I did a search and found that this D2 5J5380SP is a 1942 model, is there someplace where I could find what the options were which required the SP? I know this D2 was used by my Great Grandfather for hauling freight on Lake Winnipeg. It used to have a snowplow and ice grouser and worked along side a team of horses.

Thanks!

The SP suffix was used to designate machines that received optional INTERNAL components, not things like electrical system, direct electric start, hydraulic control etc.

Supposedly the D2 production was 100% for the US government and a set of non standard transmission gear ratios was installed in them all. The old joke was the gears were faster to outrun the bullets!

So, the total production during the war years have the SP designation. Incidentally there were no D2’s produced in 1943.
I have a 1944 5J

"ccjersey" wrote:

The SP suffix was used to designate machines that received optional INTERNAL components, not things like electrical system, direct electric start, hydraulic control etc.

Supposedly the D2 production was 100% for the US government and a set of non standard transmission gear ratios was installed in them all. The old joke was the gears were faster to outrun the bullets!

So, the total production during the war years have the SP designation. Incidentally there were no D2’s produced in 1943.
I have a 1944 5J

Thanks, I guess it is the race version. Lol.

"ccjersey" wrote:

The SP suffix was used to designate machines that received optional INTERNAL components, not things like electrical system, direct electric start, hydraulic control etc.

Supposedly the D2 production was 100% for the US government and a set of non standard transmission gear ratios was installed in them all. The old joke was the gears were faster to outrun the bullets!

So, the total production during the war years have the SP designation. Incidentally there were no D2’s produced in 1943.
I have a 1944 5J

interesting stuff, do you happen to know why D2's were not produced in 1943, just curious..? was production allocated to something else?

"ccjersey" wrote:

The SP suffix was used to designate machines that received optional INTERNAL components, not things like electrical system, direct electric start, hydraulic control etc.

Supposedly the D2 production was 100% for the US government and a set of non standard transmission gear ratios was installed in them all. The old joke was the gears were faster to outrun the bullets!

So, the total production during the war years have the SP designation. Incidentally there were no D2’s produced in 1943.
I have a 1944 5J

If you had one of the rare J series with factory direct start it most definitely would be a special parts situation.

In lieu of the standard hood you would have one with the opening for the battery.

In lieu of the standard dash with cutout for the pony you would have a flat dash with placement for the starter switch and other related equipment.

In lieu of the standard bell housing you have one machined for the electric starter, and yes this is a separate PN.

In lieu of the standard fuel tower assembly and intake manifold there was a separate assembly.

The list goes on here is a thread on the subject www.acmoc.org/bb/showthread.php?33437-D23J-direct-start

"CR" wrote:

If you had one of the rare J series with factory direct start it most definitely would be a special parts situation.

In lieu of the standard hood you would have one with the opening for the battery.

In lieu of the standard dash with cutout for the pony you would have a flat dash with placement for the starter switch and other related equipment.

In lieu of the standard bell housing you have one machined for the electric starter, and yes this is a separate PN.

In lieu of the standard fuel tower assembly and intake manifold there was a separate assembly.

The list goes on here is a thread on the subject www.acmoc.org/bb/showthread.php?33437-D23J-direct-start

Interesting! This D2 doesn't have electric start. It has a tired pony motor.

One addition it does have is an eye forward of the clutch lever. I was told my great grandfather added this so they could put the Cat in gear and walk beside it while crossing pressure ridges on the frozen lake. They would tie a rope to the clutch lever and this allowed them to disengage the clutch while a safe distance from the machine in case the ice gave way. This was not a factory option obviously.

i would bet the sp is for the faster third/fourth gear installed in the transmission (i have heard of these called logging gear or roading gear also).... pull the top cover of the trans and count the teeth to verify.. it is shown in the parts book as an option. we have a 46 that has the faster gears in it.... interesting side note... at some point in its life -probably when fairly new- someone has welded the notch shut in the gear shift tower to prevent using 5th gear....the gears are all in there still...just can't use them.....fifth would beat the undercarriage apart quicker anyway.

I have a 1941 and a 1944 series 5J both have SP in serial numbers, seems a lot of 5J series have special parts.

"Gatorsteam1" wrote:

i would bet the sp is for the faster third/fourth gear installed in the transmission (i have heard of these called logging gear or roading gear also).... pull the top cover of the trans and count the teeth to verify.. it is shown in the parts book as an option. we have a 46 that has the faster gears in it.... interesting side note... at some point in its life -probably when fairly new- someone has welded the notch shut in the gear shift tower to prevent using 5th gear....the gears are all in there still...just can't use them.....fifth would beat the undercarriage apart quicker anyway.

Thanks, I will have to check that out. It would make sense as it was used for hauling freight. 1 or 2 mph over a 12 hour day adds up.