Gil Szabo's dad was a heavy duty mechanic and maintained this early D7 very well. Gil says it has been around 2530 years since the machine ran and all attempts to start the tractor failed because the pony wouldn't fire because of the angle it was parked.

Several months ago I was able to get the pony running with my brother Anthony but the main engine was seized and would stall the pony in low range at full power. After some research I decided to fill the cylinders with a 1:1 mixture of ATF and diesel through the exhaust from the top. It took around 20 liters before the mixture began pouring out of the air cleaner connections. This meant that the cylinders with open valves were full and because oil beginning to pour out of the intake both intake and exhaust valves were open/overlapping in at least one hole.

After letting it sit for about one week I returned and started the pony and the engine still would not budge and stalled the pony at full speed. After 4 weeks I returned, started the pony and the engine broke free but would not turn over fully with decompressor lever in on, half or run position. I suspected it was hydrolocking because it stopped abruptly. I did not attempt to turn it over again until consulting Chico, heavy duty mechanic and fellow Cat D2 owner. He suggested pulling the injectors, and we built a 1 3/4" deep injector socket but it was not the correct size. We pulled off the valve cover and checked the function of the valve train and decided to loosen off the brass exhaust manifold nuts and drained off the excess diesel and oil. We did the same for the intake manifold at the air cleaner elbow.

We changed the oil in the pony and checked that the fuel rack was free. As soon as the big 4 cylinder engine fired up, the ground began to shake and the engine hood attop the cage, fell down cutting my hand slightly and bending the camera tripod. We haven't found the serial numbers yet but there is a lot of green pain under the hand painted yellow. Any ideas were to look?