Old D5 New Owner
Active Member
Hello everyone,
I have a new to me but extremely old 1967 Cat D5, and the final drive oil in in real need of changing. However, when I went to drain the oil today I found out why it hasn't been changed. The drive casing has literally warn down over the years so much that the plug is basically smooth with the case. One side I would say there is 3/16" of the square inset fitting of the drain plug so I may be able to get that one out, but the other side is completely smooth, the entire case has warn down to the level of the bottom of the square fitting in the drain plug such that the plug is basically a smooth circle on the surface of the bottom of the drive case. Anyone know if the oil can substantially be removed via vacuum? Or should I try to weld a nut on the the cap to remove it? I would normally do something like that, but given its an oil filled chamber above the plug, and the fact that I have no idea ho thin it is at this point given the decades of wear, not sure I want to go that route if its possible to remove the oil by suction somehow, and if it is, any recs on an inexpensive pump that would remove old 80w-90 (guy that had it put that in instead of SAE 50, so figure I will stick with that.
Thanks everyone, I know I will have a ton of more questions on this thing. I have the service manual, though it isn't very detailed so leaves a lot to be desired, and this machine is new to me, but I have had an absolute blast using to mow down cedar in the 10 hours I've used it so far on my land in central Texas.
I have a new to me but extremely old 1967 Cat D5, and the final drive oil in in real need of changing. However, when I went to drain the oil today I found out why it hasn't been changed. The drive casing has literally warn down over the years so much that the plug is basically smooth with the case. One side I would say there is 3/16" of the square inset fitting of the drain plug so I may be able to get that one out, but the other side is completely smooth, the entire case has warn down to the level of the bottom of the square fitting in the drain plug such that the plug is basically a smooth circle on the surface of the bottom of the drive case. Anyone know if the oil can substantially be removed via vacuum? Or should I try to weld a nut on the the cap to remove it? I would normally do something like that, but given its an oil filled chamber above the plug, and the fact that I have no idea ho thin it is at this point given the decades of wear, not sure I want to go that route if its possible to remove the oil by suction somehow, and if it is, any recs on an inexpensive pump that would remove old 80w-90 (guy that had it put that in instead of SAE 50, so figure I will stick with that.
Thanks everyone, I know I will have a ton of more questions on this thing. I have the service manual, though it isn't very detailed so leaves a lot to be desired, and this machine is new to me, but I have had an absolute blast using to mow down cedar in the 10 hours I've used it so far on my land in central Texas.