Dozer choices

[Okrafarmer]

I have no experience with the Dressers, but my dad had two International TD-6's from the 50's, and later had a Cat D-4 (1949) and two D-6's and a D-2 of similar age. I used a JD 350A (actually a frankinstein machine, but had the drive system of a 350A), and had to help change out a steering clutch on it. I was appalled to find there was no way to do it without removing the track and final drive box. Seemed like Dad was able to replace steering clutches on the TD-6 without removing the final drive (what a pain!). But it's been a while. If you can access and remove steering clutches without disassembling a track, count it all joy. Not sure about the Dressers. I always felt the TD-6 was a well designed machine, except weak in the final drives (Dad busted at least three final drives and eventually parts became hard to get). A mechanic later told me that the oil level markings in TD-6's (and T-6's) was too low on the final drives, and that putting a couple more inches of oil in them would help them last longer.

All in all I think the biggest reason my dad tore up the TD-6 so much was from treating it like a TD-18. There was a giant stone, for instance, that he tried to remove from his field, and tore out the main clutch. Years later, he got that stone out with a D-6 Cat and we got to see just how huge it was......far heavier than a TD-6.  

[mike_belben]

Thats the reason ive let my grouser bars go bald.  Its a great fuse on my wallet. 

[Tacotodd]

A man (& machine) has to know his limitations. 

A sort of quote from a Clint Eastwood movie.