Caterpillar D9G donkey start and unloading off a low loader

[@SternDrive]

I drove a D9 once when I was about 14 years old. Scared the heck out of me. That is one beast !

[@garybulwinkle82]

I drove a D7G when I was 14. My folks were building their house and the guy was digging out for the pool, and I was riding around on my little dune buggy; he says, "I'll let you drive this if I can drive that"! I did three or four scoops with him on helping then he let me do a couple by myself!!

[@toke7560]

Happy days, i was a mechanic/fitter back in the 70s for a cat dealer.

[@melvynhagan656]

What a sight..I operated a 9g over 40 years ago it brought back many memories. Thanks for the memory.

[@FarewellChorus]

I used to volunteer at the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum in Vista, CA, and we had one of these. I never worked on it--I was a steam guy--but I remember seeing on show days they'd always find a tiny girl and have her drive it in the parade (with an operator next to her at all times, of course). I just loved the way the pippy pony engine would make way for the ka-chunk of the big diesel. Starting up a steam tractor is a comparatively quiet process, at least until we get to testing the safeties, or somebody starts an argument about which beer is the best.

[@Sny734]

After reading through many, many post. Piecing it all together you guys got it pretty much right. But first big mistake was he didn't use the compression release at all. That's the lever on the dash support by his right foot. You can see the control rod going to the head. 1st You turn the lever with your hand to release the compression before you do anything else. Next I didn't see him look at the oil pressure gauge at all. Sometimes it takes 30sec to a min to get the pressure up. After engaging the pony motor clutch and the oil pressure comes up then you kick the compression release with your foot to engage it followed by adding fuel if it's not to cold. As far as the trailer goes I looked at the video over and over and can't see where any damage was done to the wood at all or the trailer. If you look you can see they put plywood down before they loaded the Cat. Even after the plywood got tore up during the 90 degree turn it looks like it survived well enough to keep the grousers clear of deck. Detaching the goose neck put the front of the trailer on the ground making it more stable reducing any twist on the frame. If you look at the video you can see it looks like he may have dumped the air on the rear axles as there was very little twist or movement as the Cat point loaded the side of the trailer. I think I would have blocked under the frame to the ground in a few places and a few more for the ramp but it looks like it fared very well. Now then for all you pretty boys that wax their trailers you need to look up some videos of cross country pipeline moves on the back roads of Pennsylvania. Most of the moves are side loaded for speed and efficiency. I've even seen two side booms loaded side by side with one boom down toward the front and one toward the back. Yes it wasn't legal but that's the way it was done. They make square turns on back roads at a T intersection that I could take all your money that it couldn't be done. Road drivers. Ha!

[@avelinogaldino483]

Rambocomandoparamata

[@avelinogaldino483]

Rambooresgatep

[@lampomarianne1145]

,M,.

[@dilligafdude9434]

10/10 placement on that caution light behind the fairing on the semi.

[@percyfaith11]

So it's visible from the rear as it should be.

[@bret_Lambky]

It was like watching a prehistoric dinosaur walk back into the woods! Slow and steady, knowing he owns the woods and not afraid of anything!

[@TomokosEnterprize]

EXACTLY !

[@DS-mm6fh]

Afraid of nothing but a track rolling off to the inside on a steep grade but the tracks looked decent on that ole boy so he should be able to walk pretty proudly I would think

[@garrycane1170]

Loved the old boy in the hat. I bet he has some stories.

[@theinquisitor3930]

You know it's serious when retired Gandalf shows up to guide you off the trailer

[@johncross8834]

He was a young man when they started to unload the D9

[@jasonboness3871]

"you shall not pass.... F that thing is big, nm"

[@skeeterskeeter1209]

@@jasonboness3871 00t?0

[@skeeterskeeter1209]

@@johncross8834l

[@remlaiharun479]

@@johncross8834 $

[@tellmesomething2go]

Back in 86, Grants Pass, old 38 stuck out in the woods. First job after diesel school. Pony would`t stay running. Spent two days in rain. No luck. Worked on pony carb whole day. Boss yelling. Wasting time. Finally got pony good. After many, many tries, finally got main running. Boss very, very quiet. Never yelled again.

[@Bostonpowercat]

Great story!! Yes the pony's can be a pain when they want to be that's for sure, the magnetos don't like the wet!!

[@tellmesomething2go]

Bostonpowercat K.

[@竹田節子-v8l]

fcr6

[@tellmesomething2go]

竹田節子 ???

[@Bostonpowercat]

Not sure either!

