HD5 purchase

engx11 wrote: I'm looking at a HD5 for sale for scrap price and need some help in determining if this is worth purchasing or not. This is what I know, it is not running and was bought at a auction this way. He simply bought it to scrap it. There is no obvious problems with the 2-71 engine and it appears to have been sitting inside for sometime. The undercarriage to my untrained eye is about 70% life left if not more. Nothing is missing and the machine has been repainted, has hitch and loader. I didn't see any wear on the hitch and the loader appears in good shape, the bushings all appear good along with most of the hydraulic lines. I did find oil in the radiator , probably less then a 1/4 cup in total. All of the gauges are there and the wiring looks in good shape. Good seat, muffler has flap, a few dents but overall the sheet metal and grill are in good shape. I also noticed when I checked the fuel tank is it smelled like old stale gas, brown in color. Unless I'm missing something these only take diesel?  All in all for a machine of its age it appears to be in very good condition   Knowing this, what is the rough price a machine like this would be worth? And if it turned out the machine is not worth fixing what could I except for selling parts from this machine.   If there is no appearent problems with the motor, why is it not running? A broken final drive is often the reason some of these are put to rest.   Thanks Eric

Can be moved in roll-off box, easier to work on than later machines as real basic, if rear case is bad 9onething that does break then lot of work involved. Parts can be sold if you have the time to part it and price is right, someone on here was looking for a 2-71, and another looking for track.

Another question, are these 6 or 12 volt?

the backhoe should move it with ease, they roll easily once blade or bucket is off the ground. they are 12 volt machines, originally with 2- 6volt batteries connected in series. one large battery will crank them if it is not too cold. i did not notice, is it a dozer or loader?

there is not much fuel in the lines or injectors and it is a recirculating system anyway, excess fuel gets pumped back into the tank. i would do the filters and tank as you said youare and give it a try. a sniff of ether is probably in order to get it to go. prime by cracking the lines or plugs on the second filter housing until fuel comes out, the rest will prime itself. i usually open the throttle fully, remove the precleaner, get it cranking, give it a shot of ether then close the throttle as it starts as not to race the engine. works like a charm. if you are just getting smoke, be sure it is spinning fast and give it another shot of ether but go sparingly as it can do damage or run away if you use too much. 2-71 detroits start up very easy with good batteries and a shot of ether. very reilable engine in my experience.

I believe the one in the picture is Coke's machine.

Old fuel oil is bad for algae buildup, will turn black then the little buggers settle out to the bottom of the tank and choke filters like mad.  I have had to shop-vac tank bottoms to get the goo out enough to make one run that has set awhile.

C-3 will work both on oil and on the lube, you might have to add a large washer on top and bottom of filter so they set or seal better. ( think just top ) Think the C 3 was for older Plymouth straight 6 flat head also. 

Edited by Coke-in-MN - 30 Dec 2010 at 8:28pm

Was just looking at those Fram C 3's I have and they have a rubber seal on the filter can tube so they don't need that washer. Metal can over filter element.