I want to thank you so much Squatch! My Father in Law has an old 1960’s era Cat D5 standard shift. He is 89 years old and battling Cancer. He is in a very weakened state. Some grading and leveling work needed to be done on his property. I asked him if it was ok if I could try to clean up the area with his D5. He said ok, and he mentioned some of the very same pointers on what to do in order to operate the D5 correctly. It was my first time ever doing anything like this. I did have a spotter helping me in the area that I was working. So I think I did pretty good job. And I got the approval from my father in law, he said I did a good job and he smiled. So thank you Squatch so much for your video. It helped me a great deal!👍
That's actually quite fascinating. The similarities to landing a complex airplane are more numerous than I'd imagined. It's all about fine control of the assets available to the operator. Many differences, of course, but control methodology is much the same. Close to the ground, descending at 5 or 600 feet per minute, holding 130 mph (VERY IMPORTANT), keeping the engines synchronized, feeling when to slow down to 90 into the flare and touchdown, and more. Most enjoyable. If I wasn't so darned old, I swear I'd buy a small Cat to play with. Thank you, good sir!
...this takes me back 43 years to when I earned my AAS degree in diesel mechanics...our school had a D2...a D4...and a D6...and we took in a D8 to work on...it was great fun playing with them when we got the chance...I have used torque converter crawlers since then...but never have had the chance to use a manual clutch model again...miss those good old days...
Hi, so i live in a city apartment as concrete jungle as you can imagine, have an office job i'll never leave, and here I am astutely listening this video and taking notes "just in case". Ser, thank you.
An old Dozer hand told me the same thing about 400 years ago - operate with your butt. Then I learned you fly a jet with your nose because you needed to lead the G-force. And you drive a car with your shoulders ... leaning into corners
You are a good operator and take good care of your machinery. It was 73 and Dad let me drop the blade on a D-8 - what a thrill for a kid. He said, lift the blade when the Cat bogs down because my idea was to pour on the coal. Thank you for the great video !!
It's been like 40 years since I ran one of those old timers, but one thing I do remember is you do all steering and run the clutch with the left hand (Both steering clutch levers) and you keep the right hand on the blade lever execpt when you use it for shifting. One other thing. I never jammed the steering levers all the way back and then stomped on the brakes. - I would have gotten fired, You move the levers and brake pedals SMOOTHLY. Gently pull the steering clutch lever back as you slowly apply the steering brake.and then slowly release the brake and then gently replace the steering lever fully forward. - A year later when they put me on a brand new D6 with the exception of the power shift and decel pedal you ran it the exact same way, SMOOTHLY.
Thats a nice clean little D2. I can relate to that because "back in the day" my dad and I had a D4-7U that I had alot of "seat time" on dozing and logging.
Thank you for these videos. I’ve got my grandfather’s mid 50s 5uD2. It is very similar to yours but with a different blade. I think it can flip around to pull a tool bar and deep soiler. It saw heavy use early on but I’m in my 40’s and have only seen in ran twice. Grandpa is gone. I was never around when he messed with it! I’d love to get it working again and use it on the farm. Seems like I only get free time in the winter and I don’t have a good heated shop. I think it was ran 20 years ago...everything still seems free and it’s inside. Maybe someday, I did hunt down and find all the manuals. I wish I had your metal working and mechanical skills...Anyway your videos are great! Thanks so much for taking the time to do them.
What a great video. I really appreciate your talking through all the things you're watching and listening for while running the machine. Watching all the adjustments to direction, blade height, etc. as they happen in real time, I'm really impressed with how smooth you are.
Thanks Squatch, Nice training video!! The Tip I didn't know was, when stationary and running, to leave the gearbox in neutral w the clutch engaged. This may be why my clutch is slipping and needs to be adjusted. You are a very thorough teacher. I like the different views and angles of the same "push" . Nicely done.
Great instructional video! I would, however, refrain from using a term like "stab the brake" when teaching its use to novices. I have thousands of hours of operating Cat D6's, IH TD14's, and AC HD-11's pulling implements on a farm back in the 60's and 70's. As you stated, if the tractor is under a load, it rarely requires supplemental braking to help it turn, but under no load to light-medium load situations it will require a smooth application of brake and adjusting the pressure as necessary to achieve the desired rate and degree of turn. I want to compliment you on your beautifully restored D2. She is absolutely gorgeous!
