"Deebo" wrote:

Hopeful you’ve dodged a bullet Mike. Strange thing is my parts manual for 7J1-5104 shows a metal gear 3B-1615 and the parts manual for 7J-6567-7J-9999/2T1-9999 shows a metal gear but for 7J-5104-7J-6566 it shows the fibre gear 7B-9588 so maybe it was only a short run of machines that had the weak link? Either that or they updated the parts manual for the earlier tractors to cover their embarrassment..

Hello Tony, thanks for the scans, the earlier RD4 tractors with 4G serial numbers had the fiber gear, and my 7J is a early one, 7J1261, they shared a lot of parts with the RD4, the big changes I can see were in the fuel tower design, and the diesel engine valves went from recessed in head to proud, plus there were subtle changes to the pilot motor manifold and the fitting of a air cleaner, and different track carrier rollers of course. They all bark the same without a muffler!!

Thanks kittylover123, I need all the positive vibes I can muster right now.
Regards
Mike

Good question about the timing cover gasket Tony, I was hoping to buy a new one just to be on the safe side, but they don't appear to be out there, the one on my tractor is not damaged, so I'd be happy to re-use it with a light coating of Aviation Gasket Sealer, or just make a new one, I have rolls of gasket paper here in different thickness's.
Mike

Sorry about your hard luck Mike but hopefully there isnt further damage. That's just a little disappointing considering th work you've done but hang in there. I actually just acquired a 7J unit 1702. Hopefully it wont have this issue.. Just picked it up last weekend. It had not been run for 30 years but the diesel runs like a top.

"Mangoman" wrote:

Sorry about your hard luck Mike but hopefully there isnt further damage. That's just a little disappointing considering th work you've done but hang in there. I actually just acquired a 7J unit 1702. Hopefully it wont have this issue.. Just picked it up last weekend. It had not been run for 30 years but the diesel runs like a top.

Well done Mangoman, it was only a matter of time before another old Cat snuck in the back door, has Mrs Mangoman been for a walk around the garden since she got home, and noticed the latest love child?

"Mike wrote:

Well done Mangoman, it was only a matter of time before another old Cat snuck in the back door, has Mrs Mangoman been for a walk around the garden since she got home, and noticed the latest love child?

Mike I had a solid laugh there! I'm starting to wonder if she is playing me? She hasnt said a peep. We took the kids swimming this afternoon as it is high 30s here lately. We put all the stuff in the back of the truck- right next to a spare track chain. She asked if I was going to remove it before we go camping next week. That's all 😮😁

Solid Gold Mangoman, Solid Gold!! Next time Mrs Mangoman is away you will be able to sneak another old Cat through the back gate, it appears maybe she's not counting them.......

"Mangoman" wrote:

Mike I had a solid laugh there! I'm starting to wonder if she is playing me? She hasnt said a peep. We took the kids swimming this afternoon as it is high 30s here lately. We put all the stuff in the back of the truck- right next to a spare track chain. She asked if I was going to remove it before we go camping next week. That's all 😮😁

Thats pretty impressive Nathan, it took at least 6 tractors before my wife gave in but to get that little resistance after just 2 👍

"d2gary" wrote:

Thats pretty impressive Nathan, it took at least 6 tractors before my wife gave in but to get that little resistance after just 2 👍

The problem is I don't know if she does or doesn't know! Maybe I will come home to a volcanic eruption or maybe she watched from in the bushes and saw me drive it into the yard last week! I don't know but its causing great anxiety!

I think I'm realizing I've got a little cat fever problem. When I start telling myself "glad I don't have more property to hide machines (only have just shy of one acre) or "I would never get a grader (hmmm id sure like an auto patrol and I know where there are a couple) that would take up too much space and besides I don't have a road to maintain, and that would be too easily recognizeable as not a D4. Next thing you know I will have a D8 cable blade and an Auto Patrol No.11

Maybe if my Mrs. Mangoman brings it up I will say "well you got a couple cats and I wanted a couple too!" I guess hers are about 5lbs and fluffy. Ah well whatcha going to do?

I'm trying to fit the replacement camshaft gear, but those things are very snug on the camshaft, I was initially assuming I would use the large camshaft nut to draw the cam gear onto the shaft, but that isn't going to work, the camshaft has about 1" free play where it slides rearward once you try and slip the gear on, and that thread isn't long enough to protrude out the through the gear to put the nut on.

So I'm now wondering if I need to pull the camshaft out, and gently press the gear onto the camshaft, then refit everything, but I'm worried if I pull the camshaft, will the camshaft lifters all drop in their guide assemblies, and prevent me from refitting the camshaft again? I've never pulled a camshaft.

You can see the old cam gear has seen better days, the replacement is a one piece gear, and yes, the tooth count is the same.
Thanks
Mike