new guy...machine ID help

some zilch

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hello all....i picked up my first caterpillar crawler over the weekend for $400.
it is a little guy, and has no model designations molded into the radiator like where it would vertically say "TEN or "FIFTEEN", and says "CATERPILLAR" across the front of the top of the radiator surround (or grill, for lack of a batter word). the trans and engine have plates that say "5E3571". can anyone confirm what model it is for me?

i am leaning towards a "twenty two" after looking at pictures, but would like to be sure.

i am a diesel mechanic and heavy haul trucker by trade, and have restored several older farmall tractors, but this kitty cat is new to me, and would love to see it run again. it turns over with the hand crank, the tranny shifter works, both steering clutch levers move, and the machine rolls on its tracks. i'm going to have a million questions......

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Tue, Jun 7, 2011 7:38 AM

STEPHEN

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Sounds like it could be a 5E R2, it's only worth junk price & you must sell it to me right now😆 Please post a pic, we all want to see it

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Tue, Jun 7, 2011 7:51 AM

gwhdiesel75

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Reply to STEPHEN:

Sounds like it could be a 5E R2, it's only worth junk price & you must sell it to me right now😆 Please post a pic, we all want to see it

If you have a digital camera (or a friend with one), please post photos of this mystery machine so we can all identify it and enjoy your tractor with you! GWH

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Tue, Jun 7, 2011 8:16 AM

some zilch

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If you have a digital camera (or a friend with one), please post photos of this mystery machine so we can all identify it and enjoy your tractor with you! GWH

oh i will......i didint know if i could, being a new member. i will take a few tomarrow morning. Thanks!

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Tue, Jun 7, 2011 8:32 AM

zootownjeepguy

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Reply to some zilch:

oh i will......i didint know if i could, being a new member. i will take a few tomarrow morning. Thanks!

WELCOME!!!!

Beware, just because the steering clutch levers move doesn't mean that the clutches are not stuck. Sounds like you have an R2. The R2 was like the D2 but with a Gasoline engine. Many parts will interchange with a D2. The R2 (like the D2) had a square metal tag riveted to the lower sides of the radiator that said "R2", it was not cast into the radiator like earlier models.

If you have any more questions, just ask!👍

Rich Salvaggio
D2 5U9917
'46 Willys CJ2A Farm Jeep, '39 Buick sedan, '49 International KB-7, '37 Allis Chalmers WC, Cushman Scooter(s)
Antique garden tractors & outboard motors
Other rusty old junk comes & goes without warning.

The 2 most useful tools to have in your shop are a Crystal Ball and a Magic Wand

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Tue, Jun 7, 2011 10:05 AM

KCB

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Reply to zootownjeepguy:

WELCOME!!!!

Beware, just because the steering clutch levers move doesn't mean that the clutches are not stuck. Sounds like you have an R2. The R2 was like the D2 but with a Gasoline engine. Many parts will interchange with a D2. The R2 (like the D2) had a square metal tag riveted to the lower sides of the radiator that said "R2", it was not cast into the radiator like earlier models.

If you have any more questions, just ask!👍

5E3571 is an early R2 built in 1937. It was built prior to the J-series R2/D2's and is very similar to a TWENTY-TWO.

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Tue, Jun 7, 2011 10:48 AM

some zilch

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Reply to KCB:

5E3571 is an early R2 built in 1937. It was built prior to the J-series R2/D2's and is very similar to a TWENTY-TWO.

[attachment=9372]001.jpg[/attachment]
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wow, thanks for all the info guys! the guy i bought it from was convinced it was a "TEN", and i knew non the better. please check out my pictures i took this am. it does need a hood, but appears "fairly complete" otherwise.

i have been reading that these "5E" models are somehwhat rare. is it valuable, or just a uncommon collector's machine? i had plans to make it run and drag logs for firewood.
Attachment

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Tue, Jun 7, 2011 5:48 PM

some zilch

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Reply to zootownjeepguy:

WELCOME!!!!

Beware, just because the steering clutch levers move doesn't mean that the clutches are not stuck. Sounds like you have an R2. The R2 was like the D2 but with a Gasoline engine. Many parts will interchange with a D2. The R2 (like the D2) had a square metal tag riveted to the lower sides of the radiator that said "R2", it was not cast into the radiator like earlier models.

If you have any more questions, just ask!👍

[quote="zootownjeepguy"]WELCOME!!!!

Beware, just because the steering clutch levers move doesn't mean that the clutches are not stuck. Sounds like you have an R2. The R2 was like the D2 but with a Gasoline engine. Many parts will interchange with a D2. The R2 (like the D2) had a square metal tag riveted to the lower sides of the radiator that said "R2", it was not cast into the radiator like earlier models.

If you have any more questions, just ask!👍[/quote]

mine is missing every single rivited tag, other than the patent one on the side of the seat.....

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Tue, Jun 7, 2011 5:50 PM

ag-mike

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Reply to some zilch:

[quote="zootownjeepguy"]WELCOME!!!!

Beware, just because the steering clutch levers move doesn't mean that the clutches are not stuck. Sounds like you have an R2. The R2 was like the D2 but with a Gasoline engine. Many parts will interchange with a D2. The R2 (like the D2) had a square metal tag riveted to the lower sides of the radiator that said "R2", it was not cast into the radiator like earlier models.

If you have any more questions, just ask!👍[/quote]

mine is missing every single rivited tag, other than the patent one on the side of the seat.....

another 5e!!!! great find!!! yes to "rare". good luck.

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Tue, Jun 7, 2011 7:01 PM

gwhdiesel75

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Reply to ag-mike:

another 5e!!!! great find!!! yes to "rare". good luck.

Tank and operator's platform looks like a 22. But Kent says it is a R2, and of course he would be correct. What you have is a prototype I think. 5E indicates so. GWH

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Tue, Jun 7, 2011 8:24 PM

dtallon

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Reply to gwhdiesel75:

Tank and operator's platform looks like a 22. But Kent says it is a R2, and of course he would be correct. What you have is a prototype I think. 5E indicates so. GWH

Nice find!

The 5E R2 was a spin-off of the Twenty-Two. One of the most significant things that made it unique was the cast weights on the track roller frames where most other tractors just have sheetmetal guards. Details are sketchy, but it is suspected that the cast weights were added to meet a weight specification in a government contract, and that the 5E R2 was designed specifically for the government. Only 83 of the 5E R2's were built, making it a rare and desireable tractor. So long as your tractor has the parts unique to the R2, you should be able to leverage parts off the relatively common (15,000+ built) Twenty-Two to help with your restoration. The later 4J/6J R2 won't be as much help since it shares more in common with the J-series D2.

As GWH alludes to, the 5E prefix is unique. It wasn't used on prototypes necessarily, but was used across several machines. Instead of assigning unique prefixes for those models, they just used specificed ranges within the 5E prefix. In several cases only a handful of tractors were produced for a given model with the 5E prefix, and then Cat changed them to their own, unique prefix. Of the six tractors that used the 5E prefix, only the R5 was produced in a quantity greater than 100 units, although some tractor models were produced in larger quantities after they changed to a different prefix.

Dave

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Tue, Jun 7, 2011 9:54 PM

new guy...machine ID help

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