Installing a blade onto a Caterpillar D4-7U

[@aladarmezga4942]

I can't wait for the excavator, but you are definitely right about projects not getting finished. When you'll get there, we'll get the excavator content and until then we wait with patiently. The caterpillar is pretty interesting as well

[@connahjones8178]

I agree, at least he is finishing this first not just having ten unfinished things on the go

[@FishFind3000]

I forgot about the excavator. That will be fun to watch next.

[@MRrwmac]

I’m not a man who uses the word beautiful often, and we’re only talking about a Dozer, BUT MAN O MAN with most of the parts put on it that machine is one Beautiful hunk of machinery!!! I’m not talking about the paint. Seeing you take it down to the last nut and bolt and rebuilding it is what is Awsome to me. BIG BIG Congratulations!

[@thomasives3223]

Love seeing old equipment brought back to life and restored

[@rr3102]

The keyway slotting with a Dremel might be the greatest thing I ever seen.

[@johnjordan4647]

Thank you Matt for comprehensive filming of your journey in rebuilding the Caterpillar D4. It was of special interest to me as my father who served in WW2 in the Pacific in an airforce construction squadron returned to New Zealand and purchased a War surplus D4 and went contracting specialising in turning scrub land into farm land. Sadly he passed away in 1958 at the young age of 39 when I was only 3 years old. Once again thank you very much for taking us on this journey with you

[@merlepatterson]

I remember joining your channel when you first spotted the D4 broke down in the woods and you had about 1500 subs. You've come a long way Matt. Well deserved and you'll soon have that 50k YT plaque. Congrats.

[@michaelcarlson1528]

I would grind off the support, it shouldn’t hurt the structure. Great job, sir.

[@richardgreen7811]

You may want to consider recessing the grille guard to the rear of the mounting tabs instead of on the front. This will provide lots of clearance and retain the appearance of the unit.

[@wiserman100]

Beautiful restoration of a remarkable old Cat. I had a 1949 D4-7U with ROP and a bigger blade in good working condition that I bought for excavation my homesite on acerage years ago. Not nearly as pretty as yours but a great-running dozer after I replacet what appeared to be the original engine clutch. Almost cried when the project was done and I sold it for what I paid for it. Thanks for the fond memory.

[@larrybolhuis1049]

There is another hilbilly like character that says: "Git 'er done!" a lot. You are right on track, finish this one, then move to the next!!

[@ramosel]

I have a neighbor who pieced together a mid 80s D4. No pump on the front but the blade still contacted the radiator shell at full tilt/lift (obviously the wrong blade, but it otherwise fit). Just forward of the main trunnion, he cut the blade arms and sectioned in a 3" piece of solid steel, fish-plated it and got his clearance and then some. Worked fine even with the tilt leaned back to max position.

[@nickpfeifer258]

Looks great man. I would have only suggested that on the nose cover that you make a cut out on the sides that cover up the “Caterpiller” on the sides of the radiator. I just like the logos showing.

[@firstlast-ty4di]

Move the trunions forward. Drill and tap new holes on the track frame. The blade lift linkage can probably stand an inch or so change.

[@8068]

Love seeing the blade attached to the dozer. You are right... finish the D4 project completely and then move on the excavator.

[@art1muz13]

Love seeing old equipment brought back to life and restored, Seriously, you should be very proud of what you’ve accomplished. No easy venture at all. You’re going to have a blast with this thing. Heck yea! Seeing you take it down to the last nut and bolt and rebuilding it is what is Awsome to me. BIG BIG Congratulations! 41

[@matthewquackers]

I'm subscribed to about like 100 channels and for some reason watching you build this Cat is my favorite thing to keep tabs on. Its like some oddly satisfying personal victory over something I don't get it but I wish you would put out more videos. I Hope you continue to restore old equipment that still has life and purpose left in it.

