What do we consider Antique - D4H ? : )

It's been 41 years since the D4H was introduced (1985 I believe) so I don't know if that qualifies as antique or merely vintage or maybe not even, but it's a cool tractor in my humble opinion. Cat's smallest elevated sprocket design I think, with a hair under 100hp and what's even cooler is a direct drive option. Still has the 3 speed powershift transmission from what I can tell from photos and videos but adds a clutch and two-speed reduction. I discovered that parts.cat.com won't let me look at parts diagrams without supplying a serial number so I can't look to see if it's a similar approach to the D8LSA which has an hydraulic two-speed clutch or if it has a regular clutch accompanied by a two-speed powershift before the driveshaft to the 3-spd transmission. Anyway, does anyone have experience with the direct drive version and would anyone know of any extant machines and/or serial numbers. At under 40k and some as cheap as in the teens, it might be a cool unit to add to the herd. With my D2s, I have as much '30s-'50s small tractor technology as I want so somethink like the D4H would be an interesting addition.

Try serial numbers 2ac00001 up direct drive Japan 1985 or 3ac00001 up direct drive LGP Japan 1985. Appears all D4H's were built in Japan. At serial number 4000 they became D4H Series II.

I want to say Cat had year in the original contract with ACMOC I have seen here in a discussion. But I also don't remember anyone getting in trouble for asking questions on newer machines.

Maybe someone closer to the auction will chime in. Sacramento Valley farm auction in Jan or Feb of this year. Had a lot of 20 to 30 year old equipment. Early Cat Challenger rubber tracks tractors 5 D5 SA tractors $5000 was the top price for all of this. So, I guess California Air Resources Board is starting to look at bigger farming operations. And hours are being watched as to how much is put on non compliant equipment. Only a few short years ago I would liked a D5 SA tractor for $5000.

But I also see some D6 C dozers for $25,000 to $35,000 that have been for sale 2 or 3 years of FB Market Places. As well as old gas start IH TD 9 asking $3,500 OBO. But the seller has no idea what brand it is, he thinks maybe Cletrack/Oliver. But good enough pictures it is IH. So were is the market for "vintage crawlers" at??? Maybe what I saw at the auction were all in need of about everything. But I think it was a retirement, but don't know.

Hi, Ray54.

It might be worth checking into 'Orange Man's' executive orders from late last year to see what they have done to CARB's 'roolz'. If I am correct, it could mean that you could own and run any of those machines and CARB couldn't touch you.

I seem to remember that he signed an executive order to nullify CARB's 'roolz' 'coz they were adding too much to the price of new vehicles country-wide. It may have gone through Congress too.

Might be time for a visit to Dr Google. Maybe that well known 'show starter from Paso could help - hope I haven't thrown him under a bus.

IF I am right, this could mean BIGGG changes for vintage machine and vehicle collectors, especially in CA. and a few other states.

Just my 0.02.

I'll wager JM knows someone with one : )

Ray54 c.a.r.b. Works by funding a certain percentage of new replacement equipment costs with carb legal emissions. Then you have to scrap the old equipment. If anything carb has helped increase old equipment prices. I have done this about 15 times. We still run alot of old equipment no one watches or cares what you are running in field. Carb legal or not. Skinner

Hi, Folks.

Might be worth a read - 2 pages:

https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000198-a078-d0bd-a1db-baf8f1070000

Just my 0.02.