Pictures of a D4 I found...

Hi, Blackdog006.
What you have there is a 2T series D4 wide gauge tractor with a LaPlante-Choate hydraulic angle dozer, a very nice reliable little dozer. It also appears to be in pretty good condition, good rail height in the tracks, although I doubt those track chains are the first ones that top carrier has ever had wearing it. There also appears to be some good life left in the pins and bushes, although your photo didn't quite get the best possible view of them. I would say it is definitely worth restoring to working condition.

It is missing some of the tinware on the tracks and grouser height is down a bit but certainly still workable. That Hyster D4 winch is also a definite plus, especially if it is working order.

I couldn't quite make out where that broken casting was. A couple of possibilities come to mind but it is a LONG time since I had a close look at one of those old girls. Whatever it is, it would need to be repaired to be workable. I would like to know also just what happened to the drawbar.

You didn't mention how long it has been standing or whether you had checked to see if either motor was stuck. I'd guess it has been standing for a while by the accumulated rust on the track chains and rollers. You also didn't mention whether you had checked the master clutch or the steering clutches and brakes for normal movement and feel.

If the "7850.00" painted on the blade is the asking price, I think you should make a counter offer with about 3 zeroes and a decimal point less and work up from there, bearing in mind all the while that there is that broken casting to repair, plus whatever else might be 'broke' inside it to cause that break.

Drain and replace both engine oils, checking for water in inappropriate places and for any metal in the oil. I would suggest cracking the drain plugs on the bottoms of the transmission and the final drives and checking to see if there is any water in there too. It might not be a bad idea to check the flywheel compartment too.

Another place to check for water is in the radiator. You 'ackshully' want for there to be water there, preferably not rusty.

The missing fuel line for the pony motor is not a deal breaker. A few threaded fittings and some plastic or oil-resistant rubber hose will cure that.

If it has been standing for as long as it looks from the rust, the diesel fuel may be a bit 'off' too. There are some algaes that can grow in diesel fuel if left standing for long periods. There is very likely a primary screen on the diesel line that is cleanable. It would be down under the main diesel fuel filters on the main line from the tank and would look like a small steel version of a sight glass bowl with a screw-up clamp under it. There is a stem bolt inside there with a LOT of perforated segments on it. This stem bolt can be removed and the segments cleaned. Try not to drop them or otherwise lose them off the stem bolt, unless you have plenty of spare time on your hands.

Check the drain cocks (if present) on the pony motor heads for water and check for spark on the pony, as well as checking the spark plugs themselves for carbon or 'gunk' across the points and for any oily deposits on them.

My pore ole brain is feeling the strain a bit but I think at this point you might just about be ready to try starting the pony motor.

Happy rope pulling.

Thanks Deas Plant for the info 😊 I have a friend of mine coming in to start the old girl up for me ($250) the owner says it was working with in the past ten years or so. My friend will be doing all of the going over for me and will have it started when he comes down. I will be trying to get her up and running soon the owner is only asking $2500 for her and I will be sure to check her for water in the fluids. The brake clutches and steering clutches seem to be free and functional the gear shifter is froze but I think it's just in need of some penetrating oil. The broken casting is on the left hand side right behind the pony motor and has been kept covered with a coffee can half. I myself was trying to figure out what and how the hell they got the draw bar to twist it and shear it off 😕 . The pony motor plugs seem to be fine and the motor itself is free, I do not feel comfortable starting this old girl myself since the owner stated that it did a high rev number when he added some alcohol to it the last time he started it 😠 . My friend told me it was most likely a stuck injector pump which is supposed to be a easy fix I will be adding five gallons of fresh fuel to her before I crank her up. What is that thing on the front of the engine in picture #4 when I opened it up it had a 5 under the sight glass or what ever it is 😕 . I am looking forward to getting this old girl back up and running and polishing the blade with some red clay.

Thanks Deas Plant for the info 😊 I have a friend of mine coming in to start the old girl up for me ($250) the owner says it was working with in the past ten years or so. My friend will be doing all of the going over for me and will have it started when he comes down. I will be trying to get her up and running soon the owner is only asking $2500 for her and I will be sure to check her for water in the fluids. The brake clutches and steering clutches seem to be free and functional the gear shifter is froze but I think it's just in need of some penetrating oil. The broken casting is on the left hand side right behind the pony motor and has been kept covered with a coffee can half. I myself was trying to figure out what and how the hell they got the draw bar to twist it and shear it off 😕 . The pony motor plugs seem to be fine and the motor itself is free, I do not feel comfortable starting this old girl myself since the owner stated that it did a high rev number when he added some alcohol to it the last time he started it 😠 . My friend told me it was most likely a stuck injector pump which is supposed to be a easy fix I will be adding five gallons of fresh fuel to her before I crank her up. What is that thing on the front of the engine in picture #4 when I opened it up it had a 5 under the sight glass or what ever it is 😕 . I am looking forward to getting this old girl back up and running and polishing the blade with some red clay.

