Pushy Galore

*update, 04-16-06, picture posted. note: Canopy top is made of wood, from the factory and needs a total rebuild. Tractor is running in the photo, note open rain cap.

Pushy Galore is a 1956 Caterpillar D4 tractor with a dozer blade. It is powered by a 501 cubic inch four-cylinder Caterpillar D4 (hence the name) diesel engine rated at only 52 horsepower. It should be noted that though the horsepower is low, it produces 421 foot-pounds of torque at only 1,000 RPMs! Wow! It has three forward speeds and one reverse. It weighs about 10,000 pounds and is rated to pull 33,000 pounds. WOW!

It actually has two engines, along with the big diesel is a small gasoline powered engine that starts the big diesel. This engine is called a "starting engine" by Caterpillar, but in the industry it is known as a "pony motor". This engine is a small flathead opposed twin four stroke engine that is noisy and can be quite cranky. You start the pony with either the electric starter or a rope (for real men) and then the diesel. Starting old Pushy is quite an adventure!

The term "bulldozer" only applies to this machine when the dozer blade installed. This machine can also pull plows and do the work of any rubber-tired tractor, though it tears up the turf something awful while turning so I wouldn't mow the lawn with it.

There is no stopping the old Cat. Put the blade down, pull the flywheel clutch lever, and the earth moves. I pushed a rock as big as the machine on Sunday, and it pushed it like it was made of styrofoam. It weighed about 12,000 pounds....

I actually co-own Pushy. The Infallible Frenchman Jim Ouelette and I are partners in the machine. Poor Jim had no idea that I really just wanted to have a 50 year-old bulldozer to play with and that it didn't matter to me if it was really useful! But seriously, I need it to sculpt the property - especially the airplane ramp area. No worries Jim, one day you will look at me and say "I sure am glad we bought that magnificent old hunk of iron."

You would all be shocked at how cheaply we were able to pick this gorgeous old beast up. Most people spend more money on their lawn tractor. It needed and still does need some love, but is in working order now that the pony motor is operational. Next we fix the brakes....

(the name is a play on a female character in a James Bond flick combined with the one thing that the old Cat does best as it is configured- push)

from the movie: Bond - "What's your name?"
Hot chick - "My name is Pussy Galore."
Bond - "I must be dreaming."