[@EcouragingGodStories]

Man those D9's are HUGE!

[@paulkearney1852]

I was speechless, a D9! Fantastic.. Greetings from Donegal

[@sterlingwilkey2124]

I love all your old iron. It reminds me of my Grandfather he started running iron when cable cat was new technology. Thank you

[@Bostonpowercat]

@sterling wilkey ,glad you enjoy the old Cats ,just enjoy playing around with them ,hope to get sum new vids up soon.Cheers

[@timothymcdonald6913]

Pony, Donkey, Pup it does not matter. These big land movers had a small starter engine to get the big mover going. Absolutely big units with an innovative way of getting their push on! Very interesting.!

[@LYEARTHMOVERS]

I dont know why i came back to see this video for the 3rd time. Its really fascinating

[@Bostonpowercat]

Always welcome to watch a forth 👍👍

[@williamcrawford805]

I learned to use a dozer on a Euclid C6 with a rope lifted blade. Very noisy GM 6 cyl when you take your foot off and call up full power but a wonderful machine. I.was 19 then

[@davbear3947]

Dad operated one of these, it was a hard life, vibration, snakes under your seat in morning attracted to heat, driving hours to your work place. He was a prospector, opening up coal mine seams, then cleaning up when the coal was gone.

[@Rat-Builder]

A D 9 G is a good old tractor. It will run for ever. The RPMs are low, and the horse power is reasonable. The D9H is another story. They upped the RPMs and increased the horse power. The H engine will run for 7,000 hr (more or less) then it will need to be overhauled, and most likely need to have the block cut for a spacer under the liner. That is a 1 or 2 time deal, then you will need to cut the block into the water jacket and install a Z insert. After that, you throw the block away and start new. The D9G will just keep on chugging. They also have a magnetic oil strainer on the inlet side of the transmission oil cooler plus another one before the transmission pump. The H has only the one in front of the pump. If you loose a power train component, you will also have to change the cooler, every time.

[@mikebrown614]

Loved seeing the Old-Timer giving ground-support as the cat was unloading. It reminded me of a conversation I had with a gent who was the father of the man I hired to do some dozer work on my property. As we spoke, he allowed that he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and had been part of the force that built The Burma Road, between Burma and China- one of the most remarkable feats of engineering in WWII. Men far more industrious and capable than us have preceded us. We'd be wise to take their counsel and learn from experience, often bitterly received....................

[@Bostonpowercat]

Mike Brown Thanks for your comment, your right you can't buy experience!!

[@michaelmayo6497]

Mike Brown

[@harleyharley-dt5ci]

Mike Brown my Dad flew C46s in WW2 Flying the Hump in support of those guys in China , Burma , India Theaters for example he hauled fuel parts supplies & personnel for the road construction among many other things they lost many Brave Men on those Runs my Dads plane was shot thru belly & my Dad was struck in the Butt & back was not sent home fixed up & flying his next run that's how Tuff they were back then GOD BLESS ARE VETS !!

[@bufordmcnairy8175]

It's nice to see Santa has other hobbies and interest.. Thanks for sharing.

[@Bostonpowercat]

Lol awesome, but even Santa has to move with the times, he uses the D9 to move the presents around in the summer while the reindeer are resting up!!! Glad you enjoyed, cheers 👍

[@bufordmcnairy8175]

Hahaha, Yes i agree. Thank's for sharing.

[@jofus3604]

Nice............. My Dad was a contractor in the early 50's in Kentucky winters, an old D7, pony motor, rope start, he would rap the rope on, look at me, when he said go I would squirt starter fluid in the pony motor and he would jump off the track, it started after a few tries, we would sit near the fire to stay warm for the pony motor to do it's warm it up., precocious memories... This was before 1st grade! Thanks.....

[@lesteraizlewood8457]

I drove a D9G for a while and just loved how it rattled and shook when started on a cold frosty morning.

[@houstonrailfanTX]

I've always been a train guy but I really do like these older cats especially ones made in between the 40's and late 60's

[@Bostonpowercat]

Glad to see you have seen the light and have come over to the world of Cats!! :-) It's great to have you on board 👍 They are great machines and have some real character, and that's what we are mainly interested in, from the 40's to the late 60's, have a look at our other videos, they are with machines from that era.

[@theluth9046]

They where a real work horse in its day! Well still are! Remember them well! Thanks for sharing!

[@Nicolas-ki3dl]

What a beast.

