I found a Caterpillar D7 model 3T in Oregon. This dozer was used for logging and has been sitting in a barn for over 20 years. The serial number says this dozer is from 1953.
I learned on a old D-8 cable dozer, Back in 84 it sat from 1993 in my barn until 2022 never started in all those years,I started restoring it in 2022 I finally put the last original decal on this morning, every nut, bolt,hose, and decal is original for the year, Fresh rebuilt engine, I've been playing all morning,
It never fails to amaze me when this old iron, no matter how long it has sat, comes back to life. Truly, diesel engines are a marvel of engineering and endurance. I’m an old steam man and when the locos were replaced by diesel I thought the industrial world had come to an end but I stuck with it and learned to respect the diesel as a very worthy replacement. Well done guys, I think you had an easier fix than some but it’s an awesome outcome
As a young apprentice HD Mechanic in the mid 1960's I worked for a logging company north of Prince George British Columbia. They had two 3T Ghost Caterpillars No blade or canopy just a rear winch for skidding logs. Whenever they broke down the Master Mechanic would sent me out alone to fix them. They were low production machines compared to there other equipment. So he sent the low guy on the totem pole, not caring how long it took for repairs. Always got them fixed for the next morning. They were not that hard to work on and I was a quick learner. Thanks for sharing and bring back some memories to an old guy.👍👍👍
When I was six years old in 1960 I had the opportunity to sit on the seat with an operator of a D-7. One of my best friend's Dad was the operator and he let the two of us spend a day with him as he cleared lots for a new subdivision. It was a large Dozer for its time in Eastern Massachusetts. I have been in love with Cat and all its products ever since. Thanks for all the work you put in to make this video a reality.
That’s pretty much how it happen for me also I use to ride around with Ray Johnson on his old 7 and 14E blade this old iron gets in your blood for sher 👍
When I was 4 y/o, we had a switch rail track running through our driveway. One day, the little 040 switch locomotive stopped in the driveway, and the engineer got out and asked my mom if I could ride on the locomotive with him. It was the last day that the last operational steam locomotive was running in the state of South Dakota. I got to open the throttle and pull the whistle. Spent 15 minutes with him. When he left at the end of the day, he retired. The thrill of a lifetime for a 4 y/o boy.
I ran one of those in the 1980’s was really tired at the end of the day. Was a slow machine but it would really push. The diesel engine would hardly change between idle and full throttle. Brings back alot of memories
My first wife's uncle Claude Gendron was a road builder in and around William's Lake in British Columbia 40 years ago and hauled his old D8H around the backwoods building roads for logging access. I lost track of the Gendron family 25 years ago but I'm willing to bet Claude's sons are still building roads with that old D8.
This has to be one of the most successful CAT "will it start and drive" vids I have seen yet and I'm sure being partially sheltered has helped. The old D-7 looks to have a lot of life left in it. Good job guys and thanks for uploading.
Honestly, what helped the most was that the old girl was put away with all its covers on and not fucked with, aka some fart smeller decides “I’m going to fix ______” and then leaves the covers off and water gets into the manifold or a service panel was removed and not put back on so rodents got into it… These old Capertillars are pretty bombproof if they are put away complete. Amazing that all that old stuff was designed and built with no computers (or even calculators, meaning hand-calculated everything prior to the 1950s or 60s). We give ourselves too little credit for what we are capable of if we apply enough effort. Cheers! 🖖😎👍
I was really surprised that this old D7 started up that quickly at the sitting 20 years I was thinking you would have to bleed the injectors and all that jazz, but low and behold she roared back life as if she was running yesterday you got yourself a new subscriber!
Very cool to see you guys revive this old girl! I worked for a company that had a D6 cable dozer converted to hydraulic using Vietnam war era surplus cylinders and valves. After i did a repair i almost ran into the yard overhang because i forgot the lever was backwards for forward-reverse! We also had a international TD6 dozer with the half diesel half gas engine. Really cool how that was started too.
The old timers worked for their dollars... by that I mean, more was involved with the daily operation of their machinery, and thats for every field/line of work. Technology and the comforts it has brought to the modern day operators i feel is truly under appreciated due to the fact that most lack the understanding of how the old equipment was actually operated... I love seeing old pieces of machinery being operated.
Set chokers behind one of those in the seventies. Cat skinner made me spin the hand adjusters to tilt the blade and the handle was bent. I weighed 125 Lbs. at the start of that season and 150 at the end... and not an ounce of that was fat.
A 3T was the dozer I broke in on in the late 60's in northern BC skidding logs. Seemed like an antique then after choking behind a TD15. The cable dozer taught you a lot of patience. Dood work guys.
I grew up with Cat D4/6/7/8, there is nothing that can beat these older type bulldozers. Engineered to last forever if given the right maintenance. One thing is for sure, they don’t make them like that anymore. Thanks for sharing this video!
I grew up on one of them long ago now we had a D7 3t and I said a lot of bad words over it from time to time . But I work we dugout a 22 ac lake with it and it did a great job I miss them times now . But I old and the would not let me get on it if I still has it . My kids would go crazy on me. God bless you boys
Wow! Brings back good memories of my Dad and my childhood! My Dad bought one of these from a farmer when I was 8 years old. He then bought another 3 years later. One was a 50 model and one was a 53 model, good all around beast of a machine for its time. We kept one ready to go to work, while we worked the other one waiting for it to break, lol. I used to crank the pony motor with a handle. We built the engine, both final drives and both steering clutches at some point in both machines. But the more fun times was clearing land and pushing ponds! Thanks for sharing!! Watch out for that magneto, that sucker will bite you, lol!
