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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Old Caterpillar

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kyle S

08-09-2003 00:49:45




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My uncle just gave a model 30 Cat. His dad bought it new in the 20's or 30's My uncle drove it in to the barn 20 years ago an it has'nt moved sence. Any idea how heavy? How hard to start?
I have spent a lot of time on wheel tractors,
never anything with tracks.




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Britt Misker

08-18-2003 18:48:01




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 Re: Old Caterpillar in reply to kyle S, 08-09-2003 00:49:45  
Just a couple of thoughts:
If the engine isn't stuck, before you try to start it, go to each drain plug on the engine, transmission, final drives and loosen the plug. Back it out slowly until you see fluid come out around the threads. If it is water, drain it out & refill it with the proper oil. If nothing comes out, remove the plug & probe through the accmmulated sludge. Be expecting a bath. Those old Cats had quite a large drain plug if I remember correctly. If there is a lot of water, there is a chance that the oil pump will be stuck. This will cause the shaft to twist off with expensive results. I don't have any Cat 30 experience, but there could be an inspection plate on the side of the crankcase or the oil sump that you could remove to check the oil pump. If you decide to try to crank it after macking sure that the pump will pick up oil and not water, it woulld be best to remove the rocker cover and pour oil over the rocker arms & valve springs, etc. Then remove the spark plugs (if is gas powered) or release the compression if it is diesel. Then remove the oil line that goes to the gage. Crank the engine over (no longer than 30 seconds at a time, allowing 3 minutes between cranking for the starter to cool down) until oil comes out of the oil pressure gage fitting. Reconnect the gage line and continue cranking (while observing the above caution) until the oil pressure reads in the operating range. While you are getting oil pumped through the engine, it would be a good time to check the ignition system. You will need to clean out the fuel system completely. There is a good chance that the carburetor and magneto will need to be rebuilt.
The main object of this exercise is to get lubrication to all of those bearings that have sat dry for all those years. I have seen engines destroyed due to the fact that they were started before oil was pumped to the dry bearings. (Garranteed to happen if the oil pump is stuck.)
A little care and patience at the beginning will go a long way toward saving many $$$.
Good Luck with the old Cat.

Britt

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Britt Misker

08-18-2003 18:54:54




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 Re: Re: Old Caterpillar in reply to Britt Misker, 08-18-2003 18:48:01  
I forgot to mention it but Unimog did, squirt oil into the cylinders before trying to crank it over. Leave the plugs out until you get oil pressure built up. Then put them in when you are ready to start it. Never leave the engine sit witout spark plugs in it. Around here the mud daubers would have a field day trying to fill up the holes.

Britt



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wdTom

08-09-2003 17:57:06




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 Re: Old Caterpillar in reply to kyle S, 08-09-2003 00:49:45  
Well you didn't say if it was "stuck" or not. If it isn't , do as Unimog says, but first check out the mag or ignition system to make sure you are getting spark. Clean fuel system, filter, strainer, gasline, tank if necessary, open drain on carburataor and see if you can get a good stream of clean as out of it. It might be worth taking the valve cover off and checking to make sure all valves move and are not stuck, try with engine in a few different positions to make srue a valve isn't sticking open too. Now maybe try starting, but make srue it has oil and coolant. Change ALL fluids before or very shortly after you get it to run. Hope you get it going and good luck!

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Unimog

08-09-2003 06:52:30




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 Re: Old Caterpillar in reply to kyle S, 08-09-2003 00:49:45  
Weight is just short of 10,000 pounds. Not sure
about how hard to start, but sitting for 20 yrs.
could be a problem if the gas wasn't run out and the tank drained. Pull plugs and shoot some oil
in to lube cyl. walls and crank it around a few
times. Could be stuck after 20 yrs. even being
inside.



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