[@dingoboy1725]

I operated one of those back in the 80s pushing cat 631 scrapers huge job in Atlanta we had 3 D9 dozers one D8k and 12 631 scrapers and 16G motor grader we moved 1 million yards of dirt for waste management’s new landfill on Moreland ave the first cell was soposed to last 30 years now it’s closed completely full and caped in half it’s life unbelievable how much trash is generated in the city of Atlanta and that was one of a lot of landfills in the area

[@fredbentley4944]

I love watching those old D9s and someone who really knows how to jockey one !

[@lowtech5530]

I notice just how much respect the oncoming traffic gave these people at the start of this video. None.

[@andrewperez5550]

When your engine is such a beast that it takes a starter to start the engine that starts your engine.

[@zuzudoggie8288]

Actually common on older machines. I had a 50 hp International D8 that had the same set up. A very cool machine. (until I ran over a nasty wasp hive one day)

[@patrickcamp5885]

Jet aircraft still use this method for large engines. Electric starter/generators are typically found on small ones though

[@taufortebc]

Brings back fond memories as a kid 10 years old, operation a D9, D8 and D6 at my folks material pit in East El Cajon CA. After school, my dad would have one of the drivers go and pick me up and bring me to the Pit. Operated everything, Dump Trucks, Loaders, conveyors, dozers. What a childhood. To this day I get a chance to jump on any equipment I do. Now I spend my time assessing the damage caused by the poor operation, operator error, fire cause & origin, any loss that happens to any type of equipment.

[@Bostonpowercat]

@Ted Aufort great to hear your memories of the old stuff ,that’s what really interests me other peoples experiences and memories of this old equipment . Many thanks👍

[@taufortebc]

@@Bostonpowercat That little 6 we had, had a gas-powered donkey engine that had a rope start. It was an old one but ran great, my first. This was back in 1969 and was a great 5 years. Other kids had Tonka, I skinned Cats.

[@johnharsomchuck2608]

Brings back memories with my dad putting .me in the seat in the coal fields of pa. We called the starters piney morters

[@harryevans7390]

You sure they wasn't called poney motors

[@michaelsullivan3581]

Growing up, my best friend's dad had a CAT D9 at his ranch. He used it for Sunday drives around the ranch. Just for fun! Those were the days!

[@Bostonpowercat]

@Michael Sullivan,that’s the way,same as I use mine for,have a bit of fun then put em away ,they don’t cost nothin then😂,leave the expensive running costs for the Big Boys😂👍

[@UnitCrane514]

I love the old pony engine Cats! My favorite is the D318 cat! 2 stroke GMs are a great sounding too. I also like the old International diesel that would fire on gas to get warmed up, then switch to diesel. These took a ton of engineering to invent. I hope these machines survive forever and avoid the scrap boat ride to China, that is ALWAYS a shame. Take care bud! ☺️😎

[@Bostonpowercat]

UnitCrane514 Your can't fault the pony engined Cats! The D318 is a good engine, but our favourite has to be the D17000!! Other manufactures have some great stuff, but we are mainly about Cat! Don't worry these won't be getting weighed in for scrap anytime soon and they should last forever, they certainly are built for it :-) Cheers

[@gabrielgunther3920]

Bostonpowercat on, ,

[@Bostonpowercat]

+Gabriel Gunther Not quite sure what you mean?

[@donreimer6705]

UnitCrane514 was

[@Bostonpowercat]

+Don Reimer Sorry I don't understand??

[@dzlf2504]

That's how my grandfather unloaded his d8 but his trailer was long never had to unhook. Great machine.

[@Hammer547]

Remember my father back in the late fifties had a D9 when he had his bulldozer business. He could sure work that machine .

[@ronniemctaggart8722]

I've pushed scrapers with an old 9g with a peterson blade pony motor start if the pony motor cranked that beast was cranking and they were stout I often said they would push the empire state building through the gates of hell and never slow down

[@Stander_97]

That’s so fascinating, wish I would’ve been around in times to see that

[@Shane-Singleton]

I'll bet that's as close as you'll get to the sound of a WWII tank without having an actual tank. Wonderful old piece of equipment. Bet she can still put in the work too!

[@sitatan]

A good video. I enjoyed CAT. Thank you from Japan.

[@davidbagley1783]

Hajimemashite dozo yoro shiku ..

[@kirbymorris2253]

I started working for caterpillar dealers when I got out of the army in ‘78. The old D8’s and D9’s all had the pony motors. Some even had a rope to start it. Had a compression release to get the engine turning and were all direct drive with a clutch lever. The good old days.