[@PacificNorthwestHillbilly]

thanks

[@jacobparis6576]

Did anyone suggest that if the key ever slides out, that you could weld a tiny little tack on the end of the keyway so it can't slide down? All it needs is *just* enough, right at the end so the key can't slide too far? I love your work and wish I had the dedication, resources and use for the tools you're so carefully repairing!

[@michaelclutton8446]

Thanks for the videos Matt, I have enjoyed every one, since the super sketchy day you got the Cat into your workshop

[@swmarb5236]

Your all time lows are our all time highs. Love all the ways youre able to skin a cat......

[@wileycoyotesr8623]

No apologies necessary. I'm just glad to follow along. You are not intimidated and have excellent patience. At least on camera. ha You're close. Warmer weather is coming.

[@karbalababy]

Hey man, love your videos so much! The double seal is meant for one to stop the oil from coming out, and the top one upside down to stop the water from coming in. My drill heads all have this double seal style above and below the chain case. For the tilt cylinder, it looks like you could put it on the other side to manage the hoses better. You are a really fun worker to watch, reminds me of me :)

[@PacificNorthwestHillbilly]

I am so upset with myself for not thinking of switching the tilt cylinder to the other side.

[@oldretireddude]

Could you try wrapping some rope packing around that actuator shaft, over the installed seal, after it's all installed to provide some weather protection.

[@johnnyroberts6291]

I’m so glad to see you back. You tickle the heck out of me. Your sense of humor hits me right in the funny bone. I know you are not a professional mechanic, but you are a lot like me when I was younger. Keep up the great videos.

[@williamknight5259]

Love the “Hillbilly” in the title comment! Kudos, you’ve done some amazing work on the machine.

[@bobferranti5222]

You've done a amazing job restoring this tractor. If it was me, I would trim the blade before I cut the front guard.

[@laughton57]

Edited to add - the guy who sold you the engine for your D4 had a number of other D4's. Some of them had dozer blades - with more room in front of the radiator plate. Maybe you should drive over and measure one or two and see what's making your's fit too tight. It would complete your machine. Don't apologize for finishing this project before the excavator. Any video is fun to watch. My favorite channel. Take some very specific measurements of your dozer blade and start looking for a new one that fits. Even if you cut the brush guard you're still gonna be very close. Will you still be able to tilt? Those old, sloppy, blades can move left or right under load - how much guard to cut for that? There has to be tons of old Cats that have been put to pasture with the blade in tact. Even if you cut the guard, keep searching for a new blade that fits ro it will bug you forever.

[@silasmarner7586]

Tho there's some sludge, that was the cleanest fluid I've ever seen drained from any vehicle. Nice!

[@jefflary5457]

You're doing great don't worry about the excavator till this is done. I would agree with you trim the blade gusset and not the grill.

[@dustcommander100]

Another great video! I like the fact that you took time to paint the belly pan and replace the seal and shaft for the hydraulic unit. You certainly tend to the details and aren't afraid of work! I totally agree with your philosophy on starting new projects. With regard to the blade being too close to the brush guard - could you make rod cap extension to bolt to the one on the blade to move it forward? Then you could use the rear half of the old one to fasten the new one to the pivot shaft. An alternative would be to cut the blade arm near the rod attachment and add a couple inches of length there. Too much would put the lift arms from the cylinders too far out of vertical....

[@stewartnorminatorboughen]

Another day tomorrow my dad always said, I am enjoying watching you sort problems out. Brilliant content.

[@johnwesner3935]

Anytime you restore/ rebuild something you have no personal history with you will run into the issues you have been having. The attribute that gets the job done is the dogged determination to complete the project. Well Done!:)

[@lilmsgs]

Holy Cow dude! It seems totally amazing you were able to fabricate that part.

