This scrapped CAT 977 Track Loader runs but will it drive??

#diesejl #saveoldiron
Caterpillar 977 number two runs pretty darn good all things considering... is it time for this beast to drive or is there a reason it was parked in the first place.....? Miss the previous videos in the story?
• 977L CATERPILLAR COMEBACK
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[@dieseJL]

WANT TO HELP SAVE OLD IRON? GET YOUR SHIRT NOW - bonfire.com/save-the-977s

[@braden3087]

Man get you a 2 ton chain hoist from harber freight use canopy for support drop it out bottom. Or you can probably bring it out top if you have enough clearance.

[@Military-Museum-LP]

I love this series. I don’t want it to end!

[@mannybreest6458]

I Second this!

[@StandForFreedom1776]

Use the upper structure of the Cat 977 to pull the transmission. Rig up a pulley system to the roof and Raise the transmission up above the floor level. Then slide a piece of flat steal sheet under it. Lower the transmission and work on it in place.

[@jyrens49D4]

Agree. I have a 49 D4 and I used the top of the cage to rig up a chain hoist to lift the gas tank and seat assy. to gain access to the clutch brake assy. Worked perfectly.

[@charlesbass9532]

Yeah what he said

[@hinz1]

Or pull it under an old oak or something tree, with wide crown? Used the tree in my garden to unload welders fro pickup, now I have an excavator, makes stuff a lot easier ;-)

[@StandForFreedom1776]

@@hinz1 only problem is there is not an oak tree close enough and the tractor doesn't move.

[@VetvsWorld]

I will never own a 977, but it’s entertaining AF to watch you guys get them running again.

[@londolly]

because you cant afford one , best dozer ever made

[@russwabuda1556]

i can now see why we, the faithful, had to wait for these videos. wow, wow, wow. you guys are certainly my heros. i most certainly wish that you lived next door. the world needs more people like you. best wishes.

[@dieseJL]

Thanks Russ!

[@gkeever2826]

New subscriber but a senior and enjoy your honest enthusiasm im 71 years old and used to work like you but I look back and wish now someone would have convinced me about the concept of biting off more than I could chew lol but life took place and it seemed the money was always an issue so my projects got smaller and smaller. Don't let it happen to you. Follow YOUR dream and never give up. You'll find a way !!!!

[@dieseJL]

Thanks! Doing this stuff with my family is living the dream!!

[@myronbro]

Glad to see all the updates coming in on the 977s. Now we know what you have been up to all summer.

[@dieseJL]

Busy busy busy

[@thesmallenginekid]

Put a chain around the rops and use a chain-fall or comealong to pull the transmission up. Then put a board or something under it and slide it to the side.

[@super6954]

Thanks for the recent updates, you guys are getting quite the experience doing these 2 machines and sharing it with us. Considering what you're working with and a lack of most of what you need from a professional shop to really do it, it's actually going well with everything being an up hill both ways fight . As a mechanic that's rescued old machines in similar states and worked on them for customers as well. I'd say even with having my backhoe loader to do the heavy lifting on stuff like the rops and transmission, I'd actually say no to buying these 2 for a project . I like a challenge somedays , and know of a "cheap" Linkbelt 3400 excavator that needs a motor rebuild, I'm having a hard time justifying buying it and fixing it to use on our farm. Maybe at 49 years old I'm finally realizing I can't keep doing these physically demanding heavy projects, I've been doing since I was 14 and still in school. Take care guys.

[@dieseJL]

Thanks! Mostly doing it for fun… for some reason liking pain and torture runs in the family haha.

[@braden3087]

I dropped my 977 trans out the bottom. Jacked it up on blocks save a lot of work taking off the pedals seat and dash.

[@dieseJL]

Yeah I was looking at that too haha

[@Onemanstrash1]

I would use a chain block and a comealong off the rops to lift the trans out to a workable hight , then block it and make some other rigging to get it down off the machine

[@thomasstewart9368]

Persistence brings results.....most of the time....👍 you'll figure out something. Nice job guys

[@dieseJL]

Thanks!!

