Welcome, I used to farm with my 6U with 13" shoes and I didnt like the compaction either, it was good for plowing with keeping the track out of the furrow though. Then I found a five roller high horse 7U with 16" shoes, wow what a difference! just floated across the field.

 

Ray54: Yes, I call the JD1200 series a semi-stubble disc when I have notched in front/smooth at rear.
I am down to 10, 12’, 15’, 18’ and 21’.
Dummy me, I sold my 7,8 and 9 plus another 15 all within your area where the money is.
Popular discs even to this day. JM

here it is in a wet spot. the 13 inch shoes did just fine. a wheel tractor wouldn't do this in this location. i can even cross the worked ground several times without problems. just need a bigger tractor and disk

ok some more questions---- does the D5 have a wet clutch? does the D4d have a wet clutch? does the D5 have power steering? do you need to step on the brake peddle on a D5 to steer? are the steering clutches wet or dry on the D5? same questions about the D4d??? i am asking about the D5 and not the D5b also a D4d and not a D4E.

Both have oil clutches, not sure if standard or optional.
PS on the D5, my D4D 84J steering pulls really easy, even though it isn’t PS.
Brakes are not tied in with steering on the D5.

thanks juiceman. i don't think the D46U levers are hard to pull either. i know there is a spring booster under the cover. does the D4d use the same spring type booster under the cover or are they hydraulic? no problems with stepping on the brake either just curious. do you know if the steering clutches sre dry type or oil bath? my guess is they are dry. i have been looking for information on both the D5 and D4d but haven't come up with much yet.

Bursitis: I believe they are only spring assisted, but they do pull back very easily compared to other D4s that I own. The steering should be dry type on both; I am thinking when they went to the D5B they may have upgraded to wet deck etc., the D5 is basically an upgraded 9U, then D6B, then number changed to D5. If one looks at chassis, it is the same for the 3 tractors, with improvements along the way. I have seen people swap between the 3 and have created some "different" looking crawlers.
I like all of mine, Bruce Petty can attest that the D5s and D6s are the workhorses of the Pacific Northwest.
Have you found any tractors to buy yet? I should offer one of mine to you, but I believe the distance would be a deal killer. JM

juiceman you are welcome to show me what you have. just send me a PM. Thanks

when or what serial number did CAT switch to wet deck oil bath steering clutches on the D4 and D5