I've been following the discussions here but waited to post until I had information about my new gage. I finally got around to checking it to see what pressures the red and green ranges represent.

The gage points to the center between the two colors when the applied pressure is just a shade over 5 psi. The pointer reaches the maximum travel at 10 psi and stays there as the pressure is increased to 50 psi. When the pressure is removed the needle drops back to zero. I didn't go beyond 50 psi in case the gage might get damaged.

My Cat runs around 5 psi when fully warmed up. That sure makes me nervous as I'm used to seeing engines with much higher oil pressures Apparently it's OK with these old engines though.

Fred

Well, it ain't great but will probably go a long time:D
Good thing you compare checked that gage or you might be thinking you had higher pressure. Don't know what your long term plans are for your tractor but them bearings are talking to you:)

I bought the CAT to make my vacant farm land attractive to buyers. The 31 acres were split into 6 building lots of about 5 acres each. All have been sold except for the last one where a buyer's decision is due next week.

Work during the last several months included clearing a 55' right of way, relocating a 400' drainage ditch and repairing the flooded creek banks where the CAT got stuck for almost a week, clearing and brush hogging several acres of brush, installing about 50' of sluice pipe in several small drainage creeks, levelling various dirt piles, and finally, clearing out many dead trees including a 2' diameter downed oak tree.

As of yesterday all dozer work is finished. When the last lot is sold I will have no land to keep the CAT so will sell it for what I have invested in it.

The International 444 tractor and brush hog belong to a friend so I will clean it up and return it in great condition.

Thanks to everyone on this forum for all the valuable help you've given me. BTW, I've posted several requests for help regarding the Int. 444 over on the tractor forum and got nowhere near the superb help that all of you have provided here. CAT guys are the best!

Don't pay any attention to the "2004" date on the photo collage - they were all taken in the last few months.

Fred

"Old wrote:

Hi ttman4,
It's amazing how low the oil pressure can be on these engines and doesn't seem to hurt anything. I think as long as you got flow most parts are happy;)
35-40 lb pressure is still pretty optimum if temps are right. Bearing clearance must be near new spec on your tractor. What do you have at idle?

Got busy & didn't get chance to really ck press #'s for sure till yesterday.
Idling hot at about 180deg it runs at about 40#-45#-50#.....but 3-4-5 seconds after I rev it up it starts to fluctuate & drops 7-10#....& kinda wobbles round. I'm not sure I like this fluctuating, dropping, & wobbling part....don't know.
When I'm working it & pushing etc, seems to run about 35-40# @ about 180deg. When I idle down to shift it doesn't seem to have time to fluctuate round & rise that 7-10# before I rev up again. If I sit for 10 seconds or so idling between shifts, then pressure comes up 7-10#

I was babbling & talking kinda some about some of this same stuff at other link "D4 7U Fuel Injector????"....in relation to coolant temps.

Overall, I guess it's running plenty of press. & vol....at least I hope!!
I've got about 20hrs on this oil & filter change & oil still looks clean.....cleaner than my '90 Ford 7.3....that thing hasn't had clean looking oil since about 1992.....no matter how often I change it!!!
Maybe it's the WallyWorld 30wt oil I run in everything I own....

Seems like the restrictor orifice in the guage is having a considerable impact on your readings. Try installing a non-restrictor regular pressure guage (oil filled) if you got one as a comparison and see what you get.

"Old wrote:

Seems like the restrictor orifice in the guage is having a considerable impact on your readings. Try installing a non-restrictor regular pressure guage (oil filled) if you got one as a comparison and see what you get.

Good idea! Hadn't thought about orifice.
Though I figured it wasn't totally serious, I still been fretting way back in my brain's shadows about fluctuations, from the standpoint of experiences from past that some small do-hickie somewhere was starting to slop round & cause trouble later....
Think I got an oil filled somewhere.
Thanks