Mounted ripper on my old D4

[DPete]

Need a ripper here to dig, I was thinking of upgrading my 40A to a later D4 with ripper then I ran across this ripper for $2500 + shipping a little over $3K total. It's a lot of ripper for the old girl I know, wondering if the tractor can handle it ( dry clutches ) etc. The valve is already there, just need to remove the drawbar and install. Lots cheaper than upgrading for occasional use. What do you guys think? Has anybody else done it here?

[Old Magnet]

That's a nice looking ripper package. No different than the 58Dxxxx/87Hxxxx No.4, 951 & 955 Cat rippers that were offered for the 40A and others back in the day.
The Cat original also had provision to tie the mounting bracket/plate to the swinging drawbar mount under the tractor. I see candidate holes in the mounting plate. Is such an extension included?

[DPete]

I'm waiting for a dimension sheet for the mounting plate holes but I think you are correct. Would the back case on my 40A be the same as a D4D, D4E?

[Old Magnet]

Rear bolt pattern is the same but the underneath attachment bracket is different for the 40A.
Parts book also limits s/n's on the 40A to 40A1095 to 40A5253 inclusive for some reason?

[Deas Plant.]

Hi, DPete.
Regardless of whether your 40A has the correct mounting holes for that plate or not, as I understand it, the D4D was the first D4 model to be offered with a back end designed to cope with the stresses of a rear mounted ripper. I would suggest looking at the load transfer bracket that Old Magnet mentioned. These were designed to transfer the real loading of pulling a rear mounted ripper through hard material to the drawbar pull point under the tractor where the swinging drawbar attached. I useta did had a sketch of the brace wunsa ponna time but I cain;t find it now. Maybe somebody who pas a parts book for a 941 or 951 will be so kind as to post the appropriate page(s)

Just my 0.02.

[DPete]

Good point Deas, I'd hate to look back and see the ripper and rear case off in the distance. There is confusion with the seller about generations of D4C's between old school D4C's like mine and more modern D4C's from Japan, anyway I'm working on it. Thanks for info

[Glum]

It was pretty standard around here for the D4C's to be equipped with the No4 ripper. Like OM and Deas have already said, fab up a bracket to tie into the drawbar mounting point. The holes are already there in the ripper backing plate, so not too big a job.
Can't do anything but polish the surface around here without ripping first.
Also, I would ditch two or three of those shanks.

[Old Magnet]

Here is the 40A and 78A-up mounting group arrangements. There is also an arrangement for the 7U & 12A 955.
The HT4 7U also had an optional ripper, more like a scarifier so I don't see the concern about back end strength.

Well I'd post the pictures but the BB says I have exceeded my 100mb allotment which I was previously told did not apply. I'll try again later when I feel like deleting my files.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DPete, PM me an email address and I'll send the info direct.

[Garlic Pete]

Old Magnet - I'll check on your limit and get back to you. Don't delete anything yet.

Pete.

[DPete]

Thanks to OM for the parts photo,