texascadillac42
Well-Known Member
About a year ago I purchased a Cat 120G grader for resale, and part of the deal was that I take "an old dragline" the yard manager told me. The old dragline turned out to be a 1980 Northwest 28D, which had not run in about 15 or 20 years. Animals had moved in on it and chewed up most of the air lines, and packed tons of sticks and debris into the motor and radiator. I had already bought the grader, so I figured I should check out what else I had just "purchased"
As I walked up to the machine, it was a bit of a sight for sore eyes. But I figured the price was right so I looked a little closer. As I crawled around the machine a little more I noticed that under all the debris and dust and dirt, it was really in very good shape. Crawled around a little more and got to hour meter on the Cat 3304-T........1200 hours. I checked three times to make sure I wasn't misreading it, and thats what it was, 1200 hrs. Turns out it was only used to clean a couple thousand feet of waterways a few times a year. I decided that the machine was too good to scrap, or part out so I decided to come back and see if we could get it back into its former glory.
A few weeks later I loaded up the truck with everything I could think of and headed back to the site (about 5 hrs away). Spent most of the 1st day cleaning the crane out, sticks, leaves, debris, dead mice, you name it, it was in there. I checked the oil and saw it was right up to the full mark. The radiator had multiple holes in it from sticks being poked into it, so running it long, IF it would ever start was not an option. Threw 2 new 8D batteries in it, hooked a 5 gallon can of diesel to the pump, replaced the fuel filter and primed the system up.
An hour later I determined that the injection pump was probably contaminated with water,leading to rust. Took the side of the pump off and confirmed that the pump was indeed rusted up, not allowing the plungers to move. A quick drive into Memphis to Thompson Machinery (local Cat dealer) and I returned with the socket needed to pull the plungers out. (This dealer was great, and the pump shop loaned me the socket, and said to just mail it back when I was done!) Got back, took the pump apart and found that it was gonna need to new plunger assemblies. Back to Cat, who had them in stock, and they went in no problem. Primed the system again and hoped for the best. Bumped the motor, and wouldnt you know it, it fired up like it had run yesterday!
Oil pressure came right up, it built air quickly and sounded great. A few hours later I had the 4 air lines specific to the propulsion system replaced and figured it was time to see if it would move. The motor fired right back up, built up the air pressure and pushed the propel air control lever forward. I looked out the window and watched the clutches engage, and it lurched forward.....pulled it the other way and it rolled back. Amazing, after 15 years of sitting, this old dragline came back to life. The dragline is now for sale and waiting to be put back into service.....
As I walked up to the machine, it was a bit of a sight for sore eyes. But I figured the price was right so I looked a little closer. As I crawled around the machine a little more I noticed that under all the debris and dust and dirt, it was really in very good shape. Crawled around a little more and got to hour meter on the Cat 3304-T........1200 hours. I checked three times to make sure I wasn't misreading it, and thats what it was, 1200 hrs. Turns out it was only used to clean a couple thousand feet of waterways a few times a year. I decided that the machine was too good to scrap, or part out so I decided to come back and see if we could get it back into its former glory.
A few weeks later I loaded up the truck with everything I could think of and headed back to the site (about 5 hrs away). Spent most of the 1st day cleaning the crane out, sticks, leaves, debris, dead mice, you name it, it was in there. I checked the oil and saw it was right up to the full mark. The radiator had multiple holes in it from sticks being poked into it, so running it long, IF it would ever start was not an option. Threw 2 new 8D batteries in it, hooked a 5 gallon can of diesel to the pump, replaced the fuel filter and primed the system up.
An hour later I determined that the injection pump was probably contaminated with water,leading to rust. Took the side of the pump off and confirmed that the pump was indeed rusted up, not allowing the plungers to move. A quick drive into Memphis to Thompson Machinery (local Cat dealer) and I returned with the socket needed to pull the plungers out. (This dealer was great, and the pump shop loaned me the socket, and said to just mail it back when I was done!) Got back, took the pump apart and found that it was gonna need to new plunger assemblies. Back to Cat, who had them in stock, and they went in no problem. Primed the system again and hoped for the best. Bumped the motor, and wouldnt you know it, it fired up like it had run yesterday!
Oil pressure came right up, it built air quickly and sounded great. A few hours later I had the 4 air lines specific to the propulsion system replaced and figured it was time to see if it would move. The motor fired right back up, built up the air pressure and pushed the propel air control lever forward. I looked out the window and watched the clutches engage, and it lurched forward.....pulled it the other way and it rolled back. Amazing, after 15 years of sitting, this old dragline came back to life. The dragline is now for sale and waiting to be put back into service.....