[@BLWainwright2112]

I agree I would like to see the Cat finished before you start the excavator, I learn a lot watching your video and look forward to them. Thanks

[@dh405]

Here are my thoughts on extending the blade in the front. The top hydraulics could be replaced with slightly longer shafts, and/or, eliminating the extending bar with fixed bars. A good welder could replace the eyes on the bottom of the blade with maybe 4" longer eyes to push the whole blade forward. You would end up with just a straight push blade but it wouldn't cost much and it would look just fine.

[@Jimbo65203]

I've been watching this project since you pulled it out of the roadside, amazing work for someone who admitted for the beginning you didn't know how to work on a CAT. I don't know what to do about the radiator cage, but removal of the cage or drastic modifications to it are needed. Obviously, either the cage doesn't fit or the blade is not the one that goes on this D-4, or both.

[@tacticalrabbit308]

Love seeing old machinery brought back to life . And for that blade how much does the tilt cylinder move it backwards is what you will have to figure out first before modification of anything else is done and it should be that cover not the blade that's modified.

[@joelwatson3045]

Patience is a virtue.....and you have it in spades!

[@jaywalt1311]

I would make 1" plate spacers for between the arms and the blade and use longer bolts.

[@ronaldsinclair6837]

Great job Matt, hang in there the little odds and ends bound you to end.

[@dustoff1472]

I’d go for cutting the ribs back a little. Young man you have done a fantastic job and should be very proud of your accomplishment. Enjoying the channel. Tks for sharing.

[@theladyjaiproject576]

Nice job! You should be very proud of your self... way to go!!

[@jb_makesgames2264]

Looks beautiful , a great effort

[@jackdawg4579]

Be interesting to see where you go with that radiator guard, I reckon I would initially try and see if I could take a couple of inches off the back of it and slide it back, try and give the blade a decent bit of clearance. But I have no idea of what that involves or what other issues it might cause. You could be up for building a whole new box to support the grill if you did that. Always fun trying to get things to go together when it is a bit of this and bit of that.

[@darrellkc48]

You should be very proud sir! Beautiful work!

[@scotts6955]

My favorite channel.

[@1971VoiceoftheMummy]

Nice work!

[@kevinjohnston4512]

Looking good.

[@12jeeplover]

I would trim the blade. This thing is getting better and better.

[@brianblank9921]

Another really good video Matt! Thanks for sharing!

[@teddyhammack2195]

I’m glad you are fixing it right the dozer will out last you .

[@carlhelmick7711]

Buddy I don't care what anybody else says. I think you're doing an awesome job. Not everybody would have the courage are the guts to tackle a job like you're doing. So don't worry about what other people think . You keep up the great work and build your dream. 😀👍

[@louisboissinot4524]

Great work, thanks much for sharing your passion

[@dale5898]

Ten thousand thumbs up! I love the dog he’s a good one.

[@marvinmarlin9655]

Really coming together not Matt, it’s looking really good. If the blade web plate conflict with the brush guard is only 1/8” would you consider mounting the brush guard on the inside of the vertical mounting angles? My guess is that it’s more than a 1/8” though, once the blade is raised more and the full extent of the web/guard conflict becomes apparent. If that is so. slotting the guard brush guard mounting holes may also help.

[@endtimes2100]

Charlie thought you were going to dig up a treat.

[@marksweetman8765]

Your right you do need to finish it to move on and I’m with you until it is! (And beyond of course)

[@hondacivic199091]

I thank I can say we can wait till you finish to start I new one

[@demareedt]

What a great milestone! On the front plate, could you trim like 1/2 inch (maybe less) off the bottom them “change the angle” on the bend to the seat it inside the side plates?

[@miltonhamptonii5441]

Awesome job. You did it right 👍👍👍

[@willcojak9650]

you do this all the time

[@ScottSillis]

You need to modify the size of the pump shroud cos it does look factory, otherwise you'd need to modify the blade arms or something to extend it further away from the front of the dozer.

[@ryburnsjr]

Well done son !!!!!!

[@jeffcapps7835]

Glad to see your back after it. Almost done. Is there any way to adjust blade where it hooks to the tracks.