[@Bostonpowercat]

@Kirby Morris ,yes they are great Cats from that era certainly built to last,would like to get hold of a direct drive D9 18a one day.Cheers.

[@grantw.whitwam9948]

I've never seen that kind of trailer unhooked before. They always have a load or empty, learned something new, thanks.

[@Bostonpowercat]

As they say you are never to old to learn!! Glad the video was of interest. Thanks

[@protectoroffaith]

Lowboy trailer. They are awesome

[@that_boyzac4908]

RGN...removable goose neck...

[@erniea4424]

The sound of that pony sure takes me back...

[@neilreid9005]

Very cool vid, thanks for posting. Loved hearing that diesel slowly come to life. Beautiful sound. Well done- clearly you guys know what you're doing. Stay safe, keep the dirt moving.

[@Bostonpowercat]

Thank you for such a nice comment, it's comments like this that make all the hard and free work that goes into making the videos worth while.Cheers

[@ЮрийНефёдов-ь6ш]

@@Bostonpowercat непонятно для чего нужны два трухлявых " дирижёра ", без них съехать с трала было нельзя?

[@curtburrows3024]

I have a blade that would fit that machine

[@deborahchesser7375]

@@ЮрийНефёдов-ь6ш both of them were giving different directions 😆, yes I saw that as well. Oh well, he let the old guy think he was helping.

[@darinwilson8663]

​@@curtburrows3024 I need one for a d9g.....do you still have it?

[@garethifan1034]

Nice combination all in all - a King Low loader pulled by a Scania, carrying a Cat tractor. Not a sight you see every day. Love watching these as they're the only place to find this equipment these days. Love it!

[@Bostonpowercat]

Thanks very much, glad you are enjoying the videos, make sure subscribe to keep up with the latest releases!! Cheers 👍

[@rogertycholiz2218]

Gareth - This is one great combination --- King Low Loader, The Big Cat and a European Scania.

[@richardc7721]

i was a field service mechanic and we called that a pony motor. 2 cylinder gas engine turns over the Cats diesel engine so you can fire it off.

[@Bostonpowercat]

Richard C In the U.K we call it a donkey engine and it runs on petrol not gas, gas to us is a vapour not a liquid, but these are just some of the difference in the American/English language

[@richardc7721]

Yes my ex is from Liverpool. Know the difference. Spanner / wrench Bonnet, hood, windscreen,windshield. Her father was from Wales, I never could understand him.

[@Bostonpowercat]

+Richard C Ahh that's where the confusion has come from, we are based in Wales, that's why you didn't understand what we were on about. Cheers 👍

[@richardc7721]

That would do it.

[@Wlechija]

I'm English,and we always called them donkey engines. Maybe we had more donkeys than ponies?

[@davidschick6951]

My dad operated for nearly 40 years. I wish I could do it but I know better than to try. I'm going to miss him.

[@gman4937]

That machine's blade comes on a second truck...and it's balls on a third truck! 😁 Great vid, thanks

[@Bostonpowercat]

+Gman49 ,Cheers glad you enjoyed👍

[@42micks42]

Awesome. I drove a D9 in my school holidays many years ago top video chaps. Mick in UK (England)

[@Bostonpowercat]

@Michael Kemp,Thanks ,we are also in the uk,if ever you down in sunny Wales give us a shout ,that old girl is now the rear tractor on the DD9/Quad trac👍

[@rubenbraekman4515]

That guy looks tiny on top of that thing 😂 amazing!

[@tuberman7371]

They were one of the largest dozers of their time and still command a lot of respect these days.

[@tommyrottn]

I'm glad you guys are in Boston - and not any where near me. This is just sad, and the fact that you are proud of it, makes it even sadder. :(

[@Bostonpowercat]

Tommy Rottn Great observational skills, what makes you say we are in Boston? I take it you mean Boston USA? If you notice the traffic is on the wrong side of the road for the USA!! What is sad about the video if you don't mind me asking??

[@tommyrottn]

I was mainly concerned with the side unload and tearing up the trailer decking. Highly unsafe.

[@Bostonpowercat]

Tommy Rottn Thanks for your reply, the trailer was fine, admittedly it's not ideal coming off the side, but we didn't want to take it off the back into oncoming traffic and cause an accident. Also we didn't want to chew the road up or break any kerb stones and then have to pay to get them replaced. We were also on a tight time schedule so after weighing up our options this was the way we decided to go. Cheers 👍

[@tommyrottn]

Tearing up the road and the kerb are good points I hadn't thought of. Be safe and cheers.

