1963 44A D6B General Questions

[leadfarmer]

Just bought another machine for the farm. Sat for 4 years, fired up right away, seems to track properly, just needs some maintenance and adjustment. As a machine formerly owned by the Army Corp of Engineers, I hope to find the time to restore it to OD green paint.

First question - I am looking at manuals for the 44A series and they seem to be tractor only. How do I figure out what manual is needed for the blade and winch equipment?

Second question - Why was this machine equipped with a cable blade in 1963? Did the army prefer simplicity over hydraulics? One less fluid to deal with?

This will be the first cable dozer I've owned and operated. Pretty exciting!

 

[Mcrafty1]

Just bought another machine for the farm. Sat for 4 years, fired up right away, seems to track properly, just needs some maintenance and adjustment. As a machine formerly owned by the Army Corp of Engineers, I hope to find the time to restore it to OD green paint.

First question - I am looking at manuals for the 44A series and they seem to be tractor only. How do I figure out what manual is needed for the blade and winch equipment?

Second question - Why was this machine equipped with a cable blade in 1963? Did the army prefer simplicity over hydraulics? One less fluid to deal with?

This will be the first cable dozer I've owned and operated. Pretty exciting!

Cat didn't produce the dozer for their machines at the time these tractors were built, I was told there was a tag on the back of the blade they needed to get parts for the dozer. Mine is missing that tag and I had a heck of a time getting the correct wear bars/corner bits for it. Balderson was one of their suppliers but no way to know without the tag# or some of their blades had a plate in the top of the blade with their name one it.

 

[bccat]

Cat didn't produce the dozer for their machines at the time these tractors were built, I was told there was a tag on the back of the blade they needed to get parts for the dozer. Mine is missing that tag and I had a heck of a time getting the correct wear bars/corner bits for it. Balderson was one of their suppliers but no way to know without the tag# or some of their blades had a plate in the top of the blade with their name one it.

Cat started building their own blades in the early fifties . My Cat 1950 5u had a cat 2s blade, that D6B has a Cat Blade, we had one just like it. If the tag is missing, the serial # is stamped on the right hand corner on the back of the blade near the top.There should be 2 rivet holes between these holes should be a serial#, it takes a little detective work to find it

 

[mitch504]

Actually, you are both right, by that age, some were Cat, some were made by others. Even the Cats weren't considered part of the tractor, they were attachments. That's why the tractor weights didn't include the blade or arms.

 

[bccat]

Just bought another machine for the farm. Sat for 4 years, fired up right away, seems to track properly, just needs some maintenance and adjustment. As a machine formerly owned by the Army Corp of Engineers, I hope to find the time to restore it to OD green paint.

First question - I am looking at manuals for the 44A series and they seem to be tractor only. How do I figure out what manual is needed for the blade and winch equipment?

Second question - Why was this machine equipped with a cable blade in 1963? Did the army prefer simplicity over hydraulics? One less fluid to deal with?

This will be the first cable dozer I've owned and operated. Pretty exciting!

It was a option, especially if Scraper work was required , A cable control blade set up properly will give you more feedback than a hydraulic one, it’s fast, raises the blade higher. I learned on a 19A D9 with a cable blade in a gravel pit, talk about a wavy roller coaster ride, the other operators gave me a hard time as I was only 20 at time. Also had a D7E with a cable blade, loved that machine. It’s all how the control is set up. Main thing is keep the slack out the cable, it’s a bit of a learning curve enjoy

 

[Mcrafty1]

Actually, you are both right, by that age, some were Cat, some were made by others. Even the Cats weren't considered part of the tractor, they were attachments. That's why the tractor weights didn't include the blade or arms.

My Cat area rep. came and looked at my blade and couldn't find a tag or stamped number nor tell me what blade it was, not tell me who built the dozer so I didn't feel bad....it took three different orders to get the correct edges....finally measuring the bolt pattern/spacing and taking and sending pictures they did finally match up the correct edges/end bits for my blade....without that# it's a total shot in the dark.

 

[Mcrafty1]

Cat started building their own blades in the early fifties . My Cat 1950 5u had a cat 2s blade, that D6B has a Cat Blade, we had one just like it. If the tag is missing, the serial # is stamped on the right hand corner on the back of the blade near the top.There should be 2 rivet holes between these holes should be a serial#, it takes a little detective work to find it

My bad, I was lead to believe different...I stand corrected.

 

[Old Magnet]

From what I can make out in the pictures that's a Cat 16Cxxxx series angle blade and Cat #25 CCU.

 

[leadfarmer]

I got it home! Ordered manuals and filters to start changing fluids.

It is a 16C1 blade (6A?) and a 32E2 cable control (126).

The engine serial number matches the tractor and the hour meter on the injection pump shows 1,453 hours.

One item that needs addressed is a missing bearing cap from the rear of the right track roller frame. You can see in the attached photos the bolts broke and the cap and bearing liner disappeared. I will be posting some ads looking for used parts but I can get these parts from Cat, they're just spendy. The cap is PN 7B5977 (7B5978 plus dowel 9P7751). It's shown in the upper left corner area of the parts diagram below.

 

[sleddog]

Oh my yes get that cap !!! All the side load to the track frame is now just on the dead axle !!

