Thinking about getting this beast.. opinions wanted.

A friend of mine has "aquired" this 1957 17A D7-C. He does not plan to do anything with it but get it running, moving, and selling it. I always wanted to have a big old Cat to simply own and take a ride on now and then, maybe push some stuff around once in awhile. I grew up around older 583's, D9D's E's and G's and 8H's...and operated them all on and off for years.So I know a bit about older large Cats.
I own some small equipment of my own "mini excavator, tractor w/loader, and a JD 450C I bought last fall. The 450C has been a lucky purchase...its a 1979, but runs and works great. I put new bottom rollers on it and short tracked it to get some more hours out of the rails, idlers, sprockets.So far so good.
The freind called me to find out some more info on this 17A D-7... well I found out what it was, year, engine model, etc. The pads are not good, but all are there, rails are decent, sprockets not sharp or rolled over, idlers look ok to me also. It was converted to direct electric start,It does turn over, oil is is black not milky and radiator is full of antifreeze.Throttle linkage is rusted tight, but all other controls seem fairly free. Blade has new cutting edge and corner bits, has some patches on it though. Front top roller towers are bent inward or loose on both sides, so chain is out of line a bit.... this does not seem to be a big deal to me to fix. Needs a seat, and odds and ends. There is clean oil in the clutch reservoir. It has NOT run yet.. Has not been tried, but...IF it runs, moves, and steers etc, I think it might be fun to have. He is not asking much for it.To me it looks like a decent old D7 for fun, not daily work.What do any of you guys think? Would it be worth a few thousand bucks?
It sure seems many of these old girls that sat around for years get some clean fuel, maybe some filters and away they go.. and last a long time. Thanks, TimT. Some pics here...[attachment=44800]DSCF3365.jpg[/attachment][attachment=44801]DSCF3366.jpg[/attachment][attachment=44802]DSCF3370.jpg[/attachment][attachment=44803]DSCF3364.jpg[/attachment]

Buy Buy Buy. My two Cats always put a smile on my face when they start up - will the price cause you to change your life style??? - if not worth the minimal effort to get working. Looks like a good machine. Bob

Those are good old machines. I don't think you would be disappointed.

Straight old tractor looking as though it is waiting for an owner who wants to play.👍

grab it , you will hate yourself latter if you dont

The undercarraige looks as if it will need some money spent on it soon, take a closer look at the rollers and pins and bushes.

Buy it quick before someone else gets it.

You know you want it go buy it. You do know we would vote save everything if we could http://www.acmoc.org/bb/images/smilies/new/confused.gif,so why ask?



On a more serious note, I don,t think pictures ever show the undercarriage to get a complete knowledge of what is there but pads look to have life for a play machine. So hopefully the rest is as good.





After posting I still cannot see the icon only computer jargon,is anybody seeing the moggy?

Thanks Guys, I do believe... "if it runs and moves" I'll buy it. It almost seems "it was meant to be". Just the sound of those big old engines is priceless to me anyway. TT😖mile:

Hi, TimT.
No, M8. Definitely DON'T buy it - - - 'cos then you'll have an excuse to kick yourself for the rest of your life for passing it up. LOL.

Just my 0.02.

That's like walking into Cheers and asking Norm if you should have a beer. What do you think the guys here will say??? Haha hydraulic hard nose, nice blade, top, looks good in the pics. Worth farting around on a bit to see what you can do I say.