Thanks Deas Plant for the info 😊 I have a friend of mine coming in to start the old girl up for me ($250) the owner says it was working with in the past ten years or so. My friend will be doing all of the going over for me and will have it started when he comes down. I will be trying to get her up and running soon the owner is only asking $2500 for her and I will be sure to check her for water in the fluids. The brake clutches and steering clutches seem to be free and functional the gear shifter is froze but I think it's just in need of some penetrating oil. The broken casting is on the left hand side right behind the pony motor and has been kept covered with a coffee can half. I myself was trying to figure out what and how the hell they got the draw bar to twist it and shear it off 😕 . The pony motor plugs seem to be fine and the motor itself is free, I do not feel comfortable starting this old girl myself since the owner stated that it did a high rev number when he added some alcohol to it the last time he started it 😠 . My friend told me it was most likely a stuck injector pump which is supposed to be a easy fix I will be adding five gallons of fresh fuel to her before I crank her up. What is that thing on the front of the engine in picture #4 when I opened it up it had a 5 under the sight glass or what ever it is 😕 . I am looking forward to getting this old girl back up and running and polishing the blade with some red clay.

hello blackdog006 .the d4 2t8075 sp was built in 1946 ,the thing the pic in #4 is the hour meter .
just a guess about the draw bar ,it looks like the winch has been broken of and they cut the draw bar to get it of the tractor ,looks like the winch has been plate and welded on the mounts.

bruce oz

Thanks Deas Plant for the info 😊 I have a friend of mine coming in to start the old girl up for me ($250) the owner says it was working with in the past ten years or so. My friend will be doing all of the going over for me and will have it started when he comes down. I will be trying to get her up and running soon the owner is only asking $2500 for her and I will be sure to check her for water in the fluids. The brake clutches and steering clutches seem to be free and functional the gear shifter is froze but I think it's just in need of some penetrating oil. The broken casting is on the left hand side right behind the pony motor and has been kept covered with a coffee can half. I myself was trying to figure out what and how the hell they got the draw bar to twist it and shear it off 😕 . The pony motor plugs seem to be fine and the motor itself is free, I do not feel comfortable starting this old girl myself since the owner stated that it did a high rev number when he added some alcohol to it the last time he started it 😠 . My friend told me it was most likely a stuck injector pump which is supposed to be a easy fix I will be adding five gallons of fresh fuel to her before I crank her up. What is that thing on the front of the engine in picture #4 when I opened it up it had a 5 under the sight glass or what ever it is 😕 . I am looking forward to getting this old girl back up and running and polishing the blade with some red clay.

Hi, Blackdog006.
That 'thing' you refer to in photo #4 is the hour meter.

Re the broken casting, in that location, the starter pinion comes to mind. If there has been an explosion in there, you may have difficulty getting the pony to engage the diesel to start it. In that case, you may need to look at towing it to start it. If this is the case, it is often surprising just how little it does take to tow start a D4, assuming that fuel is not a problem. I have started a D4D dozer with a 5-ton service truck in the past by passing the tow chain under the blade to get that weight off the ground.

If the owner added straight alcohol to it, I can understand why it might have gotten a little 'excited'. I am even a little puzzled as to why it is still here instead of somewhere up on Mars - perhaps in several pieces. I can also understand your reticence about starting it on your own. Good thinking, and cheap insurance at $250. It might be worth checking that the rack is not stuck before attempting to start the diesel, especially if you need to tow-start it.

If it has a pony motor, it would be hard to imagine it having direct electric start on the diesel but it would require a generator or alternator to generate power to be stored in a battery to fire up the pony motor.

You might like to ask the owner if he knows the story about that drawbar. It might give some insight into past usage.

Good luck. Keep us posted - with plenty of photos. Happy blade polishing.

I doubt if I will be pull starting it since the blade is down and I don't have a 5 ton service truck 😞 . I know my freind can start a D8 with a helper with a can of ether and a tire iron on a good incline 😄 I seriously doubt if the current owner has any clue as to this machine's past from what I gather he bought it to use on his land used it once or possibly twice and parked it.

I think that's a Bros Manufacturing built dozer blade. My D47U has one that is almost exactly the same. The dozer blade looks a little different but the hydraulic cylinders and the support frames, etc. are identical. CAT sold these blades new already mounted on tractors.