I worked for a home builder through high school, college and a few years thereafter before starting my career and was fortunate to cut my teeth on almost that exact same D2. We had 2 of them. The one with the blade was a bit newer and had a wet clutch. The older one with less hours had a bucket an power take off. I’d run it with a bush hog to clear brush. I backfilled a lot of basements, spread topsoil and cleared land with that dozer. The older D2 had a dry clutch and due to lack of use, the pressure plate became pitted. One winter I split the D2 and put in a new clutch. I loved running and fixing those machines as well as our 955K which was a beast. Now I have a 52 8N and a Kubota B2920 and have tried to but the D2 I used to run from the original owner. It hasn’t been used in over 20 years and is sitting in a barn waiting for me to bring it back to life! Great video and great memories.
I’ve been a logger all my life and the 1st cat I set chokers behind was a D6 with a cable blade. Over the years I’ve run D6, D7 and D8s. They only use cats for road building now days. It’s really nice to see the old iron working. Thanks for sharing. Dave from Rainier OR.
I will probably never own a small D2 dozer, let alone the land to play on it. But thanks to your detailed instructions I will be able to do it should I be able to. You never know ;-)
My experience in running a dozer is limited to the Mighty Tonka T-6, which must be bigger than a D2 since it has a higher number! More seriously, I really appreciate this video, and esp. the alternate angle videos. It'd take me quite awhile to learn how to run that thing, but what fun!
My dad used to run cats and he always told me it's in the seat to making a smooooth cut...lol....he is 82 now and just bought a 450c...he is in heaven...lol
Outstanding job! You did a great job explaining everything going on and your camera work was excellent! This brought back a lot of memories for me. I grew up on a cat d4,hanging onto my grandpa while he dozed roads for us! I rode on the winch lol
You did a great job with this video. Best explanation of dozer operating controls I've seen yet. As you have seen, many of us are envious and would love to operate equipment again. If I had my choice of any dozer, it would be the D2. BTW, if you go to the airport in Peoria, they have an early CAT on a 4 foot display pedestal.
That was awesome, P1 and P2! What a symphony of levers, clutches, brakes to get her to do what you want. Very cool to watch. Enjoyed the different camera shots too. Almost like sitting in the D2! :-)
I really enjoyed watching this. You did an excellent job, both explaining and filming. It looks like a lot of fun and some considerable work to keep up with all those levers.
Great vid, luv the sound. I got to operate a giant CAT forklift once. That machine could lift the tractor of an 18 wheeler. What a blast, will never forget that experience.
I did a lot of pioneering with my 5J (same blade as yours). Challenging to say the least. Had I not previously had an AC HD-7W (also short) with a Baker blade It would have been far more difficult. Cutting a road across the side of a hill without a 6 way blade is becoming a bit of a lost art. I learned from cable tool Catskinners who logged and built mining roads. Great to see you taking the time to teach others. Thanks for posting.
I really enjoy your videos and how you explain which anybody can easily understand, changing the focus of this video, I believe I saw some deer tracks at 3.35, I also really like to hunt. Keep up the videos and also operating a crawler has always been my favorite machine.
Boy, do I love to watch an expert operate a piece of machinery. You did a nice job of explaining the operation as well as showed what experience teaches you. Loved the video. But I could tell that you were literally running that Cat by the seat of your pants. You knew just when you need to make an adjustment weather it was the clutch/ brake combination or lift/ lower the blade. It was beautiful to watch you operate the Cat. Awesome job and awesome video. Thanks for sharing.....
Man. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. I watch a lot of your videos and always had a good idea what all the levers did, but now we all really know. It looks like a work out driving one of these things! Back from a day when men were men! Thanks again.
