Caterpillar D7 3T barn find - Will it start?

It never fails to amaze me when this old iron, no matter how long it has sat, comes back to life. Truly, diesel engines are a marvel of engineering and endurance. I’m an old steam man and when the locos were replaced by diesel I thought the industrial world had come to an end but I stuck with it and learned to respect the diesel as a very worthy replacement. Well done guys, I think you had an easier fix than some but it’s an awesome outcome

As a young apprentice HD Mechanic in the mid 1960's I worked for a logging company north of Prince George British Columbia. They had two 3T Ghost Caterpillars No blade or canopy just a rear winch for skidding logs. Whenever they broke down the Master Mechanic would sent me out alone to fix them. They were low production machines compared to there other equipment. So he sent the low guy on the totem pole, not caring how long it took for repairs. Always got them fixed for the next morning. They were not that hard to work on and I was a quick learner. Thanks for sharing and bring back some memories to an old guy.👍👍👍

I learned on a old D-8 cable dozer, Back in 84 it sat from 1993 in my barn until 2022 never started in all those years,I started restoring it in 2022 I finally put the last original decal on this morning, every nut, bolt,hose, and decal is original for the year, Fresh rebuilt engine, I've been playing all morning,

Us old timers that operated old machines like that really appreciate your video.

13:05 Great to see someone who knows how to properly pour a 5 gallon pail. A+

When I was six years old in 1960 I had the opportunity to sit on the seat with an operator of a D-7. One of my best friend's Dad was the operator and he let the two of us spend a day with him as he cleared lots for a new subdivision. It was a large Dozer for its time in Eastern Massachusetts. I have been in love with Cat and all its products ever since. Thanks for all the work you put in to make this video a reality.

Good ol' boys, making good ol' equipment, do what it's designed to do. The American way!👍Well done.

This has to be one of the most successful CAT "will it start and drive" vids I have seen yet and I'm sure being partially sheltered has helped. The old D-7 looks to have a lot of life left in it. Good job guys and thanks for uploading.

Great to see the old beast coming back to life. Great video ! 👍

AWESOME....That unit is just two years younger than I am. Glad to see you youngsters taking care of the antiques!! Thank you!!!

I never get tired of watching the old iron come back to life!

I love seeing old equipment come back to life, nice work fellas!

My first wife's uncle Claude Gendron was a road builder in and around William's Lake in British Columbia 40 years ago and hauled his old D8H around the backwoods building roads for logging access. I lost track of the Gendron family 25 years ago but I'm willing to bet Claude's sons are still building roads with that old D8.

Doesn’t matter if its saws or not, you make genuinely interesting videos. Post more! :)

Wow! Brings back good memories of my Dad and my childhood! My Dad bought one of these from a farmer when I was 8 years old. He then bought another 3 years later. One was a 50 model and one was a 53 model, good all around beast of a machine for its time. We kept one ready to go to work, while we worked the other one waiting for it to break, lol. I used to crank the pony motor with a handle. We built the engine, both final drives and both steering clutches at some point in both machines. But the more fun times was clearing land and pushing ponds! Thanks for sharing!! Watch out for that magneto, that sucker will bite you, lol!

The old timers worked for their dollars... by that I mean, more was involved with the daily operation of their machinery, and thats for every field/line of work. Technology and the comforts it has brought to the modern day operators i feel is truly under appreciated due to the fact that most lack the understanding of how the old equipment was actually operated... I love seeing old pieces of machinery being operated.

Very cool to see you guys revive this old girl! I worked for a company that had a D6 cable dozer converted to hydraulic using Vietnam war era surplus cylinders and valves. After i did a repair i almost ran into the yard overhang because i forgot the lever was backwards for forward-reverse! We also had a international TD6 dozer with the half diesel half gas engine. Really cool how that was started too.

I love seeing old machines like this roar back to life.

I cannot believe how good that thing runs, them old gauges come back to life, even the fuel is still great, frickin insane... Super exhilarating

I was really surprised that this old D7 started up that quickly at the sitting 20 years I was thinking you would have to bleed the injectors and all that jazz, but low and behold she roared back life as if she was running yesterday you got yourself a new subscriber!