You must be one of the most patient and persistent men in the world. Love how you problem solve and work thru all the issues. You make me proud to be a Oregonian. Keep up the exceptional work. Your videos make my week
Good video as always, just one note: when you are using your telescoping gage at approx 15:20, that's incorrect. Put the gage into the bore, cock the handle off to one side, "snug" the thimble, and then rock the gage through the axis of the bore (ie "over-center), and pull the gage for a mic reading. I always check telescoping gages twice before work. Just passed two decades machining. You have a great Project Matt, and it's good to always see Charlie.
My late paternal Grandfather was a mechanic on the Dawson Pipeline of the AlCan Highway project during WWII. He worked on Cats. Now, I have a greater appreciation and respect for what he did, in all seasons! Thanks for the videos.
Between you and Squatch I am getting my fill of D-4 content. I really like how the two of you approach things. New and shiny when needed, old and refurbished when it doesn't matter and aftermarket is totally okay, as long as it fits. Too many fret over small details that make no difference. Like the foot pedal bearings. Who cares if it has a little too much wear? It's just your boots on a lever. But the steering clutch handles do matter, so you put new bearings in. Bravo
Another great video Matt. Attention to detail ✅ I’d probably paint the transmission assembly now as it looks like you have more room to get around it. Keep the videos coming mate 🇦🇺👍🇺🇸
*- I am impressed.* *- Your intelligence to surmount all sorts of things is beyond my will.* *- I watch the pain in your eyes, and await the moment they turn to the place of Mirthful Irreverence.* *- When that comes to you, you will will not care if your have been of 'good use to others'; Because you will feel the courage that arises in those others around you who never had it before.* *- And you will chuckle, not with with self-approval, but rather with that laudable sense of "another chore well done."*
Matt, thank you so much for bringing us along on the adventure. You are keeping me inspired to keep hammering on my dozer and making videos. Can't wait to see yours run. I'm headed to my shop now to keep hammering.
Dang Matt!! I have watched you on this job since you first started it . You've got more patience on that Job. Patience never has been my strong suit. I wish I had patience like that, but for someone who has never been around a dosier you sure do seem like you know what you're doing. It's been a fun ride watching you and will be glad to see the one when you get it fired up and moving around. Great job!
If I could only put it into words how I feel as you approach this bit by bit and closer to the finish line, my anxiety rattles and just happy for you. I see other mechanics posting so your in good hands.
Matt, it is just amazing how you go about bringing back the Cat! Your attention to detail and the way you problem solve, is amazing! Watching you in your element would be like watching Beethoven writing and composing his world famous sounds of music. You are truly the gifted.
It has to feel good getting the cover back on! While watching your videos of this rebuild, I keep thinking how beneficial it would be for you to have a little lathe to make some of the bushings and pins. Even a Harbor Freight mini lathe would make some good parts for you. I'm enjoying your patient, methodical rebuild! Keep up the great work.
Thank you, for taking ,the time to explain ,as you disassembled and reassembled the transmission.And ,for making this video!This ,is really educational, for myself and thousands of others!Very , cool! Well done!😀👍
Quite inspirational to watch you work through problems and further your project.Your nice easy style makes me anxious to watch your next video.Can’t wait to see that thing run!
Grab the crimped end of a silicone tube with needle nose pliers. Wrap the tube around the needle nose as you use it. It’s easy and gets every drop from a tube. Large cotter keys clipped on the tube end work too when using a small screwdriver, punch, etc, in the cotter key hole to hold it while wrapping the tube onto the key as you go.
Mate you’re doing a ripper job, love the time you take to explain everything, congratulations on what you’ve already done. Look forward to seeing it finished and mounted in your lounge room. There’s.no way you can use it after this
You mentioned feedback from your steer clutch levers. You’ll find once you’re up and running that you don’t gain much insight from the levers other than when it’s time to adjust up your clutches. You’re right about the adjustment,run em up till they touch and about a turn and a half backed off from that point. All the old timers said that the steer clutches are to be adjusted so that they apply slight pressure on the brakes when you pull your lever all the way in. I was just thinking about going thru a set of final drives and having to do everything from a service truck just yesterday, I don’t miss any of it. The feedback that you’ll find most important when you’re running a blade is from the seat,one of the very few things I learned in an apprenticeship,the rest of the time I was patching up derelict equipment. Anyway,once you’re seated comfortably you’ll notice when the machine is climbing from having the blade too high you’ll feel more pressure on the back of your thighs. When the blade is cutting too deep and the machine starts to dive you’ll feel it in your ass. This is all assuming that you’ll learn how to cut level grade instead of just pushing piles. You’ll be amazed at what you’re capable of doing with your machine once you get the feel of it and learn the basic fundamentals and I can tell that you’re someone who won’t quit until you’ve conquered that. Going to be a tremendous machine when you’re done,keep up the great work.
Nice rebuild vidja on an ole D4 7U. Way back in the day, I put in a lot of "Seat Time" on my dads old 7U, both dozing brush, and skidding logs. I actually know where his old D4 is on a farm.
I never did track work but had friends who maintained Cats their whole career. This is fascinating. Thanks for giving an old fart in lockdown something to watch.
I worked on and drove a D4 back almost 30 years ago. Thing was a beast. Tracks were worn out and we made spacers to adjust them a bit more. I cant remember much how to even operate one now.
It's great to see how well this is coming along, and you are doing fantastic work! Also, thank you for your consideration to those of us with photosensitivity issues. Much appreciated!
