Cat Generator Set: Sixty Years and Still Running Strong

[brapboys503]

This brings tears to my eyes. America owns all in building reliable engines.

[Nza420]

I once worked on two cat 399s, clearing them of cosmolene (cooling system and oiling system). They had been in storage at least 30 years. After a 24 hour flush on each one, they both fired up and ran wonderfully.

[ShinerBockBeer1]

As a generator salesman, that speaks volumes to the big boys reliability and why not to buy a cheap Kohler, Generac, Baldor, etc. Unfortunately people do so I get to sell them machines like this that run forever.

[05clenharth]

look at lister engines, ones made in 1930's still in daily service

[dalekrueger]

@05clenharth oh hell yeah,we farm,our main field tractor,is a 1977 4430

[dalekrueger]

@05clenharth oh hell yeah,we farm,our main field tractor,is a 1977 4430, if you keep any machine maitained,it will last for decades,usually when i park something,it is because of parts unavaiblly

[cst20396]

Notice the gay cat hard hats on the old farmers. Nice try cat douche bags.

[northernchicken]

@cst20396 If you notice, the video was uploaded by cat, not the farmers. If you owned a company and were paying people to do a video for your product wouldn't you have them wear your brand or do you expect one to have a cummins hat and the other detroit in a caterpillar promo.

[dalekrueger]

@northernchicken i wonder how many hours is on it?

[northernchicken]

@dalekrueger not 60 years worth, that's for sure !! but it shows it's age !! It seems to me that it powered the operation on a daily basis early in it's life. The simple fact that it hasn't been scrapped is impressive though really. A larger operation would have upgraded it several times no doubt.

[dalekrueger]

@northernchicken those old caterpillar diesel live forever,it is very common to see cats from the 40s and 50s still being used,espically #12 8T motor graders

[BOBKB3NZX]

You have GOT to love someone who knows the difference between Taking Care and Maintaining equipment

[CatBornAgain]

YEA it's Tesla's Generator.

Just like the transformers are his Inventions.

He is behind all of this Mordern Tech..

Of course he had helpers and these Financial backers made it high on the hog with Tesla.

[4thstooge]

A friend of mine has one of these (1947) although i'am not sure of the KW rating of his it has a "pony"(sometimes called a "donky" engine) engine to spin it over. I wish they would have started the gen so we could see the procedure & hear it run.

[showaltermicro]

10 stars on this one ! :)

[trackhoe23]

I wanted to hear it run!

[cksilverado1]

At least they got hats for the testimony. Cat hats!

These EG's are great because of the part availability and the continuity of Cat models...they do not change as often as others.

[1xsooliner]

just goes to prove that whats made in america is made to last !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[davida1hiwaaynet]

Neato! Love the old iron.  Bravo for preserving and using a part of our history and heritage!

[mcc1327]

need a combine? lol

[huettmr]

what model engine is this?

[CaterpillarInc]

It's a D4600.

The Bertrands were the winners of the Old Faithful Contest in 2007, to find the oldest generator set still on the job.

In 1947, the Bertrands purchased the Cat D4600. Its a 35-kilowatt system capable of producing enough electricity to meet the needs of the homestead, including powering a well water pump used for the familys livestock. The Bertrands bought it from former dealer Oehlert Caterpillar Co. in Colby, Kansas.

[dalekrueger]

is the D4600 the same engine used in a D-6 or a DW-10?

[dalekrueger]

@CaterpillarInc did they mention how many hours was on it, and if it had ever been opened up?

[dalekrueger]

i wonder if it has ever been opened up?

[OldHowlingHound]

You needed to start it up. Nothing sounds like an old timer Caterpillar engine running. Nothing