FirstEliminator
Well-Known Member
Hey guys,
A friend of mine has a 1952 Cat D4. He was moving some bolders around his yard with it and the dozer was doing just fine. His son got on the thing and the next thing my friend knew is that the dozer wasn't moving very well. It would roll along on flat ground, but as soon as he tried to push anything it would feel like the clutch is slipping. He pulled the plate off and his brother had tried to adjust a linkage inside to put more pressure on the clutch. However, we realized this really only changes the position of the outside lever and doesn't do anything to push the clutch further on. They drained some really nasty thick oil out of the clutch housing. Not being heavy equipment guys they refilled it with hydrostatic oil----5 gallons. So, today, I pulled the cover off and looked at the function. I believe there is supposed to be some type of oil in there as there is a tube to drip oil onto what looks to be a throwout bearing. He doesn't have a service manual and I didn't find much info online about a D4 of this vintage.
This D4 will move pretty well after sitting for a day or so which leads me to believe a few things: The clutch probably is worn, but not totally worn out. That it is probably an oil contamination issue since the clutch is now partially submerged. My speculation is the part of the clutch that stays above the oil level has some holding capacity, but after running for a few minutes the whole clutch becomes saturated and slips. However, the one thing working against the idea of oil contamination is the problem started before he put in all the oil.
A few questions:
1. Is there a way to adjust for a clutch that is getting thin?
2. What type of oil would go in the clutch housing?
3. How much oil goes in the clutch housing?
The engine on this dozer runs so good. Hopefully, there is some life left in the clutch.
thanks in advance,
Mark
Berkshire Transmissions
North Adams, Massachusetts
A friend of mine has a 1952 Cat D4. He was moving some bolders around his yard with it and the dozer was doing just fine. His son got on the thing and the next thing my friend knew is that the dozer wasn't moving very well. It would roll along on flat ground, but as soon as he tried to push anything it would feel like the clutch is slipping. He pulled the plate off and his brother had tried to adjust a linkage inside to put more pressure on the clutch. However, we realized this really only changes the position of the outside lever and doesn't do anything to push the clutch further on. They drained some really nasty thick oil out of the clutch housing. Not being heavy equipment guys they refilled it with hydrostatic oil----5 gallons. So, today, I pulled the cover off and looked at the function. I believe there is supposed to be some type of oil in there as there is a tube to drip oil onto what looks to be a throwout bearing. He doesn't have a service manual and I didn't find much info online about a D4 of this vintage.
This D4 will move pretty well after sitting for a day or so which leads me to believe a few things: The clutch probably is worn, but not totally worn out. That it is probably an oil contamination issue since the clutch is now partially submerged. My speculation is the part of the clutch that stays above the oil level has some holding capacity, but after running for a few minutes the whole clutch becomes saturated and slips. However, the one thing working against the idea of oil contamination is the problem started before he put in all the oil.
A few questions:
1. Is there a way to adjust for a clutch that is getting thin?
2. What type of oil would go in the clutch housing?
3. How much oil goes in the clutch housing?
The engine on this dozer runs so good. Hopefully, there is some life left in the clutch.
thanks in advance,
Mark
Berkshire Transmissions
North Adams, Massachusetts
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