Caterpillar D7 3T barn find - Will it start?
2023 ж. 31 Жел.
794 211 Рет қаралды
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.
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
My word - you were around when steam locos were replaced by diesel. God bless you. I am sure you have a treasure trove of knowledge and experience😅
Yep, that and pony motor start!
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,
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.👍👍👍
I bet you have seen some big wood get moved back then 👍thanks for the story alway cool to hear from guys that seen these work
Respect. Thank you for your work.
@@westcoastsaw1368 I have a buddy of mine who is an old timer who has these kind of cats
@@westcoastsaw1368ooooooo
😢😢
Us old timers that operated old machines like that really appreciate your video.
Glad you enjoyed it
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.
@@rolandmohler2695Made your day, and gave the engineer something to make his final day one to look back on and smile.
I got a 3t my Dad bought in 1979. Still use it for odd jobs around the farm. 75 year old tractor still running
@@tobysavage1278 them cats last forever😂
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.
Doesn’t matter if its saws or not, you make genuinely interesting videos. Post more! :)
Thanks, will do!
YES!!!!
Another Awesome Video Keep making the Awesome Videos 😎👍
AWESOME....That unit is just two years younger than I am. Glad to see you youngsters taking care of the antiques!! Thank you!!!
I love seeing old equipment come back to life, nice work fellas!
Great to see the old beast coming back to life. Great video ! 👍
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 cannot believe how good that thing runs, them old gauges come back to life, even the fuel is still great, frickin insane... Super exhilarating
I have one like this D7-17A 1955, still gets worked hard, they love you for it.
Had to learn how to hot wire a dozer in the Army. We would parachute in and sweep runways for vehicles/ equipment and move. Grew up in Eugene.
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.
I like the idea of no batteries. Makes it easier to diagnose problems.
I love seeing old machines like this roar back to life.
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
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!
I never get tired of watching the old iron come back to life!
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!
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.
I can't wait until spring to see more of this old girl ,I really enjoyed the video good job getting the old D7 back to life
More to come thanks for watching 👍
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 😉
Randomly pops up I’m my feed..Awesome.Knowledge is power.
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.
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.
Totally agree 👍
That is so F'n cool seeing the old girl come to life like that, Nicely done guys!! 👍
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.
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!
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.
You looked like you were born on that ol dozer. Shame they didn't get that machine all the way in the barn 20 years ago.
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.
Thats awesome your going back to pick it up. I know youll give it a good home.
Love to see that old equipment run again 😊just goes to show you how good stuff was made back then
You got that right!
I love watching these shows on KZhead where these guys resurrect these old machines from the graveyard. The coolest stuff I’ve ever seen.
I love how you have to start a two cylinder gas engine to start up the diesel engine 😮 You do the greatest producing these video gems!
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!
Thanks 👍
Nothing beats watching old Iron come back to life.
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
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
I drained it all out 👍when I come back to get her we’ll give her the good stuff 👌
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…
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.
Is nice to see in a world that uses things and dumps them after . That you put effort into resurrecting this old work horse
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.
i had one back in the 60's did a lot of work with it and it never let me down
What an awesome feeling it must have been to get that going. Well done boys
I must say John is a pretty smart guy. Awesome job thanks for sharing
Love to see old iron running again. Aint no school like Old School
I'm happy to see you came prepared Hot wrench and all love these old dozers
Flame wrench and big hammer will fix all ! Great job gave you a sub from upstate New York
These old D-7's is what I grew up watching. Love old metal monsters 😁!!
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.
That is one of the better will it starts I've seen. Dave D.
13:05 Great to see someone who knows how to properly pour a 5 gallon pail. A+
Great job on the old iron guys. I love watching these rescue missions of old big iron of yesterday! Great video Bruce
Good job young fellas. Those old brutes are tough. She sounds good for setting so long. Good the fuel rack didn't stick.
Good ol' boys, making good ol' equipment, do what it's designed to do. The American way!👍Well done.
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
You can't kill those old Cats. It looks like you got a pretty solid old machine there. Congratulations!
Man awesome i love seeing old running around again.
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.
Coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time! Thanks for bringing her back to life .. she’s seen lots of things in her life
Glad you enjoyed it!
She fired up! You guy's keep sayin not bad for sittin 20 years yet you fail to realize this oh girl is well over 20 years old. Good stuff fellas.
John is a beast 💪
Loved this episode! Thanks for sharing.
Nice work! I love old Cats!
That amazing to watch you guys loving on that road walker ! What’s better is you guys working together and cutting up!! Great 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
That’s was awesome. Can’t wait to see it get out this spring. Be safe
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 KZhead videos on it it is so cool to watch as the best one I ever seen I watch all your KZhead 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
Thank you buddy appreciate it
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.
Awesome Gordy, love this kind of stuff too ✊🏻
love the vid glad to see you guys brought this old classic back to life ..... she deserves a good home she ready to get back to work
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.
Well done guys, very cool. I love seeing old equipment being bought back to life.
Yes it is amazing when they start these old things up.And it is amazing that there are people that know how to work on them 😅.
Heck of video Gordy, I can't wait to see it again in the spring or when you bring it home
nice to have dam good friends - nice to see old tracker to come live again
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.
If anyone can get it running it's John 😊
Well done. Diesel Creek would be proud.
That was worth watching!!! Good job!!!
Great video we have old D8 where I work once they figure out you could roll start it they stop messing with the pony motor
Was very cool Gordy! Keep up the great work!
What a sweetheart of an old crawler. Love your products and love your content keep it up Gorty
I love dozers. Big fan of Diesel Creek channel. The resurrection of this old girl was sensational! Well done boys!
Cool, was fun to get to watch as it started up.
If this is the direction this channel is headed I am here for the ride.
More to come thanks for following along 👍
Really cool video. Doesn’t matter if it’s about a chainsaw or an old dozer. All nice to watch 😊
Cool...old dozers are like classic cars, they should be saved, restored and used.
I have a 1952 cat D6 that I have not been able to get the pony motor started and nobody around here knows anything about it, love them old dozers
You need to talk to John he mite be interested in getting her going
@@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
If you can email me your contact info and Who you are on the email I will get it to John and he can give you a call 👍 Hello@westcoastsaw.com
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
Your not wrong 👍
That crank to start the small engine is a crazy set up.
I remember being with my dad.on his HT 4 Cat. This was back in the 60's. Such a rush. At least that one had electric start for the pony.
Very much well done to your team. I love seeing these old machines come back to life!
I owned a D7 3T for over 20 years. Serial #1514. The best I could tell it a mind 40's year. The front idler was worn so bad the tracks kept trying to come off. Could not find parts for it. Sold it for scrap. Found out later that rollers for 986 track loader would fit. Your machine is newer and in much better shape.
Pretty cool Gordy thanks for sharing this video it's nice to see that old beast roar back to life
John is the real man on this deal
Minus the ROPS cage, that D7 looks like the CAT Dew Little Lynn drove up the mountain, widing the trail to the Webb family cemetery in the movie "Coalminers Daughter"... :)