It's been a few months since many of you helped me get this CAT D4-6U ready for work. I was channeling out a creek and everything was going fine until the CAT got stuck in a mud hole. To make matters worse the left side is jammed against a concrete chunk about 2' square by 3' long. And to make matters worse yet the main drive clutch started slipping so there is hardly any track drive. And to make matters worse yet the hydraulic lift hardly moves in either direction because the left side lift frame is jammed against the concrete chunk. And to add to the misery, the rear winch is useless because the tractor has to come out forward.

The fella in the photos is a neighbor who has spent several days helping me try to dig out the muck. We hooked chain falls to a tree in front of the CAT but the falls are too small for this job. I have access to an International 444 with positraction but have to wonder if it would help.

Tried to hire a contractor to pull it out but their equipment is tied up on out-of-town jobs. Guess I'll try to find a backhoe guy to dig it out.

Thought you all might like to see the photos of this disaster. Hopefully they will show up OK.

Oh! I forgot to mention there's a weather forecast for heavy thundershowers and a downpour, meaning that creek may come alive!

Later,
Fred aka tinytec in Upstate NY.

oh that is not bad, just check everything for water and mud when you get it out. this is what we canadians do al the time, LOL

thansk

Hey Koo; If they are Junk Deeres why don't you just leave them buried?

Hi tinytech,
perhaps you could try an unditching beam tied (chained) between the 2 tracks as they used on WW 1 tanks when they got stuck like the poor D4.
You could use what ever is to hand :- 6" x 6" x 6'-8' long plank, tree trunk-branch, railway line, RSJ, channel, pipe or what ever. luckily haven't had to try it but I believe it works. Just my 02 cents worth, for what it may be worth, others may have a better solution they have had success with.
Sounds like you need to take up the main clutch adjustment some, and check for water in there as well.
Good luck,
Cheers,
Eddie B.

King, I feel much better after seeing the situations you have up north. Great photo!

edb, we can't use a crossbar because of the clutch slippage. It won't even move the tracks themselves. As I understand it, part of the clutch adjustment procedure has to be done from underneath the tractor, so we're dead in the mud, so to speak.

I'll try the Int. 444 on Tuesday and use the crossbow trick. That worked great some years ago when I pulled a buried tractor out of a swamp with a four-wheel drive Scout van.

Thanks for all your ideas and information. As I write this we're getting a deluge of rain down that creek and probably running right under the dozer.

Fred (tinytec)

they rolled it out and gave the cat a grease and then thwed it out, LOL

thansk

Hi again tinytec,
the master clutch can EASILY be adjusted through the top cover just to the rear/under the pony flywheel. It is shown partly being done through the bottom opening so as to use the uni-joint L bar supplied in the tool kit to loosen/ tighten the adjuster locking bolt/nut, just this part is easier. There is no need to go under the machine to adj. the clutch--see attached photo from the OMI. I have done many this way.
Good luck,
Eddie B.

edb,

You are a life-saver! I looked at the top end but did not see where we could turn an adjusting sleeve to tighten the clutch. Having the clutch work will make all the difference in the world.

I'll post the results after tomorrow.

Gratefully,
Fred (tinytec)

Depends on serial number. Later tractor hatch gives nice view of clutch coupling but clutch needs adjustment from underneath.

Got it backwards, it's the earlier small hatch cover that is best accessed from below.

OM,

Do you know if my D4-6U-2831 is the early or late one? Got the International 444 and 100' of chain all ready to rescue her tomorrow (maybe?). Having a working clutch may make the difference between getting her unburied or not.

I'm guessing the hatch cover is about 8" square, if that helps.

Thanks for posting the photo but unfortunately the printout is not legible.

Fred