Hi thanks for trying us newbies to driving a crawler and again showing what that cool D2 can do and cool seeing you use that well restored dozer, my dad had a hd 19 allis chalmers for many years he used it some when i was a kid it was a cool big dozer
A very impressive video you were very busy with the controls I find this to be very educational as well as Entertaining I thank you once again Your program has became the highlight of my day Keep up the good work I love it
The higher gears are for reverse, to get back to the next push. Cats always seemed faster than John Deers, in reverse, because they both had enough power to push what you bite off. It’s been a long time since I worked those controls, but I would love to be able to do it again. I only watched your video, because I’ve never seen a D-2, the smallest I’ve seen or operated was the D-3. Techniques really don’t change because of size. The smaller machines were for tighter areas, & finer elevations. I believe you are ready for the big ones, but they are more expensive to use. I would love to have that D-2, to use on my daughter’s gravel driveway, but I’d have to rent one, because I don’t have enough work to own it. You did a very good video 👍🏻!
Another awesome video. I never get tired of watching them, and I never knew how much thought went into dozing out a path like that. I have but one video request. I was re-watching the walkaround video you did on the RD6 #2H1768 and I was just wondering. If you plan on rebuilding the original pony motor that came on it, could you do a video series on that? I just find it interesting. Thanks for all of the awesome content!
Great video, of course the noise level was high, but everything important was audible. During most of the video the blade lever was out of view, but the latter passes showed the blade lever work, so it was possible to see the balancing of pitching the machine up versus digging in too deep. That is one sweet looking and sounding tractor. Someday 5J1113 will look just as good!
He is absolutely correct. If you picked an operator off a new hitech dozer, matter how good they are, they will be lost for a time as that D2 won’t cooperate like the electronic dozer. You learn on an old machine nothing will trip you up. ChiefD
Excellent, never having been around heavy equipment at least now I have a basic understanding of how it functions. Not much time for site seeing when truly operating the dozer!
Love your videos. I have a 1950 D2, just had to rebuild the hydraulic cylinders, there was so much play that I couldn't make a straight cut. Doing a complete upgrade to the mounting too. Hope it will do a much better job when finished.
Many years of butt-seat interface on my wonderful John Deere 350s (about the size of a D2) in the woods, excavating, and pushing snow. I was always told to never let the steering levers 'snap back' to neutral. Dunno why, but never let them fly.
Good Job, Toby! A-PLUS! I didn't run a D-2 much but a 350 JD or a Case has about the same track frame and the more you run a machine you learn where the tipping point is and work your blade accordingly. You'll also learn that any bump you can blade smooth is one less the sore back has to do an OUCH with. Working the dam I just ran around and around blading as I went. The inspector wants the fill put in between 10 and 12 inches at a time and with a bunch of pans you were always knocking down and building up. You'll also learn that you really run one by your butt because you can't see the blade on a lot of tractors so it has to be by 'feel' as to where and how much your tipping point comes in, or rather, where you roll over it. And your timing will get good enough so you'll know what to do, even with your eyes closed. But it's a LOT of fun and will pay the light bill at the same time. I went from a D-4 to a 6B to a 7F and an 8H on the same job. That wasn't counting swapping out on pans and graders. The more you run the more you'll want to run. Gopher it! Hi Pop!
My old 57 Case 310 dozer pitched the same way. I made a lot of wash board grades until I finally figured out how to finesse the machine to doze smoothly.
Nose pitch control on the small machines always a bugger. I have a BX23 compact short wheelbase tractor with front end loader... and that short wheelbase on irregular surfaces is a constant battle when trying to level out a surface. Your D2 skills are right on top. This old gal would love to try one sometime.
Man you sure stay busy running one of those. If you get a minute check out JayPay dirt running a D9 man oh man what a difference in size. I think you are working harder on your D2 then he is. Thanks for the how2-D2.
Great video. After driving a skidsteer for numerous years It would be quite a challenge to run your D2, but like anything I think I could get used to it in a short period of time. It would be fun if you could take someone who never drove anything but a car or bike, show him/her this video (starting procedure video first) and turn he/she loose on your cold D2 (with your watchful eye) and see if he/she could run it without your help. Upcoming video maybe?
I really want my own dozer. Northern Tool sells a 35 horse with a six way blade and a Category 1 hitch and PTO, which would be perfect- but $23,000 is a LOT of money.
