1980 Cat D4e

[jd1364]

What are the pros and cons on this machine. Found one that is coming up for auction with 4500hrs with a new cat undercarriage. It is a powershift model. What do I need to look out for and what should I expect to pay. A gentlemen digging a pond for me let me operate his D4e for a day.

[jd1364]

Surely there is somebody here that knows Caterpillar D4E's.:beatsme

[Countryboy]

Surely there is somebody here that knows Caterpillar D4E's.:beatsme

Some guys are on here every day, like myself :beatsme , that doesn't know much about them. Others, that might know something about them, might not have checked the site in a couple of days. I know for sure though that if someone can answer your questions, they definately will. :thumbsup

Give it a lil' time. I'm sure you'll get your answers. :yup

[D6 Merv]

D4E,s are quite good little machines. But I,d have to say that seeing as I own one :drinkup
4500hrs seems low for a 1980 model ?? Have a real good look at, try to see how much wear on the pedals, blade linkages and trunnions is a good indicator.
Their achilles heel is final drives. If the the undercarridge is new it should have new sprockets, so final drives 'should' have been checked at the same time. Ask questions and even drain and check the finals yourself. Check all the fluid compartments for discolouration and make sure they are full.
Transmissions are quite bulletproof unless contaminated with water or dirt. Check tranny filter under floorplate, below left heel.
Trust your gut feelings and if unsure, take a mate with you who knows crawlers.
I spent 5000hrs on one for my old boss, before I went totally mad and bought dozers and worked for myself. My own D4E was a 84 model and I estimated it had about 10 12000hrs on it when I bought it 3yrs ago. But I knew them inside and out, and have been very happy with it. Its a long track frame model with angle blade and rippers and a 6yd scoop it sometimes tows, and I use it for farm roading and smaller earhworks jobs. I,ve also got a D6D and scraper and a old D4D with a logging winch.
Good luck.
Cheers Merv

[Countryboy]

Welcome to HEF D6 Merv! :drinkup

[wrenchbender]

Welcome aboard Merv.

[D6 Merv]

Thanks for the welcome boys
Now I,ll see if I,m smart enough to post a pic or 2

[Deas Plant]

Hi, Folks.
Firstly, welcome D6 Merv. Glad you finally found your way over here.

Now please forgive my ignorance but what is that thing behind the D4E in your second photo? Looks like somebody has tried to turn a cow-feeder into a scraper and used a fair bit of steel in the process. LOL. And thanks for the photos.

JD1364, the D4E's were a worthy successor to the highly successful D4D. In my experience, they were every bit as reliable and had a bit more grunt that they could also put on the ground. They had good balance and handling and I found them to be an impressive small dozer. I always thought that the D4D was, pound for pound, one of the best dozers that Cat ever built. I did some pretty interesting jobs with D4D's. I'd rate the D4E right up there with it.

I'd say that so long as the machine is in reasonable condition for the asking price, it would be a good buy, always given that you can never know what is actually going on inside any machine without full oil sampling and even that can leave room for 'surprises'.

[D6 Merv]

Hi Boys
In my second pic there,s actually a 4 ton sakai roller parked behind the scraper, its the same colour as the scoop and thats what makes it look abit funny, u just gotta look close to see whats scraper and whats roller.
The scraper is a pommy built 'sterling' which was a subsidiary of International
harvester Great Britain and was designed for a TD9, it holds around 6 yards and is very similar to a cat 40 except it has hyd down pressure and a No 40 hasn,t. Is quite a handy little unit for smaller earthworks jobs.
Like Dea,s says D4D,s are also a good little tractor, especially the later power shift ones with wet steering clutchs. And many miles of farm roads in quite steep country were done here with them in NZ.
Cheers all Merv

[jd1364]

Thanks for the reply D6 Merv. Had to trust my own gut on this machine (no replys before auction) and bought this machine for $15100. The auction office had all the maintenance records and manuals from the previous owner, which was Harris County Texas. Have already put 20 hrs on this machine. Holt installed a new undercarriage and serviced the machine before it was brought to the auction.:D

[Countryboy]

So, when can we be expecting some pictures......:cool2

[Deas Plant]

Hi, JD1364.
So how's your gut feeling about the little jigger now that you've got a few hours up on it?

[jd1364]

Hi, JD1364.
So how's your gut feeling about the little jigger now that you've got a few hours up on it?

You sure know you have been on this machine at the end of the day. I know now why everyone was bidding on the new D4Cs,D5Cs. Pulling and pushing levers and brake's give you a good work out. I will sell this machine next year when I get all my dozer work done,have a neighbor already asking buying it.

Countryboy, Will get some pictures when I get a digital camera,still using a 35mm.