[@ventura1893]

Drill a hole in the rops above the trans and lift with a rotalift or cumalong then use the fork under the rops ,out sideways/ chain block may be to bulky

[@KayBeee]

Gotta love the big cat idling beside the tee box!!!

[@dieseJL]

Did you hear what the guys said? I think we made their day lol

[@KayBeee]

I didn't quite catch it, no. What did they say?

[@patriotmob3227]

chain a hoist to the ROPS and lift the transmission out up enough to work on the front. I wouldnt take the ROPS off at all. but keep pushing you will get it.

[@IO-zz2xy]

I really enjoy these types of videos guys. Great stuff. Why don't you guys build yourself a block and tackle steel frame that you can position over various machines. Make it modular (bolted) so it can easily be moved for various jobs. It does not need to be overly complex but only robust. Another KZbinr bought a cheap one for similar type of work. He did have to weld it and reinforce a bit LOL but so far it works for him. Regards from South Africa

[@dieseJL]

Definitely would be nice!

[@briansponenberg2341]

Well so Kool that you had a HummingBird looking over you (20:43) great vid thank you for the content

[@dieseJL]

I know I saw that! Super cool. Thanks for watching

[@joerodrigues3816]

Great job mate it’s amazing how you do it you really now what you are doing love your videos many thanks mate hope you and your family are doing well.

[@dieseJL]

Thanks!

[@billw4746]

Get 14` of heavy square tubing and build a lifting lever. Weld the a lifting eye about a foot back from one end. Then use the loader to lift with. I helped a farmer remove the transmission from a D7 Cat and we never removed the cab. With that much leverage one man can control the lever. For lifting and lowering.

[@hfdzl]

Yoo-hooo! What perfect yard to drive the neighbors crazy! Good catch and great learning situation, I'd be proud to be your friend!! You will be getting yellow fever, be careful! There are worse things.

[@dieseJL]

Yellow red green fever… we have it all

[@hfdzl]

Well, OK !! go for it! @@dieseJL

[@scottdoleac5651]

I cracked up at the granddaddy long-leg hair bow shot 😂

[@dieseJL]

At least I made one person laugh with 50 hours of editing 🤣

[@pete-mate3524]

Awesome video!! I'm deeply invested in how this story goes!! Ha ha!! Hoping, wishing, praying that it will be a simple and easy fix for you, once you have it out!! Thanks for the awesome entertainment. From Cairns Australia.

[@dieseJL]

Thanks for the support!

[@pauloscorpo1740]

awesome

[@hh-qc7rp]

Maybe strap an i-beam to underside of cage and use hoist on I-beam to lift trans? No matter what, hats off to you all. Shirt's ordered and on the way as instructed 😂

[@pavil58yt]

That was my idea too. Not sure how much weight the cab roof will support but it might be workable. Maybe cut an access hole in the roof and run a chain/strap through that to lift the transmission?

[@dieseJL]

Thanks for the support!!

[@ksw501]

Not sure if you have room or right zoning for your place but perhaps you could offer storage for equipment like a Lull or boom/crane truck or loader in exchange for use of the machine

[@Adventures_with_Josh]

Use the ROPS as a structural lift point. Awesome job so far tho keep up the good work fellas

[@dieseJL]

Thanks!

[@davidtrafford1451]

Brilliant stuff again keep up the great videos 👌👌

[@Slane583]

That's why the one's in good shape cost a lot of money. You either spend a lot up front and not worry about fixing it or you get it for cheap and spend a lot fixing it. Either way you're spending a lot of money on it one way or another. I'd LOVE to own a big piece of equipment. But I don't even have the money to pay the truck driver to move it let alone being able to fix it. I'll just stick to collecting chainsaws for now, at least I can haul those in my truck and not worry about it. 😁

[@rebootonthetrail51]

Jamocha shakes are awesome!

[@zachtaylor8309]

Chain around the rops and a come along/chain hoist. Get up high enough to get the loader of your tractor under it and take it out. Those rops will handle it. Or find your local independent field mechanic with a service truck and crane to come set it out.

[@masterful7574]

"INTRESTING" is not a word.