[@Bostonpowercat]

+Tommy Rottn no problems at all Thanks for taking the time to comment 👍

[@williamwilson4974]

The old man is prime example of what u look like after u operate one for 50 years.try a td 20 .that is a machine..

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I do and it was. UD start.

[@toddr.4630]

Oh boy 😝,,, I likey D9,, that's about where dozers start getting ,,,,, you know BIG ✌️

[@TheMonolake]

My god.this is so beautiful .i have tears in my eyes

[@Bostonpowercat]

@Monolake👌👍

[@treerobo6864]

I ran a D-9 back in the 70s pushing pans in the bar pit, it was a dang man too

[@DieselandIron]

That thing is a beast! Love it. Feel sorry for that poor trailer though.

[@Bostonpowercat]

Cheers! Your right the trailer was under a bit of pressure :-)

[@paulettestratton2413]

Pauls We're al

[@patlowney2834]

Years ago a guy tried to crush the Alviso fire station with a D9 CAT . What stopped it COPS shot fuel filter to stop fuel and shut down the D9 apparently the guy's girlfriend was shacking up with the fireman. And he went crazy.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@patlowney2834 Sorry for the guy and the fuel filter. The fireman got what he deserved..........eventually. The guy didn't need that pig anyway.

[@jcc3063]

@@Bostonpowercat aa

[@JonDingle]

That machine needs a channel of it's own. What a great beast!

[@Bostonpowercat]

@DingleZilla,Cheers 👍👍👌

[@carryclass6807]

id like to have a beer or a coffee with the guy with the stick, i guarantee you a guy with a stick and tape measure suspenders would have some interesting stuff to say, i just know it.

[@toddepperson7465]

You'd flip if he gave you pointers on 💘

[@henrycomputer1403]

Agree. I was thinking that too

[@LifeInMontana]

What a kick! Love the sound of her! Good job filming. And thanks for sharing!

[@tenpiloto]

9G first produced in 1961 and came with these gasoline-powered "pony motor" starters until late 60s. This was a push cat used to push scrapers loading dirt.

[@ringandpinion3064]

In the cold country, you could use the pony motor to warm the engine some, it uses the same motor oil and coolant systems, at least the old D7 I worked with at a mine in Alaska did. But I was a lot younger then and I don't have a pony motor to get me warmed up and started so I left the cold country.

[@robertnymand9889]

It sounds good! What I was told they could blade through 2ft of frost easy.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

There goes the cucumber kitty again! Sweet old 9. Needs a cushion rock blade to keep the boredom away. I wouldn't mind shoving a pan or two, bored or not! Good One!

[@Bostonpowercat]

Lol, yeah no hydraulics on this one, just used as a pusher. Having a fleet of scrapes flying in waiting to get pushed and loaded would keep the boredom away!!

[@TheSagerider]

I can pretty much guarantee you ain’t sneaking up on nobody ridding on that monster. :)

[@doublej118jc]

Nothing like the sound of those old D9's

[@Bostonpowercat]

They certainly are music to the ears!! Thanks for the comment 👍

[@dwightmagnuson4298]

The operator had to be as careful of grandpa as his job unloading the D9. Gramps just wanted to help...

[@EdwaardAdkins]

Bottom line , a great piece of macinery!! This old iron lasted for a long time!!

[@davesstuff1599]

Power, power and gobs of power. Love it.

[@edwardjonez6615]

That gents old felt hat has a few miles on it..Nice video, Thanks.

[@Bostonpowercat]

The old hat has a good few thousand miles under its belt, the walking stick has done pretty good to :-) Cheers

[@dennislaws5187]

I wish I had one like that with a blade and ripper sitting out side my house.

[@aussieboi82]

What a beaut beast of a Cat D9G. A sensational video

[@Bostonpowercat]

@Dave Hark,Thankyou ,the tractor is now part of our Quad9/DD9 set.Cheers.

[@rolandvachon9848]

On the job I was on in Northern Ontario, we had one of those and in the late fall and winter months it ran 24/7 unless it was taken into the heated shop for maintenance. The reason was that once you shut it off in the cold weather for even a few hours, the donkey engine was never strong enough to start in again.

[@Bostonpowercat]

@Roland Vachon,Thankyou for info,that sounds too cold for me!,I always wonder how many opperators would have to use the low range on the donkey gear box ,be rare over here in the uk.👍

[@stevebogard3833]

Never heard it called a "donkey" motor. Have always beard it referred to as "pony" motor. Whichever, those old Cats, once they got started, they could idle all day and use hardly any fuel. Crazy, now with all the EPA stuff, DEF & regen, they use more fuel. While the D11 is a big machine, those old design 9's just look and are massive.

