RD-7, either a 5E or a 9G serial number, looks like a wide gauge 74" center to center of track.
Next series up, D7, the bare tractor is approximately 24,000 lbs. This tractor (would love to see more photos of it)has what appears to be an R-7 LeTourneau Power Control Unit, P.C.U. but uses what also appears to be an early overhead ridge beam with block and sheaves for a cable blade, the P.C.U. is defintely LeTourneau, but the rest of it could be early Letourneau, or another MFR., possibly shop fabricated, but I have seen a similar set up on a Cat Sixty, you don't see too many dozer kits on those, but the ridgebeam drops down like yours does towards the nose. I see the blade trunions, right above them, is what looks like the mount for what most RD-7/D-7 9G serial number tractors have for the LeTourneau overhead ridgebeam which is one main group of a dozer kit offered by LeT. then. The 2 supports are like a Y pivot on the mount, and must be at a 45 deg. angle to span each way to the front and the back. This tractor is nice, looks complete, has all the track adjuster covers, original spoked idler and sprocket, the undercarriage could be in decent shape, big adjuster under the cover, you can measure that to see how much adjustment is left, they look tight, old style top rollers, and it's got rock guards on the bottom rollers(few more pounds) The track pads look decent. Starting engine is complete, there are some things to know about these, keep the oil very clean in them change often, also watch/sniff for gas leaking into the crankcase thinning the oil, (there are ways to prevent this) it's a splash lube 24HP low tech flathead motor, they like gas, and spark, the magneto is either an Eismann or American Bosch,maybe Wico, built for Cat. Another thing comes to mind when foolin with these and trying to fire one up that has sat, the main engine needs to spin to circulate coolant through the starting engine, if not it will overheat. They are a bit expensive to re-build, but there is no substitute in the bitter cold for conditioning the diesel to fire. You may have to fool with the main engines fuel system, if it's sat a long time, some times the injector pump rack sticks, you need to drain the diesel tank, change the filters, all the old school diesel things right up to the injectors to see if you are getting spray etc. Somtimes you get lucky and don't have to deal with it. You can take a tractor tire tube and cut an 8"-10" round section around the valve and use it clamped over the tank neck to pressurize the system, flush, bleed etc. only need a few lbs. of pressure. That is a nice RD-7 in the rough, I'm glad you saved it from the torch! Very handy to have on a farm once in running condition. Not sure if it has the blade, but it could weigh up over 26,000 lbs. but not over 30,000 lbs. The Twenty-Two is probably under or around 10,000 lbs.
|