[@dieseJL]

Neither is AINT

[@robertyork386]

Really enjoying your vids - your sense of humour is wicked!! 😂

[@dieseJL]

🤣 I feel like it’s dry, brash and people think I’m rude lol

[@TheMapleMechanic]

Someone local lend these guys a backhoe for a week to get all the lifting done!

[@RMZConny]

👏👏👏 nice work 😊

[@GARY-ks3qc]

Question....Why not a good pressure clean of the underside FIRST?? Also I have yet to see with all the bulldozer repairers a workshop tunnel, a trench built into the floor that you drive over and then get in the trench to work on the underside, even standing up. On coming out of the airforce as a spitfire mechanic, it was the first thing he built into his workshop in the backyard...Worth thinking about. No more lying on your back.!

[@dieseJL]

Clint from C&C actually has a nice pit. Definitely a great setup.

[@wes3428]

The fact is the old owners were never willing to put the work in... the work isn't easy and has a cost on you financially and physically, but end up with great results.

[@dieseJL]

Yeah they were scrapped for a reason

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

You definitely need big equipment to work on big equipment. Thanks!

[@metalfusion67]

I work on my 977K by myself with a forklift.Everything on one of these has the potential to claim fingers,limbs or your life if not properly rigged,supported and moved..Rent a 6000lb forklift with long forks and do the job right..then go home to your family safe every day..Major credit for not giving up-you have some challenges with both of these..Fix it right the first time,and it'l last.

[@dieseJL]

Yeah! Good idea on the forks… I should get a longer pair for my uncles forklift.

[@metalfusion67]

6ft forks makes it easy to reach out+over parts of the machine. Precise control and lift power,Ive torn mine apart stem to stern and a forklift makes it easy;Side shift makes it even easier. Cherish times working on these with your dad,you'll remember this for a long time...best of luck.@@dieseJL

[@RustyInventions-wz6ir]

Nice job

[@ClintsHobbiesDIY]

Wow! I'm beginning to think you should have left them where you found them. Keep moving forward. I hope the trans is not shot from the metal shavings.

[@dieseJL]

The good news is that there’s 4 total so far. We bought three of them and then got the motor and trans out of the fourth so we have 3 trannys to make one good one for this hahah

[@christopherweise438]

I can see at the end when you were showing the merch that the ROPS was off.

[@dieseJL]

Yeah I think I filmed this in July or so

[@mikesmith8952]

My idea is a stretch but you could see what a local Towing company would charge to lift the pump out of the machine. If I lived closer to you I'd help you out for sure. You could also rig up a steel pipe or square tube attached to your skidsteer if it's capable of lifting the weights required. I've used both these methods to get some crazy heavy items pulled out and replaced. Good luck.

[@dieseJL]

Stay tuned!

[@farmerbill6855]

I used to collect tractors. Some advice from an old guy, take it or leave it. Melt them down, make golf clubs, take the weekends off and hang with your kids.

[@dieseJL]

Yeah some dads golf with their kids my dad and I like working on 977s to spend time together 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@farmerbill6855]

@@dieseJL I get it, I'm just poking fun. That old stuff is plenty irresistible. I'll be watching.

[@notajp]

“A whole ecosystem of B.S.” I need to remember that one…..😂

[@tedsouers3383]

Like the channel! Keep up the hard work!

[@dieseJL]

Thanks!!

[@justinvickery446]

A-frame And with a come along.

[@adamkolm6711]

Water 💧 is kinda normal to find in those rain snow what have you seeps in over time. Trust me I've owned a few over the years

[@Kerosene_Stream]

AW32 isn't used on a 977. Hydraulics is engine oil, trans is TO4 50w, as is the finals.

[@matthewcox1122]

I beam attached to a A frame attached to a fork for extra hight block an tackle to a tree even 👌 jerry rigg the world was built on invention 💪👍

[@charlesbass9532]

Pull the transmission by strapping around the ROP then use the Kubota to reach in and pick it

[@larrywhitaker4667]

I like the CBC ( card board creeper)

[@vw4x4]

Buy a use "A frame". You can get these cheap.... and it will do everything you need.

[@dieseJL]

Yeah we need one

[@40yeartrucker25]

Might take two the make one.

