"d9gdon" wrote:

Hey, it looks good. I saw it at the auction. Have you tried uShip for shipping quotes?

I think 45,000 lbs is close, with no ripper.

Maurice has given you some good advice on the tranny problem, I've had the same problem on a D7F too.

l have found Uship to be complete bandits, there quotes have come in 50% higher than phoning around local trucking company's, if you are not in a massive rush, try and get it delivered on a back haul, win win for both parties that way and cheaper still.

First bids you will get on u-ship will likely be from brokers who will bid high enough to make their profit on top of regular freight rates. Then if they can find someone willing to haul it cheaper, they make out like bandits. They are fishing for suckers or those in a bind.

If you have enough time to wait, you are more likely to eventually connect with someone who will actually be hauling it or at least the rates usually drop dramatically.

The advice about contacting local haulers is spot on, it's just that the ones local to you may have no loads going that way or wrong trailer, cannot haul equipment on same trailer as their outgoing loads because of contamination concerns etc. Of course a whole dozer that size is not going to be able to be hauled on anything but a lowboy, so that cuts into the number of possibilities compared to less than a load stuff that could go on a pallet or directly on a flatbed.

Thanks for all the shipping ideas but I signed the freight agreement this morning with Warren Transport, Waterloo, IA. They're a reputable bunch and local to the shipper. 343 miles, $1487. It was basically $4 a loaded mile plus o/s permits. That was less than I was planning, it's right up their alley as o/s equipment carriers and they can have a truck there next week. Done deal, just playing the waiting game for a few days now. Thanks everyone.

Gudday blythkd welcome and hope you enjoy your new toy and no buggers burst your bubble so to speak .I'm with you to a certain degree I prefer to bye things as they are providing I get it at the right price and then I fix what ever needs to be fixed and do it myself that way I learn how it is or isnt meant to be done. Trouble is if I bye something that has been all fixed and is said to be in A1 condition how do I know it is I could pay big bucks for something and it might still be a bucket of puss .mate enjoy the ride for what its worth and have fun fixing it up seeya and good luck
Paul

Paul thanks for the vote of confidence, and the laugh. I think we'd definitely be mates! Seems like we see things the same. Buy cheap and make it your own.

As to weather it is a good deal or not time will tell you that. My dad bought a D7-F from a reputable company and the machine was completely gone through with a engine overhaul. The engine lasted 40 hrs and spun a rod bearing, Trashed the whole engine. I cried to have to through the new shinny pistons that still had a mirror finish away because of the metal spec embedded in them. We had to go completely through it every timing gear pushing, cam bearings, because of the pieces of metal. My dad did tell me onetime that sometimes he was better off going to the junkyard for a piece of equipment because there was no doubt about what you got and after fixing it up you knew what you had. Of course my dad was one of those people that could make a silk purse out of a sows ear, very good at what he did.

Maurice

Over on heavy equipment forum, there was a post about someone wanting to get rid of some D7F manuals.

Andrew

Edit: OK, found it: www.heavyequipmentforums.com/showthread....s-and-sevice-manuals I have no idea if they would still have them or not.
Also found this PDF from the Army: www.liberatedmanuals.com/TM-5-2410-233-34.pdf

We had an old D7F at the rock quarry I work for. When we put straight 30wt in the transmission it wouldn't want to move like you're stating. So the boss ended up putting 1540 Motor oil in it and it worked fine ever since it was there. I spent a lot of time on that machine straight blade with no tilt open rops.

Get it home, dump all the oils and filters, replace with genuine and then go from there. Once you start putting your touch to it you will have a better feel for what you got, Classic Cat parts are plenty and a good option at a cheaper price for that model and don,t be afraid of non genuine either, there is plenty of quality non genuine stuff out there and as i am sure it is not going to be a frontline dozer any more those are a cheaper option to get you up and running.

Looks a tidy unit with the genuine ROPS and no extra crap added on left right and centre

Once you rebuild transmission and put in all new parts, and a new shaft for the torque converter ,
Use synthetic oil, don't let it get hot in the transmission. Then sell it to somebody you don't like.
The transmissions are notorious for going bad, I have seen only make 500 hours. The shafts break in the torque converters.
When you get it home change oils in filters and clean out the magnetic screens you will probably find that the disks are coming apart.
Run it ten hours, clean out filters again and screens. You will find out what you got.
Good luck