Hey everyone, I’ve got the possibility to obtain a 1928 Caterpillar Thirty as the subject says above, now being only 17 and just starting out my hobby I’ve so far only worked with a 1950 D2 5U but very minimally. That being said, I’ve already done a little bit of my own homework on the Caterpillar Thirty but I would absolutely love to get any information from our great community regarding this tractor. 

The Thirty is sitting in the backyard of an old family friend of ours who’s owned it for 30 years. He starts it twice a year, and has confirmed with me just today that it still runs perfectly. His only suggestion was a little lubricant in the cylinders. The tractor has not moved from its spot for many years. In fact I was only about 7 or 8 when I sat on the same Tractor I speak of now, it took a solid 20 minutes to turnover with the crank but I never forgot the sound that Tractor made when it fired up, my first experience with vintage Caterpillars has come back to slap me in the face. 

As I said already, whether it be knowledge of the machine, it components, stories- literally anything about late 20s Thirties or the specific tractor in question, I will happily sit down and read this Forum like a textbook, although I already do that. 

Thanks again, hope to speak to y’all soon. 

Hi, ReindeerHerder1066.
Knowing that the engine runs is just the beginning of it all by the sound of what you have said. I would be checking EVERY compartment for any water intrusions and it is possible that the tracks may be 'melted' together if it has not moved off that spot for a heap of years.

Also, if you get it and get to drive it around, be VERY careful about going over bumps, especially when travelling forward. ANY tailseat crawler can turn into a rocket launcher and start you on your way into orbit as the nose drops and the back end rises when you go over the balance point on a bump.

Others will likely come along with more specific knowledge of these jiggers than I have.

Happy Catting.

Just my 0.02.

Welcome Marcellus: I only had my CAT 30 long enough to know I was not a fan of a hand crank, but enjoyed starting mine from time to time. It does sound different than other tractors for sure. CTSnowfighter can provide much advice, as he grew up on one (sorry to age you John), and Kamnikars will be owning a second or third one shortly.
As with any tractor that has sat for awhile, make sure all of the fluid levels are good prior to start up, fill each priming cup once with good gasoline, mag switch ON, and most importantly, right hand on air cleaner intake for leverage/bracing while you use only your fingers to lift on the crank handle. Better yet, get "Father Time" himself, D4Angelo your faithful chapter leader to come out and supervise you. Allow him to buy you some refreshments and a good meal afterwards for a job well done getting it running!
I am curious if yours has the "sidewinder" levers that are both horizontal, or vertical ones?
Please feel free to share some photos, as we all enjoy pictures. Best of luck in your new acquisition. Juiceman.

Congratulations -

Thirty is a wonderful machine for its day.
Please post some pictures.

Is it a "sidewinder" - the steering friction levers extend to the far right side?
Gear Shift -- two levers in front of you - button on top to release the catch holding it in position. YOU Can put it in two gears at once If my memory serves right - be careful.

Pay very close attention to PROPER CRANKING PROCEDURE- Body Position --Pull over the top with your left hand, right holding the radiator or on the air cleaner intake, makes a great choke.

Magneto -- if it has an impulse - make sure you retard the spark before cranking -- Be careful if you take the magneto apart - depending upon model, the brush can be easily broken and in some there is a rotor that has a small key pressed in that can be easily broken off - those are hard to come by.

Pull the spark plugs - make sure they are clean - a couple of squirts of oil in the cylinders, pull it over a couple of times before priming - helps raise compression a bit.

Priming --- be cautious of over priming --- I would suggest a teaspoon in each cup for a starting point. Easy to overprime and that will make it very difficult to start.
Speaking of priming and gasoline --- be sure you do not have leaks in the fuel line, system. Spilled fuel is a recipe for fire.
There should be two petcocks - one on the carb and one on the bowl before the carb. A good habit it to drain these and run the machine out of fuel.
Floats in the carburetor are cork and treated with a fuel proof material. Modern fuels will attack that coating. Some have made new floats out of brass but that is a project of itself.

As Deas pointed out --- BE sure to check all of the boxes, Transmission, Final Drives, crankcase.

If it has been sitting that long, you should check for any obstructions in the intake system, pull the valve cover and ensure the top end is getting oil, it does have force fed oil to the rocker arms. Check the coolant system - ensure some vermin have not made a home in it, it will get hot very fast if the water does not circulate freely.

Have a glove, plastic bag, something to put over the intake if it wants to "run away" when you start it - I want to say 1100 rmp wide open without load, someone can check that for you.