[@chriscampbell2327]

I know you probably already have the transmission pulled but you may look at boom lift that slide on to forks. I would be a lot cheaper than another machines and you can use it on your future projects as well.

[@dieseJL]

Yeah those are nice.

[@trucker447]

like your channel keeper goin!!

[@dieseJL]

Thanks!!

[@chuckh.2227]

Maybe you guys can rent a telehandler to get the ROP and transmission out

[@dieseJL]

$$$

[@charleswalton5132]

We took the trans out of my 941b through the bottom.

[@josephsproules1035]

Do you have the clearance to use the rops as a lifting structure and get a used I-beam to winch up the transmission high enough to set it on 4 x 4's and slid it off on side or the other?

[@MrDeancoote]

Could you dig and build a earth ramp beside the 977 ,, like the way they built stonehenge , or pyramids ?

[@dieseJL]

Not the worst idea 🤔

[@Truklodyte]

I think it would have been easier to pull running engine out an put it in the one with working transmission. Just a thought from northwest pacific hillbilly channel.

[@dieseJL]

Yeah probably but we got greedy and said why have one 977 when two are within grasp?

[@anthonyyoung7344]

Looks like that thing has been swamped that's why your getting all that water out of the transmission and the diffs.

[@dieseJL]

Yeah probably 😓

[@TurnLeftTurnRight2]

why u dont use the top, some chains, and use the machine to lift the transmission ?

[@joe-ix1pm]

That`s interesting.

[@bowhuntinbob9207]

Saved an old ferguson to30 from being scrapped not big iron but definitely old iron

[@dieseJL]

I like tractors too!

[@belarus_black_smoke4753]

👍

[@roggarenable]

what if you put something to hang around in the roof to get the gear up?

[@richardharris7714]

Do you check the cash for the bills

[@Truklodyte]

But being greedy isn't bad when you have the knowledge. But when you don't it gets painfully clear at bot ends. Better to cut one lose than deal with two. Pull the engine it's easier. Getting into a transmission like pacific northwest hillbilly did. He rebuilt his D4. Now all the metal found in magnetic screen should have been dead give away on transmission. Matt from Diesel Creek was way luckier on his 977 very little magnetic screen trap. A lot of dry rot hoses. My machine videos were sitting out in weather or had foolish people mickey mousing them together. My current project is a 1979 ford 340 industrial tractor was painted to look like a ford 4000 . Two different machines. I have wire nuts and crossed wires. But can't do much since rotator cuff an 3 tendons screwed back on shoulder. That's all I got from Truklodyte channel.

[@dieseJL]

Keep at it!

[@Truklodyte]

@dieseJL my tachometer arrived today so one handed me will be rewiring tractor

[@АлексейТепечин]

👍👍👍

[@CalSankey]

Hanging in there.We're going to make you profitable

[@adamkolm6711]

I run all cat filters in my cats

[@Military-Museum-LP]

Every thing that had the milky oil must be flushed.

[@christopherweise438]

Yea......but it's not like it's going to a job site 5 days a week.

[@sergueiothonucci1638]

👊🤛💪💪💪

[@michaelwillcutt2619]

Should of cleaned it first before taking apart

[@jaiden5407]

*Promosm*

[@johndunn2985]

Tran or brakes went out

[@bigjarn]

flush it out with k10 or diesel fuel

[@dieseJL]

It needs more than a good flush lol

[@bigjarn]

@@dieseJL I'm sure after watching the entire post.

[@billybunter2710]

Please folks, no blasphemy, I love your videos but I can't watch them if you're going to use his name that way.

[@dieseJL]

I apologize I need to get better! I will work on it thanks for the support 💪🏻

[@leopapanagiotou1468]

Junk seĺl it it died long time ago

[@paulthompson3877]

weld an I beam to the underside of the roof cage nd use a blockntackel with a roller .lift up and roll to the side .

[@dieseJL]

Yeah a lot of people keep saying do something to that sort and we thought about it but the trans is probably a solid 3’ in diameter. There actually isn’t room to do that if you believe it or not

[@kerryhannifey]

go wringe to zelinsky in ukraine he got a lot of your money to give away