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.

Sorry Neil, over the cliff we go.

I try to stay down under my rock hidden under a big oak tree. A friend and neighbor that, moves dirt for a living relatively small time. But has had enough scrutiny that he has moved up to compliant equipment. He is a very capable mechanic and gets into some big projects. The fact that he could start with others reject equipment was one of his ways to compete. Trucks have been an issue for years, but came up with very late model JD grader. He had a Cat 977 loader at the Best of the West show auction as it needed to not be part of his fleet so the CARB people could be happy. 3 years ago now.

Unfortunately, one of the biggest farms in the state has become my neighbor as well, Wonderful Company in the branch known as Justin Wine. They run all CARB compliant equipment. I suppose the man behind the company may believe all the bull about air quality so just uses it. How the devil keeps some of these dumb people going is amazing. When he first bought Paramount Farming in Lost Hills he asked someone in the management there why they stored nuts for a year. His other business took a deposit before they started to manufacture product. I would truly like to farm like that and no weather factors too.

So I was asking if maybe CARB was getting more into ag in some parts of the state. Without being smart enough to ask a real question.

I like the information presented about the roll back of CARB trying to expand all across the USA. But old age pessimism has me in its grip. I have witnessed the people of California show some sense, to only have it slip away with political slit of hand.

I will be pleased to hear that all those cheap Cats where all in need of major work like undercarriage rebuilds. And that old Cats are golden.

hi, Ray54.

This seems to be where Congress is at currently:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1072/all-info

That said, I suspect that Trump's executive orders are what will carry the weight for the moment and that Congress will probably - eventually - come up with pretty much the same. But I'm 'justa pore, dumm bulldozer op'rator from DowNunda', so what would I know.

More places to look:

White house on CARB regulations

Late edit: - https://nefi.com/news-publications/recent-news/president-trump-signs-carb-waiver-recissions;-carb-sues

Just my 0.02.

For those selling machinery, is there much of a market for selling your non-CARB compliant machines out of state? Over here in NY, we let any old clunker run - in summer the smokier the better to keep the 'skeeters at bay : )

Hi, Neil.

IF I am reading the situation correctly from the info posted above, even the other ten or so states that have followed CA's I.D.10 T lead on emissions 'roolz' will hafta pull their heads in - which will open the market up quite a bit - and also mean that CA. collectors won't need to sell their beloved 'toys'.

Just my 0.02.