 

[leadfarmer]

What part is the dead axle you refer to?

I figured that cap was important. Who knows how long its been missing. The left side is still there but loose.

Let the cheap dozer start getting not so cheap!

 

[sleddog]

That shaft that the cap goes on is the dead axle.

 

[OzDozer]

The operator and maintenance manual for your tractor is readily available, it is a Dept of the Army Technical Manual, TM-5-2410-229-12.

However, the Dept of the Army Service Manual for your D6B seems to be quite elusive. There used to be a big list of TM's available online, but it seems to have disappeared.
The following site may be able to assist in your search for any Dept of the Army Service Manual - but it's entirely possible that the military merely used the regular, civilian Caterpillar Service Manual.

https://guides.loc.gov/us-army-technical-manuals/obtaining-copies

Caterpillar commenced production of their own design angle blades and straight blades in 1947, but other brands/makes of blades were always available as an owner choice by tractor buyers.

Cable controls were chosen as the preferred method of implement control during the early stages of WW2, and this preference was driven by the insistence of Robert G LeTourneau, that cable controls were superior in every way to hydraulic controls.
Of course, in 1942, R.G. Le Tourneau was right - because the hydraulic systems of that era were low pressure, slow, and seals were manufactured from organic materials such as leather.

However, major technical and product developments during WW2 saw the introduction of nylon, teflon and other synthetic materials that could resist high pressures, high temperatures, and provide long-wearing characteristics, saw hydraulic and attachment manufacturers move rapidly into introducing higher operating pressures and high quality seals, which allowed for faster hydraulic speeds and performance, that gradually drove cable control systems out of business by the late 1950's.

However, old habits die hard and the military obviously still thought in the 1950's, that cable controls were superior. The fact that minimal amounts of oil were needed for cable control was advantageous in some respects, and it removed the problem of ensuring the correct oil was in the right location, and that operators couldn't become confused over oil types to use.

 

[Bluox]

I have seen D8K machines with cable blades so apparently Cat didn't give up on cable till 1980.
You seem to be the only one confused on oil types.
Bad Bob

 

[leadfarmer]

Found the TM: https://www.google.com/books/editio...ational_Maintenance/4Pchm4l9u5IC?hl=en&gbpv=0

Also found this interesting FM on air dropping this dozer and other machinery: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Airdrop_of_Supplies_and_Equipment/iRIEI1oxp7wC?hl=en&gbpv=0

 

[OzDozer]

When you go to replace that missing diagonal brace cap, check that there's a steel bearing insert still in the arm of the brace. There are two steel bearing inserts inside the cap and brace, just like a big end bearing, and they're dowelled to stop them from turning. It looks to me like the bearing insert in the arm of the brace is missing, so you'll need to order two bearing inserts, as well as the bearing cap.

The parts book for your 6A blade is Form 33684, and there are copies available on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2499334.m570.l1313&_nkw=33684&_sacat=257888

Here is the Service Manual for your #126 cable control unit.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334343748893

And finally, the Operation and Maintenance Manual for your Model 126 cable control unit.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/114190690094

 

[Mcrafty1]

Are the bolts that held that missing cap broken off? if that isn't just dirt jammed in the holes I say the first thing you'll want to do is get those removed, then order the parts...the list may be longer before you get them removed. If the other side is loose now you'll likely need new parts there too. Oh, and there's no such thing as a 'cheap dozer'

 

[OzDozer]

Also found this interesting FM on air dropping this dozer and other machinery: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Airdrop_of_Supplies_and_Equipment/iRIEI1oxp7wC?hl=en&gbpv=0

I can pretty much say with certainty your D6 hasn't been air-dropped! Your tractor doesn't have the 'chute support brackets that are welded to the outside of the track frame.
Quite a number of air-dropped items of equipment didn't make it! - and quite a number have suffered damage in hard landings.

However, I must say I'm surprised it doesn't have additional tiedown lugs welded on the track frame. This is pretty much standard design for military tractors - the military like them properly secured!
I would also have to offer the opinion that the canopy is not military, and has been added later. The reason being, no photo of any military D6 of this era shows any canopy - and the tractor information tag says the tractor is 6' 4" high, which rules out any canopy.

I hate to think what it does to your aircraft handling, when a sizeable bulldozer falls out the back of your 'plane!!

https://www.constructionjunkie.com/...-airplane-is-the-coolest-way-to-site-mobilize

 

[Bluox]

A 44A is not a military tractor.
It has a Corps tag which means they bought it and the Army corps is not a branch of the .Military .
A parts book for a 57A or a 37H D6 will work for that tractor.
Bad Bob

 

[OzDozer]

Interesting concept, having an Army that is not Military - yet the USACE also encompasses Combat Engineers, who definitely are Military.
In my neck of the woods, Army is Military, period. You wear a uniform, swear allegiance, and are subject to Military Law and rank and promotion systems.
How does that work in the section of USACE that is tasked with civilian construction work? Do they simply work on a civilian system? Are they still subject to military law?

I did note, after more reading, that the Military TM-5-2410-229-12 is for the 37A D6B, the narrow gauge version. Does this mean that Leadfarmer is wasting his time painting his tractor OD, or trying to find OD paint under that Cat yellow? - because it never was a Military tractor?