"Best Buy" Repowered Cat D5
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A couple of years ago, Michael Zimmerman and his son Ammon transformed a D5C Cat crawler into a 16-speed “Deere/Cat” for use on their central Missouri farm (featured in Vol. 35, No. 4). Since finishing the rebuild they’ve put about 360 hrs. on the crawler and say it works great.
“We’ve used it to pull a corn picker over wet fields and also to plant corn, haul manure, cut alfalfa and more. It’ll outperform any 4-WD wheeled tractor, with less soil compaction, wheel slippage, and better fuel efficiency,” says Mike.
He bought a 1995 D5 and repowered it with a rebuilt 6-cyl., 6.8-liter Power Tech engine and a rebuilt Deere 7000 16-speed Power Quad transmission. Ammon stripped the engine and 3-speed power shift off the Cat’s chassis. After taking lots of measurements and calculating where the engine and transmission needed to be, they lengthened the frame by 24 in. and welded Deere engine mounts to the Cat frame. A center plate welded into position between the chassis sides forms the main support for attaching the Power Quad transmission.
Mike says the Deere Cat’s forward-mounted engine makes for a nice, smooth ride. Also, the 16-speed Power Quad transmission shifts nice on-the-go, and the live pto and Cat hydraulic steering make the tractor easy to operate.
“It rides so nice that it’s like riding a passenger train. There’s no sliding around or bouncing, jerking or spinning out in a wet fields like with wheeled tractors,” says Mike.
They like the Deere/Cat so well they’re now working on a second tracked tractor using components from a 6410 Deere wheeled tractor with a 4.5, 4-cyl. Power Tech engine and 16-speed Power Quad transmission. They’re also interested in building the Deere/Cats for sale.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Michael Zimmerman, 13874 Hwy. 5, Versailles, Mo. 65084 (ph 573 378-7210; www.crawlerbulldozer.com).
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Best Buy Repowered Cat D5 REPOWERED EQUIPMENT A couple of years ago Michael Zimmerman and his son Ammon transformed a D5C Cat crawler into a 16-speed “Deere/Cat” for use on their central Missouri farm featured in Vol 35 No 4 Since finishing the rebuild they’ve put about 360 hrs on the crawler and say it works great “We’ve used it to pull a corn picker over wet fields and also to plant corn haul manure cut alfalfa and more It’ll outperform any 4-WD wheeled tractor with less soil compaction wheel slippage and better fuel efficiency ” says Mike He bought a 1995 D5 and repowered it with a rebuilt 6-cyl 6 8-liter Power Tech engine and a rebuilt Deere 7000 16-speed Power Quad transmission Ammon stripped the engine and 3-speed power shift off the Cat’s chassis After taking lots of measurements and calculating where the engine and transmission needed to be they lengthened the frame by 24 in and welded Deere engine mounts to the Cat frame A center plate welded into position between the chassis sides forms the main support for attaching the Power Quad transmission Mike says the Deere Cat’s forward-mounted engine makes for a nice smooth ride Also the 16-speed Power Quad transmission shifts nice on-the-go and the live pto and Cat hydraulic steering make the tractor easy to operate “It rides so nice that it’s like riding a passenger train There’s no sliding around or bouncing jerking or spinning out in a wet fields like with wheeled tractors ” says Mike They like the Deere/Cat so well they’re now working on a second tracked tractor using components from a 6410 Deere wheeled tractor with a 4 5 4-cyl Power Tech engine and 16-speed Power Quad transmission They’re also interested in building the Deere/Cats for sale Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Michael Zimmerman 13874 Hwy 5 Versailles Mo 65084 ph 573 378-7210; www crawlerbulldozer com