I’m looking to buy this track loader and the guy doesn’t know much about it. He says it’s a 1990 cat track loader, but I haven’t had any luck decoding the vin. Any help would be appreciated
Damn straight he doesn't know anything about it. He's only 10 years off with the age........ In order to date it I had to put the Serial Number into the latest format which required adding an extra 0 after the 29Y part of the Serial Number.
Oh wow thank you I really appreciate it
Initial impression is it's a basket case. It has the wrong fuel cap but on my phone it looks like a big patch has been welded on the fuel tank or several cracks repaired? Don't see any need for 3 batteries but maybe just to fit the space? Mine has 1 8D battery. Wouldn't be surprised at all if the steering clutch compartments are full of rust as well as all the linkages. It looks like a very neglected machine ran hard and put away wet.
You'd better get that little tractor cheap, because it needs a pile of money spent on it. They're a nice handy little tractor and popular, but they can run away with a pile of $$'s in short order. Make sure the engine is healthy and the cooling system is in good shape, and that the transmission works as it should.
I know that 3204's can't sit for years with coolant in them. They have to be started and ran at least occasionally. The shop that did my engine had a D3B that the owner abandoned because he couldn't afford the engine rebuilt. It sat in their yard for at least a couple years. Apparently there is something aluminum, I think, that corrodes after sitting for a long time with coolant in it. It's on the front of the engine but I don't remember what it is. It might have something to do with galvanic corrosion.
Yes, the top water outlet/thermostat housing is alloy, and it corrodes easily. I'm looking at fabricating one out of steel to replace mine, which is unusable due to corrosion.