[@Spiritpup5]

D9 Cat was the first dozer I learned to operate.

[@MidsierramusingBlogspot]

We used to call that a "Pony Motor" that started the engine.

[@Bostonpowercat]

+dematson Yes that is a common name for it, just depends on where in the world you are, I take it you are in the U.S? Cheers

[@MidsierramusingBlogspot]

I worked in Wisconsin at the time. We had the winter off b/c the frost made excavation difficult and unprofitable. Starting a diesel when it is below zero Fahrenheit is difficult also. The fuel can gel too if you don't mix it with kerosine and the pads can freeze to the ground so hard you have to heat them to break free.

[@roberthertz6634]

Not the easiest part of the PROCESS.

[@danielclarke7109]

My Dad had an old Fiat dozer in Australia with a donkey motor. He always referred to it as a "pilot motor". I have fond memories of him pull starting the pilot motor with a length of cord when the electric starter for the pilot motor quit.

[@jayseven9966]

Donkey motors, at least the name, dates back in the US to the early days of logging when small engines showed up on the scene. Thought to be too small to have any horsepower they adopted the name Donkey engines.

[@leestewart3690]

the fella running the machine looked so comfy, it was a walk in the park to him he totally owned that situation!!

[@محمدحسان-ع9ن6د]

John Cocktosen ص

[@tdshaker]

Yes, it is importent to keep everything original. Back in the day, guys swore by, and at the pony motor. This was a big engine,nearly 1500 cinches

[@Bostonpowercat]

tdshaker Well we have done our fair share of swearing at the pony motor that's for sure!!, but your right it's nice to keep them original. One good thing about having the pony motor especially when the machine only gets started once every month or so is you can wind over the main engine for a few minutes on decompression and get all the oil circulated which is much easier on the engine before flicking it over to compression.

[@barrydavis1570]

Bostonpowercat Hi Boston: A good way to start them is to first get the Starting Engine going and then roll the Diesel on no Compression till the Oil Pressure shows. Then flip the Compression Lever to full Compression for about a minute heating the Cylinders. As soon a you crack the Throttle, the Diesel will come smoothly to Life. This Method will keep the Starting Engine Pinion from damage.

[@Bostonpowercat]

Hi, thanks for the comment and you are spot on with the starting procedure, it's good to get the cylinders nice and warm due to the lack of glow plugs. That is pretty much what we did, but it may not come across in the video as it has been edited to remove the "boring" parts. Cheers

[@ziggybammurphy191]

Is the starting engine a 2 stroke? Sure sounded like it...

[@pnwdad1261]

Wish the video didn't end at the best part, it's really cool to see these big old dozers crawl around especially down trails like that. Awesome CAT though 👍

[@Bostonpowercat]

@PNW Dad ,Thanks ,that old Cat is now the rear tractor on our Cat DD9/Quad9,a pretty rare bit of kit now!.Cheers.

[@fastst1]

Where is that going? are you releasing it back into the wild?

[@Bostonpowercat]

fastst1 Lol yes!!, this being a big Cat we thought it unfair to keep it caged up so we have unleashed it into the wild!! :-) Reply ·

[@normanbuchanan9710]

fastst1 ok dude you killed me with that one 😂

[@wheelie63]

made me laugh...............wb

[@libertybarker7401]

fastst1 i was wondering that too. maybe the donky blade went in the woods allready....lol

[@libertybarker7401]

fastst1 ** and after ruining the trailer ...perhaps its going to push dirt without a blade. lol.

[@boostbeast8731]

The lowboy trailer is a marvel of engineering in itself.

[@screwsnutsandbolts]

What a beast ! 🛠️

[@timhallas4275]

D9=King of the beasts. It'll push a 35 ton load at 4 MPH

[@cartbuilder6179]

That's the coolest thing I've seen all day! I didn't expect him to take it off the side of the trailer. He tore the hell out of the deck but hey, what are you going to do.

[@73Trident]

They had to, couldn't unload a D-9 on the pavement.

[@cartbuilder6179]

Oh...I get it.

[@TinMan0555]

Dad had a motor grader that used a pony. Never realized how much work it was till he got a newer model with self start….. thanks for the memories.🫡

[@ibelieveyou2066]

Surely,the flashing light on the tractor should be IN FRONT of the aerofoil?