I'm in the process of reviving a '56 Cat D6 8U and the magneto in that machine looks like new too! Great project to see you guys rescuing this old machine. I hate seeing them going to scrap.
Used to steam clean on strip jobs here in Ky and somin about it I could never get tired of and seein that ol gem makes me wanna spray it till clear water runs out belly pan…used to do komatsu 5500…hitachi 3500…cat 994…793s…830s..more 11s and 992s to remeber and played in em all…carrydozer is something to see let alone take a pass to the hollerfill and I have…900hp..120t…love it men…happy new yr…
When I was a kid my uncle let me ride on a D9 he was using to clear a path to the river for his irrigation pipe. It Was loud and vibrated so much I could hardly get on. Stan raised the blade and off we went, knocking down trees with little effort, Poison Oak everywhere mostly all over me. Finding a diamond in the rough like that is priceless.
Such a great story to watch it tells all of us how a few people with tools and know-how can coax an old machine back to life again. thanks for the video. Ian in also a wet day on the coast In England.
My Grandfather had 2 Cats D-6 from the 50's. He showed me how to start them. They pony was started with a pull rope (Notched flywheel between the operator legs, below the throttle arm). I remembered making sure the clutch was disengaged BEFORE starting the pony. I'm uncertain about the rest but, I remember the controls. His dozers blades weren't cable driven and, the blade actuator was slightly different. That was in the late 60's. EDIT: Both had the same HYSTER winches, on the back end.
Gordy you are a legend My name is Levi sheets and I am from Clyde North Carolina it does not matter if it's sitting it does not matter wherever it's at when you go to an old cat dozer it will always start I want so many RU-vid videos on it it is so cool to watch as the best one I ever seen I watch all your RU-vid videos you rule buddy and caterpillar always rules Husqvarna chainsaw too I am a die hard fan of your channel my papaw worked for Carolina cat
I have to say it. You guys said you were going back for it in the spring. I'm not sure how cold it gets there but I saw someone dump a bucket of water in it. I'd hate to see the old girl freeze up. It's a beauty,'ll be watching for more videos about it
That old girl has pushed a million miles and trees! Really nice to see that beast back up and purring! Dad said it takes a real operator to make that machine do what you want done
SAWEET !!!! That was awesome, doesn't matter if it's saws or tree's or whatever we'll still enjoy watching 😉 I've got an old 7F, it's hydraulic but not that much newer. Love firing it up an puttin her to work !!! Looked through a bunch of airplanes for sale today and thought about you 😉😁 Thanks for taking the time to bring us along ❤
Hey Dan I should of figured you would have a badass dozer too 😀I have been looking at planes too mite have to come hang out before I jump into the deep 🤣
@westcoastsaw1368 Oh my gosh, there's no "might have to" When you went down to the chainsaw museum in Oregon, that guy had a ridiculous amount of knowledge cause he had been passionate about that for 43 year's. I've been doing this for 45... we need to get together !!! 😁 I've got way too much experience and knowledge, and it's free 😉
I ran one in the late 60s, very simple to fix. The steering clutches are under fuel tank and easy to rebuild . Later 17A could be purchased with a turbo and had a big increase in power. The best cat D7 was the E model hat could run for many years with good maintenance . the old 17A where old when I was a kid and I'm over 70. they had a dry master clutch and dry steering clutches. the D7E had wet master clutches and wet steering clutches , a much better tougher system.
This was great. My dad bought a D6 cable with swamp tracks to dig a pond in the '90s. It sat at our shop for years after. One day we decided to get it started, the pony motor was locked up. it took two loaded dump trucks and a skidsteer to bump start it. Great content.
Nice work Gentlemen! We have a '49 D7 3t on the farm which only comes out to play when the D3c isn't big enough to handle a task. Clumsy old iron, but fun to play with at times. Thanks for posting.
It be so nice to see more videos on the d7 thay was so cool I ran 2 of them 3ts they were converted to electric start and turbo charged which made them a lot nicer. Thanks for the video.
I liked this i love seeing old machinery being brought back to life and used i can not stand seeing people holding on to it and letting it rot i hope when you go back and get it you put it straight to work well after the dozer blade hydraulics are fixed!! Good job fellers
Really cool action! Nice ambience with the drizzle, moss and fern, almost perfect for a CAT wall calendar. Even your buddy was steaming with excitement.
@@westcoastsaw1368 thank you for the response, I enjoy your channel alot, to the point of getting into the tree business for about a year now, how would I get a hold of John
Awesome! Those old machines are amazing. I like the variety of content as well. It's all related wether it's saws, logging, or forestry equipment! Now you need a skidder and a yarder!
This old equipment is ten times better than what's made today the old tractors can sit 20,or30 years and with a little bit of work it runs and operates you leave a new tractor sit 6 months and you have to call a technician to come and get it take it to the dealership yh keep it for 2 weeks then charge you a thousand dollars for what ever
That is better than saws in a lot of ways. Thanks for the video! I hope you bungeed those steering clutches open if you’re leaving it set a while. I love those old tractors. We have 5 RD8’s on our Alaska Homestead.. 1 working Dozer 2 that the engine starts on, and 2 that are in pieces all over 300 acres.