[@blairguinea6811]

Love your vids Sir, such an awesome achievement, thankyou

[@GrandsonofKong]

Looking great! Speaking as someone with zero knowledge, could something be done with those welded adjusters on the blade to add some clearance? Other thought is some trimming the gussets Look forward to more!

[@davideyres1628]

Nice work Matt come a long way You always do it right no cutting corners Well done Best Wishes from the UK

[@breb77]

Just looking at the guard interference with blade. Can that guard be recut to fit inside your angle mounting brackets. Not as clean a look as it is right now but in might get you the clearance you need to run your blade up and down.

[@wingwhacker7500]

Matt. I love watching your rebuild. I'm not any type of person with knowledge on this issue but I feel the blade is way too close to the front end of the tractor. Your proposed solutions in this video are not going to work because it leaves the blade too close, I feel.

[@tonyschiffiler4816]

You could extend the two pivot points where the blade arms attach about two inches. 🤔

[@georgelawton9075]

You don’t need a lathe! You’re doing fine.

[@rnwagner]

If you tilt the blade forward will it not clear??? Seems like it would from what I saw.

[@baroja5303]

buena restauracion matt

[@davidwindsor4632]

Would say trim the the back of the blade gusset. and put triangle pieces to support it.

[@davidhoffmann5737]

Aw the irony. I didn't repair the seal cause it looked fine , now it's leaking' but on the good side I didn't repair the ram seals cause they look fine 🤣🤣🤣

[@roadtested9009]

I'm sure you have modified that brush guard already. It's entirely too close to the back of the blade. Maybe even take out the bottom so that it's not a debris collector.

[@TheMadJestyr]

No, the equivalent to a double lip seal would be to have you reverse that bottom seal so they are opposed to each other.

[@steelflame87]

If you make another 45 episodes about this thing I'll watch it the same way i did the first 45! keep it up ;)

[@georgeduhon5026]

I gave ya a thumbs up but I’m over the Cat rebuild, looking foe to the other machine under the temp tarp

[@toddcaspersen8041]

ya know, just pointing the cam at the cutting edge doesn't show anything, to really know how much life there is left in it, we need to see the back bottom of the cutting edge in relation to the mow board. and you'll either need to lengthen the push arms or abandon/modify that pump/grill guard. it looks home built anyway, i wouldn't think twice about hacking that in to something that works. after all, isn't that what counts? how it works?

[@hudsonvalleyrailandriverandair]

Can you fabricate equal extension fillers to move blade out? Plus a stone or debris can fall behind blade and guard

[@BryanLandis-eo6dq]

Hey Matt, what is the diameter of the hydraulic control shaft you made. I'm thinking on putting a speedi-sleeve on mine , it has a leak also, but I haven't taken it apart yet. Loved your videos.

[@patriotmob3227]

Just use the adjustments on the top of the blade roll it forward and pin it.

[@richsommers6638]

Can you cut back on the ribbing and weld up the sides a bit to reinforce it?

[@oliver-ec9mv]

Is it possible to tilt the top of the blade away from the tractor as you mentioned it doesn't fit properly any dirt that comes over the blade will just end up in the cavity for the pump in the radiator

[@walrusinanus]

Damnit dude, use ear protection! You will appreciate it 30 years from now :D

[@Alasdairryan]

Earlier in the series you used parts from a donor machine, do any of those have a blade that you could use parts from or as a blade depending on condition

[@vw4x4]

With the blade you should not use the guard. You can also tilt the blade to avoid the guard.