There are postings here about Tail Seats --- NO AMOUNT OF CAUTION can prepare you for the eventual RIDE if you do not heed that advice. This is true of going over any "bump" but also when making turns --- A thirty will come around very rapidly when you apply the brake - don't get thrown off! (Please - go slow! Until you have the feel of the machine, this will help keep you safe) Spend some time experiencing the machine without any load behind it.

Have fun, be safe in all you do around those machines, no guards, no safety shut downs.

One thing you should know - make sure you understand the operation of the controls, how they function and what to do it one or other does fail.

"keep 'em crawlin'"
CTS

Hey there Juiceman, I appreciate the precautionary routine you've given me to follow, Angelo has taught me this same procedure but I will never mind a reminder, being in school still and not getting to work with our machines often makes it hard to balance it out but I get it eventually. Secondly, it's funny you mentioned to get Angelo to supervise me. We had been texting back and fourth for a while and I mentioned the Thirty to him, he promptly told me "Let's go get it buddy." so there's your answer on that, getting that thirty would be impossible without some ACMOC help. I only saw my grandfather Ross twice in my life before he passed, he was the mechanic on my Family's ranch and was a mechanical genius. Ever since I joined ACMOC I began following Angelo around like a dog at the Museum- to my pleasure he never said stop following me. Always he taught me something about some machine we had while we were just walking around. Angelo makes a dang good Grandfather.

I absolutely love the checklist you've given me here. The family friend who owns this Thirty is quite old now and is 100% old school. Giving him a call is about all I can get from him. I have no idea what this thirty looks like now, all I know is that He knows that machine very well and runs it. I will have to give him a call later to ask about everything you've told me about here. 

On Angelos D2 U5 I did get a first taste of really bumpy crawling as the ground I was on was untouched farmland that was very hilly. Our museum in Vista has very forgiving and "welcoming to noobies" dirt roads, I'll be honest I hadn't even realized yet the mutilative abilities of the Thirty's seat and I highly appreciate you and Deas pointing that out. I have done some youtubing and will continue to do so for a little bit regarding the machine and I am so far visually familiar with the controls and what they do. I've gotten the hang of operating these machines already and I do a lot of charades at home pretending I'm on the real thing in a field.

Video - proper position to crank a thirty.


I am happy to hear you are getting familiar with the controls - Knowing how to steer and make it go is important.
Knowing how to stop - even when something is not working correctly is far more important than making it go! Emergencies do not give warnings, be prepared to act.

I hope Angelo shows you how steering clutches work - internally they are exactly that - Clutches - YOU CAN STOP a machine by disengaging both clutches and standing on the brakes at the same time - secret is holding the clutches back with one arm and taking machine out of gear with the other. (Yes - saved me once when a pin fell out of the master clutch on a 7UD4 - internal location too.)

A Thirty is also quite top heavy -- if it is Standard Gauge, be very cautious on any steep sidehill turn. They will roll. Wide Gauge is much more stable.

The old machines are quite forgiving as to tolerances, they are a great place to learn mechanics and understand how it all goes together.

This "modern" equipment depending upon computers and software to make it all come together left me in the dust years ago.

Juiceman - Date Me? Hmmm, I am only as old as I feel and sometimes that is pretty rusty! (yes, I miss the Thirty, Sixty, 9GD7 and many others but no lost love for a D2!)

"keep 'em crawlin'"
CTS

I used to have a Thirty, just didn't care for the old gas Cats, always slow and always seemed like they were going to stall out just pulling themselves let alone having a load behind. Always liked the torque of a diesel engine better.

Thanks for the reply! And I have operated the D2 U5 already and he has given me the tutorial on exactly what to do in the event of an emergency- kill switch, clutch etc. We have practiced every procedure necessary in the event that a 17 year old blows up his chapter master’s D2 (and the rest of Vista’s Caterpillars but that comes later). But I thank you again for the safety instruction. Safety was the very first thing Angelo showed me. Then we moved on to operation, which because of my YouTubing I already knew how to do partially. And finally he took me through the startup sequence, checking fuel levels, oil, water. Etc. I’m in no way saying you don’t need to baby me through it, but I do have above basic knowledge on our machines already. In fact I thank you for approaching me with novice level information about operation of our machines. 

Thank you very much.

Marcellus: When you can gather up the old men of Chapter 16, i.e., Angelo and his mentor Crawler$$$ aka Tom Vesco, hop on the seniors bus with them to Tulare or any of the Chapter 15 club functions and we will make sure you get plenty of driving time in on one of our tractors. While you are enjoying yourself, they can sit back and talk about how they used to be young a long, long time ago...Juiceman.