hard pressed to break it. Soft (rope) core cable lays down on the drum and is easier to handle but I don't believe you'll be happy with it.
In Northwest PA, We used 5/8 steel core cable on the back of the CATS and Skidders as it takes alot of abuse in skidding operations.

That's a good serial number....you got past the D330 and in to the 3304 engine.
Picked up an extra 10 hp also.

Nice looking cat. It looks like ours when we originally purchased it.

Then we changed it to a straight blade with tilt.

5/8" cable is easier to handle but if you have a good deal on some 3/4" well.... it's heavy and awkward but 3/4" cable is the only thing which will stand up to that cat/winch combination especially if you back one track up against a stump and winch in first gear.

Don't ask me how I know!

Congratulations on your find. I found mine a few years ago and just about have all of the fixes made that needed to be addressed. My undercarriage is only about 40% but for what little work I do, it will be fine. Mine is an 83J942. Have fun and send updates on your progress and pics of using it.

I did make one mod by adding my own grill guard in front of the radiator grill. I added it after having one too many stumps find their way between the blade and the grill and push the grill in a bit. I'll take some pics one of these days and post them.