[@TheDrummie1]

Some have them fitted like to warn drivers approaching from rear, there are probably warning lights to the front.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

Yeah there's other flashing lights...

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Ahh Yes, I see Dear Old Dad with the stick. I bet he is a captain and a half and has more tales to tell in 15 minutes than a body could listen to in 6 months! I still like the old pony motors. You just couldn't get in a rush. Everything has it's own speed.

[@Bostonpowercat]

There's something romantic about the whole pony start up procedure!! It's a bit like grinding and brewing your own fresh coffee rather than grabbing a jar, something rewarding and satisfying about it all.

[@Bostonpowercat]

Ahh yes dad certainly has a story or two to tell !! Something along the lines of "talking a leg off a cast iron pot" !!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Not everyone knew the in's and out's of the pony motor deal anyway or they wouldn't be standing there with a can of quick start. Yes, done right it was a most happy experience, just like letting it warm up, raising the blade after mashing the decellerator and pulling the hand throttle back, putting it in 2nd notch,THEN popping your foot off the decellerator, listening to the turbo spool up and the engine snort and watching the black smoke raise the exhaust flapper up. That was worth it all to me. Another day had officially begun!

[@Bostonpowercat]

PnF ottjed In response to your comment that wood decking is cheaper than pavement we would have to totally agree and that's why we unloaded it that way. Thanks for your comment :-) (There was no reply option on your comment so had to write a separate comment)

[@shawns.2851]

Bostonpowercat Good Lord! I don't even see how the wood could have survived carrying that beast! I know very little about heavy equipment, (although, I am an Auto mechanic), and I do realize that, for the sake of self embarrassment, that knowledge between the two differ greatly! I have read a lot of magazines about gasoline engines being used as a starter for the Diesel engine itself, and then the shutting down of the Gasoline starter engine? Is this the case? (Obviously there are two engines!) I just really wanted to better understand these things, since I am so inclined! Thank you!

[@bluefalcon1952]

Shawn Aloia There also were engines that had spark plugs in the cylinders. The engine started up as a gasoline engine then after it warmed up you swapped the gasoline throttle and the diesel throttle. One Engine that could run on gasoline and diesel.

[@shawns.2851]

Kinda got that, and kinda didn't, LOL! Do you mean that a single engine could run on both gasoline, and diesel? Or, are you referring to my thought as the gas engine acting as the "starter" for the diesel, that would ultimately drive the machine? (I just find these old machines to be amazing!) Thanks, in advance, BTW!

[@bluefalcon1952]

Shawn Aloia Single engine that ran on both fuels.

[@Bostonpowercat]

Shawn Aloia Hey :-) No need to be embarrassed, glad you stopped by and great to see someone who admits to not knowing everything and is willing to ask to find out more! Yes you are right, there are 2 engines, a small gasoline engine called a pony motor (or sometimes called a donkey engine depending where in the world you are from) which is then used to start the main big diesel engine. Up until very approximately the late 1960's it's the only way you could start these machines via the smaller pony motor! Back in the day batteries and starter motors just weren't up to the job of turning of these massive engines. It also meant the main engines didn't need glow plugs as the main engine is turned over on decompression for a few minutes which warms it up before finally switching it over to compression where upon it fires up. Hope this makes sense and has answered your question, anything else we will be happy to try and help if we know the answer! Cheers

[@campthibault7728]

That twisting is really good for the deck on the lowboy.

[@killingoldgrowthsince]

Didn't hurt the decking on bit...

[@DOCTORDROTT]

Old machines in the UK are ofter refered to in the femanin gender ( old girls ) because they can be tempremental and sometimes cost you a lot of money to keep servicable, just like women

[@Limou551]

FIX THEM:::: or buy a new one, buy a new girl.

[@Bostonpowercat]

+Maxengines Tech Fix what exactly?

[@Wlechija]

In the '60s I was told 'If it's got tits or wheels,it's trouble'.

[@westsideflyer7559]

Love the old fart with the stick. Watching the unloading of a big Cat is some really good old guy fun!

[@melvinyosten3776]

What a monster. Really the tracks arent too bad. Gotta wonder how many hours its got, and where its been

[@michaellake2359]

When I was a kid in the early 60s I lived a half mile away from a rock quarry. I can still hear the pony firing up the crane.