[@timspicer3270]

😊

[@secretsix6]

i had visons of that can blowing up it happened to me in 2021 took all the skin off my face an head only superficial but still shit me up take more care

[@Paul.kl23]

You could lengthen the frame where the blade is attached to with some kind of spacers where the pivlting point on zhe tracks are🤷‍♂️ im no expert on how to do it it is just an idea

[@bobbalbirnie2478]

Outstanding! Love the work you are doing Matt, your attention to detail and showing us all the Ooops and whoa's as you complete the work is as close to being there as anyone could hope for. Thanks so much for taking the time to bring us along on your journey, this is one of the best Cat rebuild series on the net and your calm, humorous observations as you move forward is a major part of it. Be well.../B

[@davidfist7801]

45 videos and I've watched every minute of every one of them. I find the job completely fascinating, although I would never have the patients for it even if I had the skills. I know I'll be sad when they're all done.

[@timbow50]

Seriously, you should be very proud of what you’ve accomplished. No easy venture at all. You’re going to have a blast with this thing. Heck yea! 👍👍

[@PetePeterson-h1u]

Iv put a flat oring between the lever and the seal to help make a dirt n water dam so the seal is protected better! You mentioned if t should fall out it would get caught in the filter- how woul or could it poss get to t he filter

[@nathansmith1085]

You are so right about finishing projects. I am really looking forward to the excavator, but also feel invested in this and really want to see it completed. What you have done is absolutely amazing! I love this channel!

[@terryrogers1025]

The word Hillbilly might be in the name young man, but the work, craftsmanship, and ingenuity says everything but that. You have done a very nice job of reviving the D4. Thanks for the video, stay the course, you are winning.

[@woodhonky3890]

Is ye be puttin us hillbillys down?

[@ixoye56]

This has been a great series, can't wait to see you using it when it's done.

[@creativeanarchy1]

Love the dog, so interested in the hole digging.

[@markkenes4848]

Any way you can extend the blade arms to get clearance?? Just a thought !! Looks awesome. Did a great job bud !!!!!! 👍👍👍

[@aberdeebsky]

That is a really good idea. You only need to go 1/8" or 3/16" to get enough clearence. The only thing that might be a problem is the lift cylender attachment.

[@BrettCooper4702]

Was going to ask that about the ram arms. So I asked chatGPT: The length of rams on a bulldozer may be adjustable, depending on the specific bulldozer model and manufacturer. Rams, also known as hydraulic cylinders, are essential components of a bulldozer's hydraulic system that are responsible for providing the force needed to move the blade up and down. Some bulldozer models may have adjustable rams that can be extended or retracted to change the length of the blade stroke. However, not all bulldozers may have this feature, and it is important to consult the manufacturer's specifications or a qualified technician to determine whether this is possible for a particular model. In general, adjusting the length of the rams on a bulldozer requires specialized equipment and technical knowledge. It is not recommended for inexperienced individuals to attempt this on their own, as it can be dangerous and may cause damage to the bulldozer if not done correctly. And Bard: Bulldozer rams are typically not adjustable. However, there are some cases where it may be possible to lengthen a bulldozer ram by adding a sleeve to the end of the ram. This would increase the overall length of the ram and allow it to travel further. It is important to note that this is not a common practice and should only be done by a qualified technician.

[@tutekohe1361]

@@BrettCooper4702 the commenter said to lengthen the ‘arms’ not the rams. Lengthening the arms will solve a couple of issues. Notice the bridle brackets are also too close to the front of the tracks and will hit when the blade moves even slightly side to side. Also when Matt uses the tilt function, the brackets and the pump guard will hit. Lengthening the arms by about 100mm will fix any clearance problems, both to the tracks and the pump guard.

[@elvinaddy4886]

Can you put in a1/2 inch half round bushing on the front of that push post?

[@dogduz]

As an observer, I've rarely commented, but as this series windsup, I must say that the "ride" has been good therapy for me. Your patience over matters large and smart have been remarkable and a constant lesson for me. I'm in awe of your style. This video series of rebuilding an old, worn-out tractor has a far deeper impact than merely another "how-to" on YT. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

[@bellendbill6227]

OMG MATT! That is a good idea, get a clapped out lathe and rebuild it. Or just buy anything and rebuild it, I don't care about tractors and I am loving this series.