What does "low speed" mean on a D7G?

I believe that's a military description only. Low speed crawler tractor is how they describe all of them that come up for auction.

I spent a career as an Army Ordnance Officer, so will give my opinion on this one. I think you will find that the military uses the term "low speed" when describing any tracked vehicle that has a dead track, as opposed to a high speed tracked vehicle that has a live track, such as on tracked combat vehicles. On dead tracks there are simple pins that connect track pads, while on live tracks the track pins are actually torsion carrying elements that give the track a natural curvature. If you roll out a dead track it will lay flat, if you roll out a live track it will curve up at the ends. This curvature allows for much higher speeds without throwing off a track while turning. FYI, a main battle tank can travel across rough terrain at speeds of 50mph (if you teeth do not rattle out of your head). Try doing that with a CAT. Ray

Hi, Puffer.
Thanks for the clarification - Military style. And I agree with you about the battle tank and D7 at 50 mph. How-wevver, as you may be aware, if you take the tank into the D7's territory doing the D7's work, the wear factor boot would likely be on the other foot.

There is another demarcation/definition for 'live track' and 'dead track'. Around construction equipment, the term 'dead track is often used to refer to the type of track commonly used on track-mounted cranes and older face shovels, drag-lines, etc., where the track link is in one piece with no rail as such but with the drive lugs, guide lugs, etc., all cast with the plate itself, along with the pin holes which are bush-less. In this context, 'live track' is the type used on most tracked earth-moving machinery where the track plate is bolted to separate rails and the pins and bushes are are in the rails.

Just my 0.02.

[quote="Deas Plant."]Hi, Puffer.
Thanks for the clarification - Military style. And I agree with you about the battle tank and D7 at 50 mph. How-wevver, as you may be aware, if you take the tank into the D7's territory doing the D7's work, the wear factor boot would likely be on the other foot.

There is another demarcation/definition for 'live track' and 'dead track'. Around construction equipment, the term 'dead track is often used to refer to the type of track commonly used on track-mounted cranes and older face shovels, drag-lines, etc., where the track link is in one piece with no rail as such but with the drive lugs, guide lugs, etc., all cast with the plate itself, along with the pin holes which are bush-less. In this context, 'live track' is the type used on most tracked earth-moving machinery where the track plate is bolted to separate rails and the pins and bushes are are in the rails.

Just my 0.02.[/quote]
Deas, you are right, although the Army Corps of Engineers has their own version of the main battle tank that has a dozer blade and a demolition gun rather than the standard 120mm main gun. Very impressive what that combat engineering vehicle can do. 60 tons with 36 inch wide tracks, and it's air conditioned, too. Ray

Demolition Gun?
I would like to see a picture of that machine?
Would it work for house demo's?
LOL!

[quote="drujinin"]Demolition Gun?
I would like to see a picture of that machine?
Would it work for house demo's?
LOL![/quote]

The demolition gun was a 165mm, short tube gun that fired a squash head plastic explosive round that was designed for destroying bunkers. The first photo is of the M1A1 variety with scissors bridge. The others show the 1960s to 1980s vintage M728 combat engineering vehicle, based on the M60 series main battle tank. They had a variety of configurations, including the standard CEV with dozer blade, crane, and demo gun; a version with a scissors bridge; and one with a mine clearing rake mounted on the front. Some even have a large back hoe in addition to the dozer blade. Now we have CEVs based on the M1A1 Abrams tank, but you get the idea. If you google images for combat engineering vehicle you will get lots of photos. Ray

Demolition Gun?
I would like to see a picture of that machine?
Would it work for house demo's?
LOL!

[quote="drujinin"]Demolition Gun?
I would like to see a picture of that machine?
Would it work for house demo's?
LOL![/quote]

Actually, I have seen folks purchase old CEVs or other armored vehicles to do exactly that. They just drive right through buildings, including brick and concrete buildings. A very fast and effective way to bring down a building. With 750HP in an M728 CEV there is plenty of power to knock down and plow through most buildings. Just button up and enjoy the ride. Ray