[@coniow]

That is one hell of a machine! Just been reading all 340+ comments below (good to see so little 'bad-mouthing' that seems so common on U-tube these days :-(. On the subject of 'Donkey/Pony/Kitten/Pup' engines, I THINK the term came from the marine Capstan, (think vertical winch), for raising anchors in the days before the age of steam or the internal combustion engine. This had bars radiating out from the top, so 'Deck Hands' could push the bars around the center spindle which had the cable wrapped around it. On land these bars would have been pulled by a Donkey (or Mule/Pony Etc), for raising water. (That is 'Donkey Work'). Once Steam engines had been introduced into ships, a small engine was eventually fitted just to power the capstan. To do the Donkey's work. Hence Donkey engine. I may be wrong, but it makes a kind of sense!

[@Bostonpowercat]

Con Cahill Great to see someone who has taken the time to read through the comments and not jumping in feet first with a load of abuse!! Thank you and much appreciated. As for where the term donkey/pony/pup came from you might well be onto something, sounds very sensible anyway. Thanks for your comment

[@briantyson6138]

How nice to be reminded of decent behavior. Other than my mother.

[@pamnorum5713]

@@briantyson6138 l

[@harrymarr5333]

Sex

[@Wedget]

Bloody beautiful 9ld machines.

[@jeanmichelcomte3959]

Smoke is beautiful… Good morning ecology.

[@levisalvini4110]

The good old Atomic mushroom from that legendary in line six... And then........the music!!!

[@doninventura9474]

Where is he headed? Anyplace he wants.

[@brucefick9691]

We called them "pony motors" great setups !

[@bettyfogarty3567]

Re-Ring it and ur donkey or pony would last a lil longer!!!! I bet that dozer has better than 40,000 hrs. Hard hours!!!!!! Great video!!!

[@magnificentmuttley154]

My uncle Hubert & his two sons (my cousins) were all involved in hi-line construction. That's high voltage power lines. Hubert came into that business by 1960, & both his sons came in by 1980. I was 10 years old in 1981 when he let me try out his 1952 Model D9. Showed us how to start the pony (what in the blazes is a "donkey start" 😂) & then the giant inline-six. He & my dad were best friends & in-laws, so Dad would occasionally come out to the worksite with me to watch Hubert (or Dean, Hubert's oldest) erect hi-line towers. Out on the open prairie with nothing around, of course there was little chance of me harming anything with the dozer. Off & on until I was 13 he let me & Dad fool with it... Hand clutch, hand throttle, & 8 maybe 10 forward gears if I remember right

[@Bostonpowercat]

@Mad Mike great story thanks,that would have been an old 18a D9,being manual /hand clutch would have liked one of those,she would have been fairly new when you played on it as they didn’t come out until 1955.👍

[@worcesterexchange554]

Where did you get the film extra "Old Man with Stick" Should have given him a credit for his performance! Pity people like this no longer exist in real life in England any more.

[@Bostonpowercat]

+Worcester Exchange Thanks for the comment, glad you liked our film "extra" !! We are based in Wales so there are a few of us "real" men left, but originally he was from your neck of the woods if your from Worcester?? Cheers

[@tombrown988]

Worcester Exchange p0

[@tombrown988]

Bostonpowercat and

[@tombrown988]

P0

[@tombrown988]

Moo

[@buckwheat7424]

i ran a 15A with a johnson stick for a modern day pipeline company in bakersfield in the early 80's. it had a winch on the back but we were working 24hr emergency flood repair. canals 10 to 15' deep were filled to the brim with silty sand. they told me to baby it, and take it easy. with that much material a dragline would get toeblocked with a pile to keep going, so the 8 had to push that shit somewhere outta the way. it was leaking oil and fuel and shit. i think finally it ran into a rod knocking or something. the draglines were bad ass, american 95, little cab, but an intense replica of moves to cast the bucket out over the canals and the swing brakes were like non existent you'd have to time the stop of the swing a while before it got there. i was an oiler on that, but the operation let me run it for a little bit. i got the 2nd bucket loaded and as i'm hoisting the thing i look over my shoulder to where i'm gonna sling that mud then,!!! i catch the glimpse of the load line slippin, the brakes on that weren't even good either, well it's dropping and i hit the load brake and cable spun all the way up to the boom. ARB pipeliners. in that day they were all over the place, the Pratt brothers. cool guys.

[@Rawusa]

Heck yeah I can smell that old gear oil from here🙂

[@paulferguson2574]

Old man with stick forgot more about this than we will ever know!!!!!!

[@jedo268]

Wood decking for the trailer is cheaper than pavement

[@patdohrety2940]

If you can mill it yourself maybe. That deck got wrekt!

[@vic40171]

They did a great job destroying that trailer.