Army Corps of Engineers 1963 D6B Caterpillar Bulldozer

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Just purchased a 1963 44A D6B in good shape. It has an Army Corps of Engineers tag on it. I had some general questions...

- Did the military write TMs for dozers or did they just refer to the Cat manuals?

- Any chance this was ever painted green by the army? It has a failing yellow paint job at the moment, doesn't appear to be covering any green. I'm tempted to paint it green.

- This dozer is outfitted with a cable blade (appears all original). It seems the D6 of this vintage is commonly found with either a cable blade or hydraulic blade. I'm curious why the military would spec them with the cable blade? Simplicity? One less fluid to maintain?

I'm already a Caterpillar owner (1976 85J 955L and 1937 4H R5) and on the ACMOC forum. This is going to be a great addition to my little collection I play with on my farm.

 

[zebedee]

Looking forward to pics!! And yes - defo green!!!

 

[NDT]

There will be a TM for the dozer, engineer materiel starts with TM5-****. For sure it would have been 24087 semi gloss olive drab straight from Cat. You may find some green in areas that would not get sandblasted, such as under the seat, on top of the finals. No idea why the tractor was spec'd with a cable blade that late. Edit: probably still cable blade so a DDCU would be installed to deal with those cable scrapers the Army held onto forever.

 

[NY Tom]

In general clearing of brush and building bush roads in rough country the cable operated blade can normally be lowered further down than a hydraulic blade.

The big trade off is no hydraulic down pressure.

Reading my excavating handbook gave me this information.

 

[chucky]

But dont let too much slack get in the cable when the blade hits the ground or you can cause a mess ! All you have is the weight of the blade to use for down pressure so till you get the feel for the balance of the tractor just barely let the blade touch the ground when trying to cut grade . My first 2 doziers were a Cat D-6 and a D-8 cable blade that i got started on and luckily enough they both had been converted to electric starter instead of the old pony motors and every operator ought to have to start on a cable to learn how to start cuts and angle slopes without hydraulics then its all a breeze when you have real down pressure .

 

[joshs1ofakindxj]

This machine is electric start. I have no experience with a cable blade, but I did know not to let it out too much. And don't get underneath it to grab something, etc. I look forward to learning the way of the cable blade.

 

[chucky]

This one is just about identical to the cable 8 i started on except my stack was shorter and it would resinate under that round roof canopy and after a few hrs you couldnt hear thunder for days

 

[Guyfang]

Is there no data plate on the thing, that has a TM number? I have a butt load of construction equipment TM's. But looking through them is a lot of work.

 

[joshs1ofakindxj]

 

[Guyfang]

Whats the last 4 of the NSN?

 

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Tag says stock number 2410-957-8396

Registration number 63D 657

Does that mean 657th army corps of engineer's vehicle registered in 1963?

 

[chucky]

Whats the last 4 of the NSN?

looks like 8396

 

[Guyfang]

Looked through 3 CD's. I have only:
D5BS, D5BS1 and D5BNS1
D7E, D7F, D7G
D8K-8A-58 and D8K-8S-8

Will look some other places.

 

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Wow, darn near everything but the D6B. Thanks for looking!

 

[Guyfang]

yeah. I want to try and find a guy I know. He was in the Engineer Corps for 30 years. He might have something. He is a pack rat.

 

[NDT]

Tag says stock number 2410-957-8396

Registration number 63D 657

Does that mean 657th army corps of engineer's vehicle registered in 1963?

Yes I do believe so.

 

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Picking up the D6B next weekend. Woohoo!

 

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Finally got it home after some scheduling issues with the trucker!

Looks good next to the 955L!

Found the hour meter on the engine and it only shows 1473 hours!

The Cat manuals are trickling in from purchases on ebay and I started ordering filters to freshen it up.

 

[chucky]

Finally got it home after some scheduling issues with the trucker!

Looks good next to the 955L!

Found the hour meter on the engine and it only shows 1473 hours!

The Cat manuals are trickling in from purchases on ebay and I started ordering filters to freshen it up.

Got all you will ever need rite there ! Put you a coffee can over the exaust if there going to sit alot it saves rusting the bottom of the mufflers out too soon and they will blow off when you crank them up ! And always put all blades/buckets /booms/forks/ on the ground when your done with them ! These things are magnets to young kids are about when your not there and one could crush the other in a miisecond all over curiosity !

 

[joshs1ofakindxj]

I always cover the intake and exhaust with buckets or cans, also throw tarps over the seats and dash.

The only reason the 955L loader arms are up is because I changed the oil and have some other down time maintenance to do. I have the loader arms safety lever engaged so they can't fall down. It's on the opposite side shown in the picture. You can't disengage it without a 3/4" drive ratchet and a big socket.