New to cats, D6

[hookblock]

Hi, I found an old D6 (RD6?) 2H-3548, I am looking for a project to work on. All ways wanted a cat. This is small enough for me to haul my self I think, looking for a base weight of the machine. And some back ground info. Pony is missing the mag and the manifold is broken. Radiator was pushed into fan hub, or fan hub walked into radiator, looks like fin damage only, no core but it's dry. Main motor turns over, main clutch toggles in, nothing at steering clutches, foot brakes seem to work, gear selector goes in all gears, can be pulled freely. Has ag tracts, drive sprockets are shot. Has been sitting awhile, last start was about 2 yrs ago. Any help and or advice would be great Thanks

[ErnieinTucson]

Welcome to the Cat club.

I have a RD6 S/N 2H1455. It weights about 25000 lbs, big load for a pickup!
My tractor has a blade cob on it from bits and pieces. When I got it, it wa all locked up as the injectors wre not in the head, pony, and injector pump also locked up. I have working on it, some day I might get it done. I also have a Cat 20 and a Cat 22 with blade.

Good luck on your find.
Ernieintucson

[u-joint]

i would not pay much for that machine. with no blade its going to weigh
17,000. i would give no more than 50 a ton. they are neat tractors, i have
four counting the diesel thirtyfive. it would be worth the work if you wanted
to get it back into shape. the mag is no big deal, you can find them on
ebay, or just about anywhere. cat makes a mag for these as well as wico,
fairbanks and the original equipment was the eiseman. i have never had to
find a pony, but i am sure they are around. they may be the same as the
7 and 8?

is there a W in the serial number? is it a wide or narrow track frame. the
main thing is that the steer clutches are free. any pictures?

[hookblock]

Sorry no pictures yet, is there another place for a serial #. The steering clutch levers just flop back and fourth, so to check them can I get to them easy? The wide / narrow track is there a measurement, and does it having AG tracks make a difference? Thanks

[Toby Nelson]

There are two locations for a serial number, one on the back of the rear end housing and another on the left side of the diesel engine (as viewed from sitting in the seat) at the front of the block kind of beneath the water pump. Your number 2H3548 indicates it's a 1937 model, unclear if it's a RD6 or D6, as the change was somewhere between 2H2863 and 2H5144. Standard track gauge is 56", wide gauge is 74", as measured centerline to centerline of each track. You can check the steering clutch adjustment through the top cover bolted right in front of the seat. Through there you'll be able to see the steering clutch release yokes and mechanisms and maybe see what's going on in there.

[u-joint]

if its a wide the number will have a W after the serial number, 2H3548 W. and
if its got special parts it will have a SP after the W. i have a 2H1558 WSP. if
the steer clutch levers flop back and forth they are stuck. i would rather take
a beating, but i do not like to get dirty. if you do not mind black arms from
the shoulder down than its not that bad of a job.

i am not sure what you are calling ag tracks. they did make a street shoe
and a mud shoe and an ice shoe, but 99% are the normal shoe that i think
you are calling ag. here is a pic of one of my tractors. its serial number
2H4586 WSP. its a wide with 24 inch shoes. its the D6 with the smaller fuel
pump and normal transmission shift pattern. the RD's say RD-6 on the upper
radiator tank and have a fuel pump the size of a cinder brick. they also
have a shift pattern that you have to go through 3rd gear to get to forth.

[Haole Cat]

I had one that I did a basic restoration, kinda like you describe. Keep in mind that this still is a heavy large machine. It's sort of hard to maintain and pick parts up off the machine if your working alone. You need a bit of a support system, hydraulic winch, another tractor etc.

Basically after a lot of fun w/ mine I sold it and down sized to a D2. Much easier for a simple hobbyist guy like me.

Have fun,

[drujinin]

Its big and heavy which makes them hard to work on!
It will make a nice yard ornament until you collect all the pieces you might need.

[jmvmopar]

Alot of parts for the D4600 engine that's in there are getting hard to source. Things like liners, pistons, and bearings. I found this out the hard way.

[hookblock]

Thanks for all the info. I am headed back to look at it again today. He wants 2400.00 OBO. After seeing the picture, it's a narrow track. The track is flat, no cleat (street?) Don't mind heavy or getting dirty, just burned The plan with no blade is to use it to do some field work, and road work in the woods. I hope heavy lifting won't be a problem with my other project Thanks again