Great video Matt! I am really enjoying your journey with this dozer. I missed your upload yesterday (attended a funeral and was with family for the day), and can honestly say it was a joy to see you had a new video. Thank you for the time you take to share this with us. (Edited to add) I just about fell out of my chair laughing when you said the only way out of the money pit was to keep digging. Your sense of humor paired with this machine dragging it's feet to getting fixed has made your videos ever so entertaining.
Well, I accidentally watched part 2 first but now having watched part 1 I understand some of the issues he bought up later. A nice way to finish off my Sunday night post Olympics coverage getting ready for bed routine. Can't wait until the next entry on this restoration build.
if the finger starts to turn colour , get the drill ready . Drain before black and you will not loose the nail. Your commentary is very well done even with no audience . RTV squeeze to save hands, VICE GRIP FLATE sheet metal style . This project is coming along great !
Love the videos man. I love to see the inside of different machines and wonder how they came up with that.😁. Thank you for sharing. Great job and God bless. Looking forward to hearing it fire up.👍🇺🇸
...From someone who has worked on the machines....you are do VERY GOOD work.......keep it up...read all you can.... but sometime you just have to do....hats off to you....
Excellent Video Matt! I'm glad I get to live vicariously by watching you work on this Cat. I've always had a fascination with heavy equipment since I was handed my first Tonka Dozer at age six LOL! Keep on keeping on! "Dont stop believing"
Good call on getting rid of the slop in the linkage. That slop will add up and makes things worse then for the better. The more slop the less accurate the steering feeling gets. I think this thing must have hauled redwood or done a lot of work since even the pedals are almost gone. But you have made it come back to life, thank you Matt for sharing this project with us.
Just wanted to say “keep on at, it looks great” really enjoying this series. Although I will probably never rebuild a dozer you have have a very entraining style that is educational too. All the best from 🇬🇧
I love the fact you admit you don’t know what your doing but you give it a damn good go anyway keep up the great work and can’t wait for the next video
*- Smart that you comprehend **15:05** the science about the flicker rate producing a brain seizure, especially in those with epileptic predispositions. Formal Kudos to you, Sir!*
Pacific north west. Im in Spokane. I saw the preview of your video and then saw the name so I subscribed. Im going to watch this when i get little time. Small world 🌎
Don’t worry about the slop in the linkages, I have an 82J series D4 and it’s set up the same for the steering clutches and you can adjust everything to work properly even with a little play in the pin fits
Wow, your wife lets you put a lot of time into your toys. I have not watched you in a long time but it is good to see that you are starting to put things back together. It is so cool to see you sticking to the manual. I feel bad because the new parts must cost a lot. I just hope that when you are done that the oil stays in and the water stays out of the transmission. I hope that when you are done that it will work like a new machine. Not many people would put the time and money into it as you have. One thing for sure, you WILL know your machine. 😀😀😀😀
You know, parts aren't really that bad. I think the most expensive part was the steering clutch discs. All in I'm in it for around $5k, including the cost of the machine and transportation.
Great educational and entertaining content. You hand in there because we are counting on you and cheering for you. You’re doing an amazing job for someone who has never even been on a cat dozer. Best Regards
You can take those parts to a machine shop and get those sloppy parts either bushed or sleeved for a reasonable price . By that i mean way less than factory parts. I would fix them before reassembly ,why do it half assed when you have sunk so much cash in it already ?
I have NO plans to ever buy an old D4 or rebuild one but I have enjoyed watching this sooooo much. Now that you got all us hooked on your channel, you do realise your going to have to keep rebuilding old heavy equipment,,,,,dont you. Man, I would hate to be you to tell your wife, unless she is far more understanding than mine.
Ha! That steering clutch function is Ph.k$n beautiful mate. Made me chuckle that it's so brand new in the function. I am overjoyed that this appears to be successful thus far . I anticipate multiple hundreds of hours of that Caterpillar working like new for you Matt. But we'll see how the rest of it turns out before that can begin eh? See your next epic edition in this series soon?
Has the sump and flywheel been modified to prevent sump oil entering the clutch housing? Cat issued a field fix which included a large seal to the rear of the flywheel ? And needed a hole drilled into the sump to allow any oil to return from the clutch housing. Many d4 engines were lost on steep slopes as the oil emptied from the sump to the clutch housing due to a poor slinger type rear crank seal. Another issue is the total reliance on the jocky spring retainers to prevent the engine etc flipping back over under power up steep slopes..crushing the operator. Fit safety chains to prevent this happening. Well done ...been there and it's a massive restoration task!!
You know how mechanics work and you are doing fine. I would say that is not enough slop in those shifters to hurt anything. I am no expert but after working on my 3 tractors with no tractor experiance, you are good. ( I wrench a lot on other things, like it seems you do) Was also nice seeing a video without waiting at least 2 weeks!
The click you here on the turning clutches are the assist springs breaking over center. Proper tension on those should be tight enough that when they are all the way back(clutches released) they will almost stay back by themselves and only require slight forward pressure to move the handle forward(engage clutches). This allows operator to disengage on track and hold it for a Long sweeping turn with minimal effort. Later units did this with hydraulic assist. Once you get some seat time you will recognize the value of this adjustment. Your doing a great job especially for never been around a dozer. Must be some professional mechanical experience somewhere in your background . I own a d8 13a of about same vintage with similar setup only much bigger and heavier. Good luck.
