Pony Engine will not start

Welcome! Yes, chain up the blade; can you pull it forward? I have been able to start a D6 in less than 15 feet. If you have someone with muscle, have them pull the steering levers all the way back and mash the brakes if you need to steer it, for ease of manuevering.
What do you think ails your pony engine? No spark, no fuel, no go? Could it just need a good cleaning of the system?
Keep us posted. If you wish to share your location, it is possible someone could lend you a hand. JM

could you please post some pictures of your treasure?

If you have no other way to move it, you can use come-alongs on the tops of the tracks to "winch" the tracks backwards so you can move it into the shed. Just this past weekend, my buddy and I went to pick up a D2 he bought. The seller's brother was helping to load it and when he was about to push on the radiator with his blade, I stopped him and he threw the funniest tantrum and refused to continue loading. So, we loaded that D2 onto my gooseneck using nothing but two twitches, one link at a time. Took two hours to load it but saved over four hours of a round trip. Going back next week but this time with a winch : ) Anyhoo, just an option if you don't have a better one. But for sure, the sequence I'd follow is:
- check why the pony won't start - fuel and spark?
- tow start with another machine or push it in with another machine. Typically you need a machine at least as big but it all depends on what you're rolling on. If you were on asphalt, you could pull it with a pickup. If you're on soft plowed ground, you'd need a D7 or D8 likely. If you need to turn it, it a helper to pull the steering clutches or typing them back will make turns easier
- winch or comealong, preferably to an anchor but if none available, winch the top of the track to the blade mounts or similar

Let us know how you get on

If you have no other way to move it, you can use come-alongs on the tops of the tracks to "winch" the tracks backwards so you can move it into the shed. Just this past weekend, my buddy and I went to pick up a D2 he bought. The seller's brother was helping to load it and when he was about to push on the radiator with his blade, I stopped him and he threw the funniest tantrum and refused to continue loading. So, we loaded that D2 onto my gooseneck using nothing but two twitches, one link at a time. Took two hours to load it but saved over four hours of a round trip. Going back next week but this time with a winch : ) Anyhoo, just an option if you don't have a better one. But for sure, the sequence I'd follow is:
- check why the pony won't start - fuel and spark?
- tow start with another machine or push it in with another machine. Typically you need a machine at least as big but it all depends on what you're rolling on. If you were on asphalt, you could pull it with a pickup. If you're on soft plowed ground, you'd need a D7 or D8 likely. If you need to turn it, it a helper to pull the steering clutches or typing them back will make turns easier
- winch or comealong, preferably to an anchor but if none available, winch the top of the track to the blade mounts or similar

Let us know how you get on

Harbor Freight sells little in-line spark testers for less than $10. Just hook your plug wire to the tester and then hook the tester to the spark plug and turn the pony over. It should light up (they are not very bright) if your mag is working. If no spark, pull the cap and file the points. That is a good first test, and much easier than starting on carburation. Points can look clean but have a glaze, so a quick filing is often needed. Good Luck Grant.

I have started a D6 by pulling with a 4x4 pickup. It was down hill, but the tractor did not want to roll until it was pulled. My 40 hp 4x4 wheel tractors moves them well on level ground. May have to do some back and forth to make short corners. When I work on steering clutches, I roll them with a high lift jack on the grousers. In the day Cat recommended hydraulic jack. No bending and stooping with the high lift , just need be careful of a slipping jack.

A pony motors just plain likes to be a pain to all that don't want to tinker with them. They all have a personality. Meaning the amount of choke, how many times to turn it before turning gas off to keep from flooding, or many other combinations of things. If your pony has electric starter, you can jump it from a 12 volt. Just don't heat the starter by running it to long.


If it has the style of blade in the posted picture, pushing the control all the way forward is float position. A good place to have it to use jack or come along to lift the blade.

Good luck.

Thanks for all of the information. It is very helpful. I am thinking that the Pony Engine has a bad cylinder. I really am hoping since my wife's grandfather bought it new that I can
keep it completely in original condition. I know it would be much easier to convert it to electric start? I had someone check the fuel filters for me and now I am sure that I am
going to have to bleed the system to get fuel to the diesel engine. The 318 runs like it is brand new. I am going to attempt to post some pictures.
The dozer ran until last November. You have given me a wealth of information.

The good news is the pony is a very simple engine and will tolerate quite a lot of degradation in compression and wear. It's the mag and carb that are the go-no/go parts mainly. But it's also fairly straightforward to refurbish them back to good condition. I'm looking forward to seeing how you get on

I had an 8U D6 here with a broken valve spring once; If I was careful, I could finesse it and just barely manage to get it started on the one good cylinder.
Does your pony have a stuck piston or? I have also removed the head on the starting motors and with some lubricant and careful whacks with a block of wood, freed them up.
A homemade tool to rock the flywheel pulley helped as well. Pony's can be a pain, but nice to have in cold weather.
Keep us posted and share some photos if you could.
Thanks! JM